BOOT small robot, BIG adventure: Book 1

By Author / Illustrator

Shane Hegarty, Ben Mantle

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

Publisher

Hachette Children's Group

ISBN

9781444949360

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

16-05-2019

Synopsis

*Shortlisted for the Sainsbury's Book Award* This is a thrill-ride of an adventure, with illustrations by Ben Mantle bringing Boot's world to life. Fans of Toy Story and Charlie Changes into a Chicken will love this hilarious, warm-hearted story about a small robot on a big adventure: full of fun, friendship ... and Boot's quest to find out why humans are so leaky and weird.

When toy robot, Boot, wakes up at a scrapyard, it has no idea how it got there and why it isn't with its owner, Beth. It only has two and a half glitchy memories, but it knows it was loved, which means something important to humans. Boot soon realises its emotions make it different from other robots, who just function and don't think. Boot is scared but tries to be brave, which is hard when its screen keeps showing a wobbly, worried face. Luckily Boot meets Noke and Red - other 'advanced' robots who have learned to survive in secret.

With new friends by its side, Boot is determined to find Beth and the gang set off on a dangerous adventure. Everything Boot thought it knew about the world is changing, and things aren't as simple as it remembers . . .

Illustrated throughout in glorious black and white by the award-winning Ben Mantle, this is an unforgettable tale of resilience and hope. It will take you by surprise and make you think about the world around you. Read more of Boot's adventures in The Rusty Rescue and The Creaky Creatures!

Reviews

Boot is a delightful story about a toy robot, who finds himself in a rubbish tip, with only two and half glitchy memories of his former owner; a young girl called Beth. He's confused and scared as the rubbish around him begins to slide towards a giant crusher.

Determined to escape to find the girl from these memories, Boots begins his search. He finds that robots are everywhere, doing many things people used to do, but Boots knows that even the robots are dispensable after a while.

With lots of illustrations interspersed throughout the story, this is a fun read that makes us look at how we sometimes recklessly discard things for something new. There are also lots of great discussion points skilfully interwoven in the story including dementia, rejection and how we treat others, that would make this a great choice as a guided or whole class reader.

I really enjoyed this story and I won't hesitate to suggest it to my current Year 3 class. The short chapters and black and white illustrations make it an ideal read for a newly independent reader. An easy read, in an age where it's all too easy to throw away and upgrade, it will certainly give the reader something to think about. This is the first in this series.

240 pages / Reviewed by Samantha Phillips, teacher