Blog Post 4: Science Fiction: Boy + Bot

 Summary: This story is a fictional tale of a boy who believes that his robot is broken when it is switched off and the robot believing the boy is sick when he is asleep. Both characters try and help the other in a humorous tale of friendship and companionship.

Genre Evaluation: Boy + Bot is a science fiction novel and combines images and text to attract the reader. The illustrator uses a cartoon version of the boy and also a friendly-looking robot who is the boy's friend and coincides with the plot of the story along with the pictures to draw the reader in using realistic cartoon images. (Galda, Liang, & Cullinan, 2017)

Motivational Activity: I would have the class read this book and then as a classroom activity throughout the reading of the novel have the students create their own physical robot made out of wood materials or another form of robot-making kits to inspire them to continue reading the book and enjoy it. (Galda, Liang, & Cullinan, 2017)

Boy + Bot is a science fiction picture book for young children. They can be introduced to the concept of robots as their friends and how they mechanically work. Physical science concepts are infused using vocabulary that is appropriate for young children. Early childhood teachers could bring in toy robots for the students to explore or the class could create a class robot, name him, and write their own experiences with their robot.

Sources:

Lewis, P. (2003, August 03). Cloudy with a chance of meatballs - book review. Retrieved April 25, 2021, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/cloudy-with-a-chance-of-meatballs