The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

My 8-year-old son, who usually prefers graphic novels, thought this book might be too hard at first. It’s a thick book with over 300 pages and barely any pictures, so he planned to read 30 pages a day. But once he started, the story captivated him, and he finished it in just a few days! This is the first time he’s been able to read such a long book, and now he’s eagerly waiting for The Wild Robot Escapes and The Wild Robot Protects.

If you’re looking for a perfect bridge from graphic novels to chapter books, The Wild Robot series is a fantastic choice. The story is engaging enough to pull in young readers, even if they’re not used to reading longer books. Highly recommended for any reluctant reader.

Pretty different storyline than the movie but great read. Clean fun and fast chapters for even for 7-yr olds.

Our son is reading The Wild Robot right now, and he’s completely hooked! It’s a great story with a mix of adventure, heartwarming moments, and important lessons about nature and survival. The writing is engaging, and it’s perfect for keeping young readers interested. He can’t wait to see what happens next, and I love that it’s sparking his imagination. Highly recommend this book for any young reader looking for something unique and exciting!

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that blends adventure, nature, and technology in a way that appeals to readers of all ages. The story follows Roz, a robot who unexpectedly finds herself stranded on a remote island. As she navigates the challenges of survival and adapts to the natural world, she discovers the complexities of life, friendship, and what it truly means to be alive.

What makes this book especially engaging is its thoughtful exploration of themes such as empathy, community, and the environment. Roz is a robot, but her journey is deeply human—her growth and learning reflect the importance of connection and understanding, even in the most unlikely circumstances.

My 10-year-old daughter absolutely loved this novel. She was drawn to Roz’s transformation from a cold, programmed machine to a caring, sentient being who forms bonds with the island’s creatures. The mix of humor, adventure, and heart made it an easy read for her, while still offering depth that sparked some great conversations about nature, technology, and what it means to belong.

The illustrations by Peter Brown, which complement the story, were a big hit with my daughter too. They added a rich visual element to the narrative and helped bring the world of the island and its inhabitants to life in a way that made the book even more engaging.

Overall, The Wild Robot is a perfect choice for young readers, offering both entertainment and valuable lessons. It’s the kind of book that not only keeps kids hooked but also encourages them to think about the world in a deeper way. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a unique and heartfelt story that both children and adults can enjoy.

We loved the book. We read it to our class. It made us feel sad, happy, and many other emotions. Thank you for writing such a good book.
Medan Independent School
PYP Grade 3 -4 Class
Medan, Indonesia

A review from my 10 year old:
This book is about a robot named Roz, short for Rozzum, a robot that was supposed to be transported to a factory but the ship was sadly sunken and she was washed up on a island. She had to learn to survive in a place that a robot would never be in. And she finds many different techniques to do so. The robot goes on many exciting adventures and gets lots of friends that you might not expect including her own adopted son who happens to be a duck named Brightbill whose family was crushed by an avalanche. She was living a happy life until her creators find out where she is and don’t like that she is living in the forest.
I think this book is about the interaction between nature and technology. On his blog Peter Brown wrote, “Back in 2008, while working on a picture book called The Curious Garden… I loved imagining scenes of nature living in surprising places. And that got me thinking about scenes of unnatural things living in surprising places” ([…]). The robot is a piece of technology but she can learn to live in the wild which makes me think that one of the meanings of this book is that people today can still stop pollution and destruction of the natural world. I also think that the author was trying to tell the readers that no matter who you are you can do anything. The robot was having trouble in the forest at first but she started to learn and get better by watching animals. I also think that the book is about not giving up. Even after all the animals were scared of her Roz kept trying to be friendly and finally became friends with all the animals.
One amazing thing about this book is the artwork witch makes sense because Peter Brown was an artist before he was a writer. Another thing that I liked about this book is that it makes me feel sad but gave me hope that things will get better. The third thing that makes this book unique is that it has very creative ideas. In one of the scenes in the book Roz loses her foot to a bear and then cant walk. And then she asked the beavers to make her a new one out of wood. That is one of the many creative scenes in the book.
This book was very good in my opinion. It was one of my favorite books I’ve ever read and i would very much recommend it. This book is creative, well written, and interesting. I think that it is a great book and think its definitely worth reading. I don’t want to give away the ending but is very dramatic and emotional. Roz has to draw on all of her friendships and skills she has learned from them to survive.

Beautiful and moving. Me and my son read this together. Its a wondeeful story of love and motherhood. I would definitely recommend.