Sometimes I Forget You're a Robot

by Sam Brown

For fans of Todd Parr and Oliver Jeffers comes this debut picture book about a boy and his robot friend from the creator of the popular crowd-sourced comic blog, explodingdog.com

For a little boy who’s always dreamed of having his own robot, actually getting one isn’t what he expected at all. The robot can’t fly, or swim, or even talk. All he does is beep beep beep like a toy. But his robot does have some hidden talents—and one of them is being a great friend.

In this unexpectedly poignant story about adjusting expectations, Sam Brown shows that while no one is perfect, a good friend sure comes close.

Genres: Picture Books, Robots, Friendship, Childrens, Storytime, Science Fiction, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Sam Brown, pseudonym of Adam Culbert, is an American illustrator and author most noted for his website, explodingdog. The gimmick of the site is that he draws pictures based on titles that visitors to the site send him via email or Twitter.

Reviews

[Cory · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I liked the exuberance of the art, I felt like the story was given a little more credit than it deserved. If you read the flap copy, it talks about the story being "poignant" and deep. It's not. There's barely a story.

[Chance Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

"from the creator of the popular crowd-sourced comic blog" is apparently a poor credential for picture book author/illustrator.

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little boy is disappointed because the robot he meets cannot do fabulous things like flying or diving to the bottom of the ocean, but finds he can be a great friend.
I am disappointed because I thought this would be engaging, but I'm sure that I will find that little robot loving boys will like it anyway.

[Nancy · Rating 1 out of 5]

A friend posted the cover of this book along with the caption, "Our marriage."
hahaha

Unfortunately it's all downhill from here. My main complaint (believe it or not) is the font. Why deny the dignity of fonts that typesetters and graphic designers have worked so hard to perfect? Alas, the eye-aching colors and the sly story don't let me forget about this.

[Emma Reyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I Forget You’re a Robot

Sam Brown

Published 2013/ 32 pages

I thought this book was alright. My favorite part was the illustrations. I liked how the main character kind of looked like a stick figure drawing. In my classroom, I could use this book during read aloud.

[BiblioBeruthiel · Rating 2 out of 5]

What is this book?

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as good as the other robot books I read, but better than some from previous weeks. This might take the dump spot of last in line in my Robot storytime.

[Kiyoko · Rating 5 out of 5]

daily reading homework

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storytime: Robots

[Gillian Soler · Rating 2 out of 5]

No.

[Kathy (Kindle-aholic) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute idea and the ilustrations are vivid.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A neat picture book about robots and friendship from the creator of the "Exploding Dog" web comics. The story focuses a boy who befriends a robot and tried to figure just his new friend's strengths are. This is delightfully done through various challenges and the assertions of "beeps/boops." The style is distinctive, bright, and cute, sure to appeal to young children and fans of Brown's web work. Book has a lot of heart, but isn't especially charming or innovative. Fans of cute cartoon robots, friendship, and Brown will like this.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A friendship story between boy and bot. A robot-obssessed little boy gets his wish come true: a robot. He dreams up all kinds of adventures for his new friend, but finds his friend has a few limitations. As he adjusts his thinking and focuses on what the robot can do as opposed to what he can't they begin adeventuring.

Childlike illustrations reminiscent of Todd Parr's style. PreK-2.

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun to read, kids will love this one. The illustrations are simple, but so colorful and eye-catching! And the story is really sweet and cute, but also meaningful and heart-warming. Great little picture book that I will definitely be reading to my daughter. I really hope Sam Brown will publish more of those, I will be buying them all!

[Melle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of bright, bold, primary color filled illustrations in a simple style (sort of reminiscent of Hyperbole and a Half) and a very simple story line of a kid who wants very much to make friends with a robot. Probably not a bad choice for children learning to recognize and read aloud words on a page.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a children's librarian and a fan of Exploding Dog, I had to read this book. It is tres cute, but sadly it took the whole book to create the same poignancy as a single panel of ED. My fave page was "I think I can see an adventure from here".

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the illustrations...I've been a fan of explodingdog.com since the 90s. But somehow this book seemed really disjointed. It was a cute boy-and-his-robot story, but I just had higher hopes for it when I saw it on the shelf.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of explodingdog.com. His one panel concepts pack a punch. Perhaps because this was a story book, Sam Brown was unable to convey his usual poignancy because the scope was larger than he was used to?
I still liked it quite a bit!

[Bvlmc Buchanan Verplanck Elementary School · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy imagines all the things he can do with a robot: fly to the moon, explore, swim, but none seem to work out right until he finds out that his robot friend is really good at helping to build a tree house.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son chose this book from the library, and we read it before bed tonight. He liked that the book was a bit silly and enjoyed the story. When the little boy asked if robots can be friends forever, it touched my heart. I may have shed a tear or two. It's a wonderful book.

[Caiden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I was less than wow'd by this book, the story seemed to hold my son's attention since he kept asking for it over and over. It is definitely a good book for a young child who is interested in robots.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun story. when it ended I had a smile on my face.

[Pam Pho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute. It isn't very fun to have to stop and explain words to the toddler though.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brilliantly bright and colorful illustrations are the best part of this book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the bright colors, and I like the ending. Not an incredibly big fan of the art of the main character.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bright, cartoony illustrations accompany a one-sided conversation between a boy and a robot that appeared in his yard. Just not my fav.

[Kiddo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kiddo liked this lots. He liked the 'beep' and all the things the robot could do. Dear Hubby realized the kid in the story was dreaming of a robot as his alarm went off.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

CUTE READ. :)

[Athena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beep! Beep! Beep! Then they make a tree house and walk to the moon!

[Nōn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. And ROBOTS. Definitely going to read to the kids (when that happens).