Robot Zot!

by David Shannon (Illustrator), Jon Scieszka

From the minds of Scieszka and Shannon comes a tale of a quixotic robot determined to conquer the earth. The only problem is that the earth he lands on is a suburban kitchen and he is three inches tall. Robot Zot, the fearless and unstoppable warrior, leaves a trail of destruction as he encounters blenders, toasters, and televisions. But when he discovers the princess...a pink cell phone...his mission takes a new course. Robot Zot must learn how to be a hero - in the name of true love.

Genres: Picture Books, Robots, Childrens, Humor, Science Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 22, 2009

About the author

David Shannon is the author and illustrator of many highly praised books for children. Born in Washington, D.C., he grew up in Spokane, Washington. He graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, with a fine arts degree, and then moved to New York City. His editorial illustrations have appeared in The New York Times, Time, and Rolling Stone, and his artwork has appeared on numerous book jackets. Shannon is a passionate baseball fan and softball player. He and his wife now live in Los Angeles.


David Shannon @ Scholastic

Reviews

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know I am supposed to love this.
Jon Scieszka! David Shannon! Robots! Super Cool!

But alas, I don't.
I'm sure the kids will love it--I mean, it's ROBOTS!

I'm sure the Caldecott people will adore this. After all, it's 2 superstars of kidlit working together, who would dare find it anything but fabulous?

But I don't. And I won't pretend otherwise.

[alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kid and I aren't quite sure what we just read but the engaging and colorful illustrations prompted great discussion. The text lends itself to fun robot voice acting and bonus points for dog. We'll have to read it again before returning it to the library.

[Melissa Goembel]

This is a story illustrated by David Shannon. The robot is intent on taking over the world. The illustrations are typical of Shannon. The use of big expression, color, and sound!

[rtxlib · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robot Zot posits the question what if, instead of being a delusional geriatric man caught up in the romance of Medieval chivalry, Don Quixote was actually a delusional two foot tall robot from outer space. Wearing a Saturnesque helmet similar to the barber basin Don Quixote dons and dutifully followed by a dog like creature in the shape of a Spanish conquistador helmet with googly eyes, Zot crash lands in the heart of "Earth Army."

While the Robot heedlessly rushes into the fray the book pans out to reveal that far from an army base, Zot has actually invaded a home kitchen. Mistaking the kitchen appliances for giants, Zot goes on the attack and vanquishes them before being ensnared by a vacuum hose, then mocked by a teeth whitening television commercial which is no match for his ray gun. Then Zot is stopped in his tracks when confronted by the imprisoned "Earth Queen" (a children's telephone) guarded by two wide eyed dolls acting as sentries. Zot is stricken with self doubt and questions wether he is in fact a "Chicken Zot?" But his chivalric quest can not be stopped and Robot Zot gallops forward, with Queen in tow, proclaiming that, "No one can stop Robot Zot!” Unfortunately, before escaping to his battle ship he is faced with his most fearsome trial, Earth's "Commander General" a wide eyed black puppy with a long protruding red tongue who answers each of Zots entreaties with a curious "Whoof!" Zot springs to action and charges the general who mysteriously disappears as his owner takes him away with a, "Yelp."

The penultimate page of the book leaves some doubt on whether Robot Zot is actually a space creature which is unfortunate. Quixote had many delusions but his steed Rocinante was an actual horse. The book shows Zot creating real damage with his ray gun to inanimate objects, so why shouldn't his space ship work. Besides this small quibble the book is beautifully designed and would seem to amuse young readers in the mood for action and adventure especially since the story takes place not in a far removed land but in a kitchen, television room, and back yard, areas in which kids can relate.

Why you can't go to a toy store and buy a Robot Zot and Best Pal Bot is beyond me.

[Rick O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a good picture book for a Pre-K audience that offers up a fantasy/science fiction adventure that will amuse them and make them think about the possibilities of science and of the future. At such a young age, shouldn't we be tapping into all (appropriate) genres to spark an itnerest in reading? A book like this satisfies the fantasy/science-fiction department and shows kids that it's okay and cool to like robots and this sort of make-believe.

Essentially a robot comes to Earth and is determined to conquer it (compelling stuff for a four year old). It turns out that Robot Zot is not quite the terrifying presence he originally thinks he is (which adds an element of humor to the book), and readers are amused with his misadventures in a more domestic setting that he may have originally thought he would be in. A bit of "romance" creeps into the story (in a totally age-appropriate way), which adds an element of charm to the whole thing.

