The Wild Robot on the Island

By Author / Illustrator

Peter Brown

Genre

Environment & Nature

Age range(s)

Publisher

Piccadilly Press

ISBN

9781835871645

Format

Hardback

Published

24-06-2025

Synopsis

Venture into Roz's wild world in this gorgeously illustrated picture book that brings to full colour the adventures of the #1 New York Times bestselling novel THE WILD ROBOT - now a DreamWorks major motion picture starring Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal and Kit Connor!

Roz is not where she's supposed to be. Roz the robot wasn't designed to live in the wilderness. But when she washes up on an island, she must learn from the animal inhabitants and adapt to her new, natural surroundings, and before long, the island begins to feel like home.

Filled with Peter Brown's stunning artwork, this moving picture book is the perfect gift for readers new to THE WILD ROBOT or for longtime fans of the series that sparked a global phenomenon.

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Reviews

Sue

One day, a strange new creature arrived on an island. It was a shiny robot named Roz, who decided that the island was where she belonged and so set about learning how to survive from watching the animals. Many became her friends and when Ros found an egg, she cared for the little gosling, Brightbill, which hatched from it, becoming his mother. As the seasons changed, Brightbill's instincts told him to leave and fly south, leaving his mother and the island behind until they were reunited once more.

The Wild Robot on the Island is a simplified version of The Wild Robot, the first in a series of three books about Roz and her animal friends on the island. These lovely books reflect on caring for the environment, family and friendship and the beauty of nature and the essence of this has been captured in this beautiful picture book.

From the endpapers showing a crate falling from a container ship, the illustrations add plenty of details which enrich and develop the simplified text. Those familiar with the original will recognise the curious otters cautiously creeping over the rocks to investigate the crate, for example, but there is no need to have read the chapter books to fall in love with big-hearted Roz and her friends. Each spread glows with colour as the seasons change, time passes and Roz finds peace and happiness on her island home.

The story lends itself perfectly to encouraging children to closely observe the world around them, noticing and enjoying the changes in nature, how creatures adapt to their environment and with the passing seasons. There are many ways which teachers could use this lovely book to support and enrich different areas of the curriculum or as a class story to spark discussion or inspire children to tell stories of their own. It would also allow children who are not ready to sustain the novels to access the story, although, obviously, some of the emotional depth and detail of the original are lost. Warm and wonderful!

Picture book / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher