There's a Robot in My Socks

The Mighty Moods Series #2

by Meredith Rusu, Martín Morón (illustrator)

Beep, boop, bop! This robot won't stop!

Jamie has a robot in her socks that makes sure things go just right! But when a trip to Grandma's house messes up Jamie's routine, will her robot start to fritz and fight? 

Filled with catchy rhymes and lively illustrations, this Mighty Moods story is the perfect read-aloud for parents and kids who might discover they have robots that get nervous about change—and that's okay! 

The "Mighty Moods" series is a delightful collection of picture books that explores the many ways children express big emotions. 

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

40 pages, Hardcover

Published September 17, 2024

About the author

Meredith Rusu lives in New Jersey with her husband and two young sons. She is the author of more than one hundred children’s books, notably There’s a Yeti in my Tummy (the first picture book in the Mighty Moods series), Anna, Elsa, and the Enchanting Holiday, Silenzio, Bruno!, and The DATA Set series under the name Ada Hopper. She has also written for many popular licenses including LEGO, Disney/Pixar, Peppa Pig, and Star Wars. When she isn’t writing, Meredith enjoys singing karaoke, spending time with family, and going on the occasional adventure or two.

Reviews

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meredith Rusu’s allegory of OCD or autism spectrum disorders as a robot that occasionally goes on the fritz would be wonderful in so many ways! For one, this picture book takes the stigma off the child, as there’s so much a kid can’t overcome — at least not so young. It’s also a great introduction to use for classmates (or even a teacher), making it easier to understand why a new classmate might sometimes have meltdowns, perseverations or rigidity. Martín Morón’s illustrations of Janie and her grandmother turning a bad day around will delight young and old, as well.

As the mother of two adult daughters with autism, I sure would have loved to have this book back in the day!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and 4U2B Books & Media in exchange for an honest review.

[Stina Pettersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Jamie has an imaginary robot friend with her at all times. The robo friend is there to make sure that everything goes according to the routines and mannerisms Jamie is used to. A lovely little story that shows that everyone can have a little robo friend if they get anxious or stressed.

The art style is very unique. You don't really see a lot of childrens books with this kind of style, so it was refreshing to see something new.

Thank you to Netgalley and 4U2B books for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, and I love how it gives language and representation for having specific needs that look different from other people.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! I work with kids and I think this book would be really good to read when they are struggling with change. The pictures are really cute and the main character acts age appropriate for their character.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this story with my 8 year old who has recently been diagnosed with ADHD. It was such an ideal book during a time when routine and sameness feel critical to quell the anxieties of getting older, while change and variation seem so big and scary. There's a Robot in My Socks by Meredith Rusu captures these feelings in such a creative, inventive, imaginative way as the main character in the story insists that her day and activities proceed as planned. The "robot" helps her cope with changes and shifts that are inevitable and uncontrolled, particularly as a child, but then too from the perspective of an adult as the little girl discovers her caregiver has her own "robot" with its own preferences and coping tactics.

This story was a great little tool to teach my little one that he is not alone in his feelings and that even adults come up against big feelings during times of change and uncertainty. I think the Robot in our socks is something we will continue to use as we approach the new school year and a fantastic metaphor for inner strength and security. I highly recommend this book to anyone with young elementary age children, particularly those who struggle with anxiety.

I was provided with an electronic copy of There's a Robot in My Socks by Meredith Rusu in return for an honest review. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to read and review this thoughtful title and will be continuing to use its lessons of emotional resilience and creative problem solving in my little family.

[amyreadthat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie and the robot in her socks like everything to be exactly how Mommy does things. Everyday she wears her robot socks, uses her pink plate, naps with her snuggly and never, ever goes around in bare feet. Until one day, Mommy drops her off to spend the day at Grandma’s, and nothing happens the way it should.

This brightly colored, rhyming story about Jamie and her Robot is absolute perfection. The rhymes were clever, the opportunity for read aloud voices abound, and the Grandma’s little secret at the end just….well, chef’s kiss. Young children like their routine, some more than most, and this story helps to show that sometimes even when things aren’t exactly as we like them, fun can still be had. As a mom of older kids, I wish this book had been around when my kids were little. Thankfully, I can still gift it to my niece and nephew, as they are at the perfect age for this story .

Beautiful art, wonderful, well paced writing, and a lesson at the end that isn’t heavy handed. Perfection. 5 stars.

[Katherine McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this story. I think it will help kids to navigate their feelings and changes from their norm. It would be good for any children but especially neurodivergent ones.

I like how the robot is expressed and the thoughts and feelings through the child's day. Some quirks or preferences are natural! I like the way her mom responds.

Then we meet grandma who our FMC doesn't usually see very much! Grandma doesn't know about the robot, the girl feels like she won't understand that or the way she feels.

Grandma struggles with some of the changes and tries her best to help. In the end, they get ice cream just like grandma did with her grandma. Grandma also shares that she likes the house to be spotless (maybe OCD?) and her robot won't leave her alone until she cleans everything.

It was a really sweet story because everyone has "something" that makes them different and sometimes it can be hard to relate to each other. Love can get us through it and in the end everything was okay!