Again, this is about showing kids that reading is FUN. I don't think there are many "life lessons" here, other than that you can read for pleasure (something I wish more high schoolers would believe) and that it is okay to be taken away to a robot's adventures and journey. With the right age, this book would be a hit. Older readers (late elementary/middle school age+) would think it is too silly and/or not deep enough to become engaged in reading.

[L-Crystal Wlodek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robot Zot is recommended for children ages preschool-third grade. This book is about a robot who wants to conquer the world. Robot Zot crashes into an alien environment of a suburban kitchen, battles with fearsome kitchen appliances and a TV, which he calls a challenging transmitter. He also rescues a toy cell phone, which is better known as the Queen of all Earth before zooming off to distant galaxies to save anything else he can.

This book has everything that interests young children including robots, heroes, silliness, action, destruction, and romance. The language used within the book is a bit confusing and a little hard to follow as it moves back and forth between prose and rhyme. At the same time, the short sentences make it reading material for early readers. The interesting wording of the book and the action-filled illustrations make the book appealing, interesting, and enjoyable for young readers. The action-filled illustrations can be a little confusing because there is so much going on, but at the same time has a lot of humor not represented in the text. The text and illustrations work together and complement one another well. The robot toy has very humanistic qualities and is reminiscent of the movie Toy Story. This is a great book to share with students who enjoy robots and futuristic objects.

[M.cholewick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Robot Zot is about a robot named, Zot who has a mission to "conquer all." Ironically, robot Zot is only a couple inches tall, and battles common household appliances. However, he encounters the "Queen" and all the sudden, his mission changes to that of love-struck hero.

Initially, I was looking forward to reading this book for young readers, however, I was very disappointed in it. Perhaps it's from reading it as an adult, but I found the text font difficult to read. Although I can see why it would be used, as it mirrors robot-like style, I found it distracting and difficult to see at times. Additionally, the illustrations on some pages, are difficult to interpret. The illustrations do, however, have vibrant colors, which would be very appealing to young children. I would recommend this book as a read aloud from primary grades, but I think that readers in 2nd and 3rd grade would be drawn to this books robot saving-plot.

[CH - Marvin Childress · Rating 2 out of 5]

Author: Jon Scieszka; Illustrated: David Shannon; (Print;) Age: k-3

Robot Zot! is book reminiscent of Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story. Zot is a toy robot from another planet who decides to invade Earth. He lands in a home where he thinks all electronics are attacking him. He is very confrontational...particularly when he sees his reflection in the toaster. He challenges himself to fight and wins. Zot feels he has defeated all electronics and he falls in love with a toy cellular telephone that he kidnaps and takes back to his planet.

This book is funny, but I think it's funny for adults. It's bizarre that Zot is actually a lunatic and fails to realize that he is a toy...but then again, he is not? I would use this story for simple fun and enjoyment, and to continue the illusion that toys are real.

[Ch13_megan Carlisle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Children will enjoy Zot's adventures as he takes on household appliances and falls for the beautiful "Earth Queen". The paintings in the text version of this book fill up all the space on the page. They are attention getting and colorful, transporting the reader into Robot Zot's war with the household appliances. The repetition of the text will benefit younger readers as they root for Zot and his attempt to rescue his beloved queen.

Scholastic also has a DVD version of Robot Zot that comes with 4 other stories as well. The story was presented in a "read-along" format. The background music given to the story added to the engagement factor. It harkens back to the music of early sci-fi shows like Star Trek.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of David Shannon's style, generally. I don't know why, it's just not my cuppa. Except this time. It worked beautifully with Scieszka's text which was fun to read aloud (the KitkatPandaBatWolf provided the Zot voice). We're fans of Invader Zim and Traction Man Is Here!, which is what Zot reminded me of. Robots! Read it aloud and be sure to admire the shiny cover.

[Dergrossest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what a kid's book should be: funny for the child and amusing for the parent. My 6 year old twins cannot stop laughing whenever I pull this out and they really want to know what the few big words mean so that they can enjoy it even more - I call that "Mission Accomplished". The illustration is excellent as well. Bam-bot!

