5 stars II loved it!).
I read The Wild Robot twice in 2020, which might be all the review you need. The first time, I listened to the audiobook. The second time, I read it aloud to my 9yo and 6yo. They loved it as much as I did, and I loved it even more the second time through. It’s charming and quiet and surprisingly moving.
The story begins with the sinking of a ship off the coast of an island–a ship containing robots. Most of the robots are destroyed as the storm dashes them against the rocky shore, but one gets accidentally switched on by curious otters. After that, the story becomes one of survival, and then of learning to thrive with the animals on the island, particularly with the help of a young goose. But then the robot’s past comes back to haunt her.
The illustrations are simple but sweet. The chapters are mostly two or three pages–a perfect length for a bedtime read and digestible even for very young listeners (I bought this book for my four-year-old nephew for Christmas). I feel confident this would appeal to both boys and girls.