[Mary Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a digital copy of this book. 

As a parent of children on the autism spectrum who also have sensory issues, I am grateful to see stories like this! Books that normalize the neurodivergent brain is exactly what we need for our children to feel "seen" ❤️

A young girl named Jamie expresses her feelings through a pair of robot socks that do the talking for her through boops, beeps and whirs when things are "all wrong". A visit to an unfamiliar grandparent's house without Mommy is uncomfortable for Jamie until Gram realizes that Jamie isn't so unlike another person Gram knows well...herself!

The story is written in rhyming verse and has cute artwork. Robot reminds me of a Roly Poly robot character from a 1990s show that aired on certain channel with the mouse. (iykyk)

I read this aloud with my 6 year old sensitive child and he seemed to enjoy it even though he told me that it was a little long for his tastes. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for making this book available to me for review.

[ThatBookLady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie has a robot in her socks that ensures everything goes smoothly, but a trip to Grandma’s disrupts her routine. As her robot glitches, Jamie learns it’s okay to feel nervous about change.

My children picked up on two major topics in this story that can elicit big emotions - having to adjust to change and be adaptable, as well as having to do it outside of your comfort zone (without mom). This was such a sweet story and the illustrations were very fun! As an 80s kid, I definitely got Rosie from the Jetsons vibes and it made me like the book even more. I love that Grandma had her own robot and was able to relate to Jamie and how she was feeling, ultimately leading to a successful visit and wiring the brain to appreciate a bit of change.

I think this would be an excellent read in classrooms, with children who are sensitive to sameness, children with anxiety, OCD or who are neurodivergent. These feelings are highly relatable!

[Jordan Tu'ulauulu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and 4U2B Books & Media for a digital ARC in exchange for mine, and my son's, reviews.

This is a really sweet and entertaining, yet also educational, book about a girl with sensory difficulties and how she handles changes (both material and psychological) in her environment. My son also has sensory difficulties and some executive function deficits, so I thought this would be a good book to help him when things don't go his way. However, this book aimed at an older audience than my 4 year old. The abstract concept of the robot representing how Jamie feels about changes in her environment went over his head, even when I explained certain scenes to him. I look forward to reading this book when he is old enough to understand the symbolism!

I would recommend this book for kids ages 5-10 who have a difficult time with schedule changes, sensory sensitivities, or may be very particular about how they like their world to function.

[Amanda Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story will speak to all those kiddos who thrive off of their routines. Jamie has a robot in her socks that acts like an imaginary friend and security blanket at the same time. When she is faced with a change in schedule, can her Grandmother help her work through the anxiety or will her robot come to the rescue? I loved the raw emotions Jamie has throughout the book and the way the adults tried to work with her throughout the story. The illustrations are bright and colorful, and when combined with the rhyming on each page, the book will appeal to children of many ages. I particularly love how this book will connect to children who have anxiety themselves. Add this book to your library and classroom storytime.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this was a really fun book that has a really important message.

The book deals with the emotions of a young girl who wants to have things done in a certain way. She has a settled routine at home with her mum, but when she goes to spend the day with her grandma things don't go so well.

In the story the girl has an imaginary Robot that controls her emotions and she goes on to find that her grandma had a Robot of her own as she needs everything to be kept clean and in order and they bond over this.

I thought that the illustrations in the book were great, they really brought the story of the book to life. The layout of the book was great, the text was easy to read and nice and bright too.

It is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the illustrations of this book and the rhyming nature. My seven year old enjoyed that aspect as well. However, I know the premise was moods and it would work really well to help teach younger ones how to manage their moods and feelings, but it was not a hit for my seven year old son. For him, he was bothered by the girl's behaviors and how she was very reluctant to follow the grandma's directions. I think for some parents and families this would be a great book to read and help with change adjustments. However, I think it is also one that parents should read first to make sure it is the right style for their children. For my son, this book was not a win. We enjoyed the illustrations and style, but not the material so much.

[Sadie-Jane Huff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 293 of 300 ~ 2024

🌟🌟🌟🌟

I wish I had the first book of the series.

Such big feelings are shared by the little kiddo - from little tantrums to insecurities, joy to sadness.

It is very handy to help kids navigate and strengthen their relationship with whoever cares for them.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#book293of300 #amreading #netgalley #tbrpile #instareads #readstagram #reading #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #booksAreLife #booksForTheWin #thisbookfairyisreading #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookworm #goodreads #booklovers #theSGbookfairyReads #theSGtrekkiereads #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookchallenge2024 #reviews #lovebooks #booknerds

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a good rhyming cadence, rhyming done well! This is a cute book about emotions, routines and routine interruption. I love that it explains how Grandma also had a robot because of her emotions and how she dealt with it. Good book for teaching how to adapt around those emotions. It also points out that we can't always have it the way we want it, mom can't always do everything and maybe Grandma's way isn't so bad after all. The illustrations are great, nice and colorful, kind of gave me a retro feeling vibe. Thanks to Netgalley and 4U2B Books & Media for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable story about Jamie, a little kid who has a robot in her socks that helps make sure everything goes just right. When Jamie spends a day with her Grandma, her routines change and her robot starts to fritz! Grandma helps Jamie and her robot through the changes the best that she can, teaching that its okay to get nervous about change.