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can see why some might like this, but I found it cluttered and kind of confusing.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fred and Ginger. Abbott and Costello. Cheech and Chong. Famous pairings have flourished throughout history, and it’s a proud person who can put their finger down and say, “I was there when it started. I remember the beginning.” So as you sit in your comfy little chairs surfing the web, take a moment in breathe deeply and commit to memory this moment in history. When Jon Scieszka and David Shannon made a picture book together at last. Oh, I know they’ve worked together before. But the Trucktown series, while sure to ably subdue any truck obsessed ankle biter you encounter, is the work not just of Scieszka and Shannon but a host of other talented fellas as well. So I’ve always kind of suspected that if you separated Shannon and Scieszka from the pack and isolated them for a specific amount of time they might, just might, be able to come up with something really cool. Enter Robot Zot. He’s brave. He’s determined. He fits snugly in the palm of your hand and he’s about mark the first instance of a Shannon/Scieszka solo pairing. Can you feel the love?

The heart of a lion. The eloquence of a Tarzan. The body of a mildly rusted cell phone. “Robot Zot – Wham Bot! Robot Zot – Bam Bot!” Robot Zot has come to earth and he is intent upon invading. “No one stop Robot Zot. Robot Zot crush lot.” That’s how he talks. After crash landing in a backyard, by the time Zot’s standing in the kitchen with his phaser in hand it’s pretty clear that he’s not much bigger than a dustpan. And around every corner lurk enemies. Dispatching the appliances and television one by one (“He is glorious. He stands victorious.”) Zot meets a small cell phone toy that, by his reckoning, is clearly The Queen of All Earth. It’s love at first sight. A daring rescue ensues, but before he is able to leave Zot will have to face his toughest enemy of all.

Zot works because he’s very much that small boy play acting heroism while causing mild to extensive damage around a home. Zot has no peripheral vision. What he wants he goes for, and he gets to be the hero of his own story too. I like that Scieszka makes it pretty clear that whenever you hear extensive praise of Zot (“Robot Zot – Hot Bot!”) it’s in quotations. Meaning he’s saying it about himself. Meaning he’s narrating the epic saga of his own life. Zot’s every little kid who has ever imagined that the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and backyard contained whole unseen worlds where threats and dangers lurked around every corner. Who will save us all? The littlest guy, that’s who!

Illustrator David Shannon is best known at this point in time for his David series. In those books he let his thick paints and loose style conjure up the sheer chaotic madness that hides within each determined little boy. Robot Zot also has this free, loose, wild energy but it goes a slightly different route. Since we are dealing with a determined little robot, Shannon takes advantage of that great metal equalizer: rust. It’s everywhere. On the cover you can see the paint on the words “Robot” and “Zot” looks like it has been scraped off a little, revealing shiny silver metal beneath. Thick paints are crosshatched to reveal bald spots on Zot’s armor. Best of all, that idea of a little boy playing that you get from Sciezka’s words is perfectly replicated in Shannon’s imagining of Zot. Zot is basically David, only a little older, a little smaller, and with rectangular teeth rather than triangles.

Uneven front teeth. Who in their right mind would ever imagine the comic possibilities of uneven front teeth? They’re what keep Zot from ever looking all that competent. Really, the moment when he seems in the most control is when you’re viewing him from the back. Otherwise the teeth are conveying to you the fact that in spite of his manly stance, this little robot hasn’t a clue what he’s doing. From the replica of what appears to be Saturn balancing on his head to his oddly sympathetic little expressions, Shannon has this character well in hand. When he sees “the Queen” for the first time Zot's knees lock, causing his feet to turn inward in that jolt of first love. When he’s scared, his already wobbly knees grow tighter together and his uneven teeth sort of hang over an open mouth. It’s funny that you can instantly feel so sympathetic towards a guy who, not three pages before, was blowing up and knocking down every innocent appliance in sight.

In the art of this book Shannon invokes all kinds of classic space comics and sci-fi flicks. Zot mimics a classic villainous pose when he stands gazing down upon the puny earth, mere moments before he has it in his grasp. I suppose that with his early super villain-like status it’s even more amusing that (A) he is pocket-sized and (B) he in fact is the hero of this story. At the same time, I was impressed by the silent two page spreads, different angles on the story, and moments when all you can see are exploding television sets, our heroes nowhere in sight. The images here are a shot of adrenaline to the eyeballs. Never stopping, never resting, always funny, always fine.

Shannon works in some nice visual gags as well. Best Pal Bot, the sidekick and observer of Zot’s suburban carnage, is in almost every scene and is well worth seeking out. I am thinking of the moment when Zot leaps to attack a blender, eggbeater, and coffee pot. Best Pal Bot looks at the reader, eyelids closed enough to give us a kind of “Oh, really?” look. There are lots of little moments like this. In fact the final gag is so subtle that it could easily take ten to twenty readings before a parent figures out what Shannon’s done. At first it seems as if Zot, Bot, and Princess are flying against a star-studded night, a yellow moon nearby. Next shot, they’ve crashed into a cantaloupe truck. That nighttime sky was just a painting, and the Attack Ship is now firmly lodged in the center of a couple of very broken and evidently juicy cantaloupes.

