Little Robot by Ben Hatke
is a graphic novel that children of all ages can appreciate. The story begins
when a nondescript box bounces out of a delivery truck as it crosses a bridge
spanning a large river. The box floats down the river as the sun rises.
In the meantime, a young girl scrambles out
of the window of her home in a trailer park, looking for a bit of freedom and
adventure. From afar, she watches kids heading to school, she swings in a
nearby backyard, and she makes her way down to the river among the piles of
junk left along its path. Lucky for her, a box has washed up along shore that
contains her next friend—a little silver robot.
The young girl gets the little robot up and
running, teaches him to walk properly, and they meet up over several days to
play and explore their surroundings. She introduces him to all of the wonderful
complexities of nearby junkyard—stray cats, old tires, and a few beautiful
flowers—and teaches him the finer points of skipping rocks.
In a dramatic twist, their friendship is
tested when they are faced with danger from outsiders, and they must each
decide where their loyalties lie.
Hatke’s story will appeal to readers who can
appreciate an early inkling for independence. The little girl looks young and
small, but she is surprisingly worldly and clever. Older readers will relate to
the unusual setting, which juxtaposes young curiosity and innocence with a
slight edge of discomfort and possible danger. It is this same element that
will get adult readers thinking about childhood in a new way.
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