This book was filled with rhyming text that was engaging and easy to read aloud. The illustrations were absolutely bright and colorful. My kid loved the story and I loved the message that it shared. This is a great book for any kids who love routines!

Thank you to NetGalley and 4U2B Books & Media for the ARC.

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The robot in these socks is very particular and likes things to be perfect. But then the routine is disrupted as she and the robot go to Grandma's house. Grandma does things differently from Mom, and it's Not Perfect.

Change is hard. Change is harder if you're used to everything being perfect. While this book is a little over the top, it's a lot of fun. I like the illustrations and the symbolism, and I'm delighted that Grandma was patient and kind throughout. The rhymes are cleverly crafted and the plot satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Ande Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a Robot in My Socks is a super cute picture book about a young girl and her imaginary robot. The robot clearly represents her moods & need for structure with little change.

The illustrations on this one were super adorable & I loved the personification (or robotification) of the girl's emotions. This book is a great way to illustrate how it can feel to deal with changes big and small, & I appreciated the way the family listened to the girl in the book and dealt with her struggles.

Thanks to NetGalley, 4U2B Books & Media, and Meredith Rusu for the chance to read & review!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute children's book. I have a 4 year old and 3 year old who enjoyed it, although it did seem to lose their attention towards the middle of the book so for some little kids it may be a bit too long. The rhythm seemed to work in the beginning of the story but then tapered off. I think it’s important for children to understand how to deal with feelings and emotions and this book does a good job of showcasing this.

Special thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for sharing this with me in exchange of my honest review.

[Ashlea Foxwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t love this one- the idea is there to make some kids that have aversions to things or rigid routine, and very much represented lots of grandmas to always reach for a sweet treat to hush a grand child.

I don’t think this is the best way that imaginary grandma can help, and I think it could have been executed with other redirection techniques.

Thank you to NetGalley and 4U2B Books & Media publishers for this ARC copy.

[Jakki (BizzyBookNook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids loved the idea of the robot and were really pulled into this story. From a parent stand point I really enjoyed the story and that if afforded me a chance to have a bigger conversation with them about change. As someone who suffers from OCD I was also happy to have a way to explain to my kids why I have certain things that have to be done just right. The illustrations were absolutely beautiful and this is definitely one that I would recommend to fellow parents.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grabbed this book initially because the title reminded me of “There’s a Snake in My Boot” quote from Toy Story lol.
I thought this idea was cute. I at first thought out main character was going to have a literal robot toy in their sock. I’m not sure if I was sold on the grandma at least until the very end. We also enjoyed the illustrations.
Thanks to Netgalley and 4U2B Books & Media for the review copy.

[Sally Wilsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaime is a little girl who goes to visit Grandma and has trouble with the changes while visiting. Grandma doesn’t do it the way Mommy does. Not to help matters she has a robot in her socks telling her what to do. This is a really nice story to read and open discussion if your child is going someplace they are not sure of or new. I really liked the whimsical illustrations and they added a lot to the story.

[Danielle Mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

The little girl in this book has anxiety that she calls a robot in her sock when things don't go as she plans or wants. Her mom completely understands and helps her with this but when she has to go to grandma's house will she be as understanding? Luckily grandma has a robot in her life too. I fun book to help find ways of understanding differences and anxiety that life brings.

[Jacqueline Nyathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little girl doesn’t cope well with changes to her routine or the systems she uses to navigate her world, expressing it all through the robot that lives in her socks. Her mum understands her, but her granny has to learn to work around her resistance when they spend a day together.

Another touching and helpful book for young readers that deals with difficult feelings and what to do with them. Thanks to 4U2B Books and Edelweiss for early access.

[Skye (Skye's Scribblings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

12/24 A cute longer rhyming story about a little girl with OCD and accepting temporary unexpected change to routine. I couldn't help but be frustrated that it all could've been avoided if her mother had just sent her to grandma's with a go-bag, though - what kind of otherwise attentive mom with an OCD kid doesn't have a go-bag for situations like this?

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute story. It really shows us how difficult change can be for kids and on the other hand it helps. Kids understand that a little change here and there is OK. I loved the illustrations. My daughter would love this book! Thank you, NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Myprivatebookclub · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book. Both touchy and useful for special children to relate.

[Connie Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won for my grand nieces. They will get a kick out of reading this

[Shan · Rating 4 out of 5]

#TheresaRobotinMySocks #NetGalley

Overall, I liked this book! The drawings were so colorful and detailed, and gave the story so much life. The expressions drawn on each character's face were impeccably executed, and it really helped convey emotion and tone to the reader.
So why did I give the book 4 stars? Only because of the title. I was a little confused about how it's "There's a Robot IN My Socks" when it seemed more like it should have been "There's a Robot ON My Socks". I think this because nowhere in the book is the Robot IN the socks. The Robot is always next to the girl, and is sometimes seen on the girl's socks.
However, I immensely appreciated that the author emphasized that it's okay to have your own quirks. It's a really good message for readers to get out of this story.