All this is well and good, but what I really want in a picture book is something I can read aloud to a room of shrieking preschoolers. Something that is gonna hook ‘em, grab ‘em by the nose, and not let go until I’ve stopped talking. I need a book that gives the old one-two punch. ONE – The words are bouncy, rhythmic, and allow me to do a couple silly voices if I want to (caveman/Frankenstein speech patterns are welcome). TWO – The folks I’m reading this book to can see it across a room. Big colors, bright pages, but with enough action and adventure to shake up the angles and views when at all possible. Needless to say, I’m not exactly left wanting after reading Robot Zot. Sort of born to be performed, this book.

In a lot of ways Robot Zot reminds me of the Traction Man books by Mini Grey. In both cases you have a kind of narration going on about a hero who battles household goods with fortitude and bravery. In the case of Traction Man that narration seems to be coming from the boy who plays with him. In Robot Zot it's coming from the hero himself. I suppose this isn’t the first time the idea of alien invaders coming to earth only to find that they are tiny has occurred. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy made swift use of it, I believe. But it is certainly the first time I've seen such an idea make its way into a picture book format where, I think you will agree, it most certainly belongs. A magnificent readaloud. A fine and funny book. A recognizable metaphor even. I agree with the book on this one. “Robot Zot! – never fall. Robot Zot – conquer all!”

Ages 4-8

[Jayla Freeman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Robot Zot! won the Irma Black Award in 2010 and is an interesting, yet easy read full of wild adventures. This is a science fiction book and I loved how the text is written in a font that reminds me of old space themed games like Space Invaders. There is relatively little text on the pages and the vocabulary is quite simple which would incline me to use this book for K-2 students and other emergent readers for diversion. I would think about using this activity to start teaching about rhyming words because there are a lot of instances in the book that are intentionally rhyming sch as "never fall" and "conquer all" or "Robot Zot crush lot!" The artwork in the book is very eye-popping and I would argue that is more significant than the actual text. I believe this because on some pages, there is only 1-2 sentences and on others, there is no text at all. The illustrations in this book are rendered in acrylic on illustration board. This adds an aspect of shininess to each of the pages and it's as if each page glows when reflected off of light. What is interesting is that on the dust jacket, the colors are very shiny, but when you take it off, it becomes very 2D and the colors blend in with the cover. I didn't see an immediate purpose in this book, but rather it seemed like something I would provide for students to read in their free time or for use during guided reading.

[Marissa Ebert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has not won any awards.

"Robot Zot!" is appropriate for pre-k to second grade students.

This book is about Robot Zot, who fights household appliances in order to save the world. He then meets someone who he believes to be the queen of the earth, a toy telephone. He rescues her, but is stopped by a general, the dog. He defeats the general, and the queen and Zot leave on their spaceship to save other planets.

"Robot Zot!" is a funny story about an out of this world robot who believes he is saving Earth by fighting random appliances. He thinks of himself as a hero, and does what he can to save the day. Young students will find this book highly entertaining, and cheer Zot on as he faces his next dilemma.

This book could be used in a classroom setting during a fun read-aloud. Students can then be asked to do a character study on Zot in small groups, with each student being given a role. Students can also be asked to focus on phonemic awareness, find rhymes, and segment words from the story.

[Suzanne V · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of David Shannon, and found this at the library this week when looking for books for my four-year-old. Shannon collaborated on this project, so the artwork was up to standard and what I expected. However, I did not care for the story, and neither did my son. I didn't feel that the author was connected to the character he wanted to create. This is the story of a robot who apparently comes to earth to destroy the planet, does some destruction to a home until he seems a mechanical toy and falls in love, and escapes to leave the dog of the home responsible for the havoc left behind. Other than the artwork, I don't believe there is little charm to the story.

[Patricia Pappas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this book on the Irma Black Award (2010) Book List for Science Fiction. I love that there is a book from this genre for very young students, but I do think the plot line wasn't very strong. This story was about a robot named Zot and the many adventures and challenges he faces. He comes across objects/people in space and in the real world that he is initially frightened of, but he continually says reassuring statements to himself like "Noone can stop Robot Zot!" and then he overcomes it. There is love (seeing the most amazing person ever is the queen of all earth) in the story...he falls in love with a earth toy. I just found this to be a book that was very elementary (he is scared, then conquers, scared, then conquers) with little deeper or critical thinking required by students. The graphics are very engaging, colorful, close-up and vastly different from page to page. They almost make you feel as if you're in the story. The font gets larger when he is saying one of his self-assuring comments to himself, and when he fighting off the object/people he encounters (take that, and that). This book is good, as related to our academic readings, that is does provide students an experience in an alternate world and it familiarizes them with concepts related to science. It does make them learn about robots and how they defer from humans. I don't think this book is diverse in any way. All of the dolls, toys, and characters are white, and look like typical middle-class household toys. My classroom connection is that when I taught Kindergarten, I would see kids be drawn to books like this because of the graphics, but the vocabulary was a good to high for them to understand feasibly when read aloud.. and there is no thinking really required by this text. I would spend more time paraphasing and explaining this book to students than reading it. And in Kindergarten, that's not fun.

[Andrea Andrusewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a toy robot that comes to life and attacks other objects. He thinks that objects are as real as he is, such as tv commercials, toaster reflections and another toy phone whom he develops a crush on. Overall this book is humorous and a great read for young children. It is a great book to read to children on a Friday, to make them laugh and have a great time. The illustrations throughout the book are amazing. The colors, designs and text really engaged me more throughout the story! I overall enjoyed this book!

[Tiffany Brown]

This book is simple and appropriate for younger readers. The plot is forward, the robot wants to take over the world but get caught up in love and journeys to become the hero instead. The book has a lot of bright colors which would grab the young childrens' eyes. There is humorous language that children would not have a difficult time picking up on. This may be a book that needs to be read more than once to younger children, however it is useful to get children interested in reading.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has become another hit for car trip audio read-along, probably second only to Louise the chicken. It is really the narrator that sets it apart - he does a great weird Robot Zot voice. "What is Zot? Chicken bot?! NOOOO!" Zot is an alien robot, very small, who lands in a backyard and falls in love with a toy phone or something? I don't know because I don't get to look at the pictures. My son looks at the pictures, I just listen along.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ALL-TIME BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS*
Robot Zot! is on my best books for kids list. The art by David Shannon is out of this world, and author Jon Scieszka has given Zot such a strong personality. Zot's argument with the TV spokesperson is so memorable, and it is just a page or two in the book. My kids have loved Robot Zot! for many years, and I look forward to doing Zot's robot voice for my grandkids one day.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little robot has it all wrong. But you can't feel bad for him when in his perspective he's a wild, unmitigated success! I had to point a lot out to my kids, but we all rolled with laughter as Zot "conquered" Earth, fell in love with a queen, and saved the day - while only not really doing any of those things.

[Kadie Speller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robot Zot goes through battle after battle. Fighting for his beautiful queen and being victorious throughout every battle. This is a short story about a robot and will be perfect for a young child who wants to read about robots. There's some rhyming and a bit of some tounge twisters when reading this book.

[Ryan Pfeiffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two of the greatest children's book authors of my childhood, together at last. I'm upset I never read this until now, this is fantastic. Scieszka's writing and Shannon's illustrations make for a hilarious pair, and each of them really shine in their respective roles. I would've read many more adventures of Robot Zot.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zot arrives on Earth and battles with all electronics he finds. Then he attempts to rescue his Queen from the creatures holding her captive. After taking on the General (dog), he and the Queen escape to return to their own planet. Shannon's illustrations tell the rest of Scieszka's story for readers who pay attention.

[Sarah Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robot Zot is an Earth-conquering the size of a small toy who must contend with blenders and pet dogs in order to complete his mission. An adorable book from a stellar author-illustrator combo, early elementary students will appreciate this bombastic robot's adventures.

[Mama Bearian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this. Jon Scieszka and David Shannon together seemed like it should be great, but I just didn't like it. Robot Zot is written from a tiny robot's perspective, and it was really hard to follow, even as an adult.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Sciezska and Shannon but struggled with this one a bit. It's a fun one to read aloud but I felt that the story was a tiny bit hard to follow for kids... and some adults. Used for robot storytime.

[Cilla Savary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very creative. A lot like the stories my grandson plays out. So I thought he'd love this. He was interested. But it turns out he'd rather make up his own stories. Go figure. LOL. Be prepared for a surprise when Zot gets off his ship!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of an unusual story but I loved the illustrations! Silly, playful humor as per the Scieszka norm.