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Weird Little Robots
When two science-savvy girls create an entire robot world, they don’t expect the robots to come alive. But life may be a bit more magical than they thought.
Nine-year-old Penny Rose has just moved to a new town, and so far the robots she builds herself are her only company. But with just a bit of magic, everything changes: she becomes best friends with Lark, has the chance to join a secret science club, and discovers that her robots are alive. Penny Rose hardly remembers how lonely she used to feel. But then a fateful misstep forces her to choose between the best friend she’s always hoped for and the club she’s always dreamed of, and in the end it may be her beloved little robots that pay the price. Quirky and wonderful, this illustrated chapter book from Carolyn Crimi and Corinna Luyken shows that making your own space and a true friend in the world is a kind of magic all its own.
Nine-year-old Penny Rose has just moved to a new town, and so far the robots she builds herself are her only company. But with just a bit of magic, everything changes: she becomes best friends with Lark, has the chance to join a secret science club, and discovers that her robots are alive. Penny Rose hardly remembers how lonely she used to feel. But then a fateful misstep forces her to choose between the best friend she’s always hoped for and the club she’s always dreamed of, and in the end it may be her beloved little robots that pay the price. Quirky and wonderful, this illustrated chapter book from Carolyn Crimi and Corinna Luyken shows that making your own space and a true friend in the world is a kind of magic all its own.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2019
34 people are currently reading
552 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Crimi
45 books83 followersCarolyn Crimi, AKA the Pirate Queen, is the author of numerous books for young readers, including BORIS AND BELLA, illustrated by Gris Grimly. Of HENRY AND THE BUCCANEER BUNNIES, she says, "While I don't have long floppy ears or a pro-nounced overbite, Henry and I are kindred spirits, who love books and carrots!"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
December 9, 2020
4.5 stars
That's a lot of new for one little girl.
Luckily, she has a hobby...though her parents are starting to worry about that...
Lark is a "professional" birdhouse builder and immediately falls in absolute love with Penny's robots and joins her to build roboTown.
At first, everything works perfectly...but soon things take a strange turn.
One thing is for certain, her life will never be the same!
The plot was extremely well-done - plenty of dramatic twists and turns. I never knew where the story was going but I absolutely loved being taken on this adventure.
Penny Rose was such a hilariously quirky girl - everything she said was absolute gold.
And the robots! Ah. They have stolen my heart.
The illustrations scattered throughout the book really tied things together and made it come alive.
All in all - this book was really well done and an absolute delight from cover to cover. Highly recommended!
With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
Penny Rose has just moved to a new house, in a new town with a new school.
"Maybe she's shy," Mom said.
"Or maybe she didn't hear you," Dad said.
"Or maybe she doesn't want to be my friend," Penny Rose said...
That's a lot of new for one little girl.
Luckily, she has a hobby...though her parents are starting to worry about that...
They gave her the Concerned Stare when she worked in her shed for long hours or when she talked about how the robots were her friends.Penny Rose builds robots - she has made a few so far out of an old cell phone, a pair of dentures, a pencil sharpener and so much more.
Fraction was, in Penny Rose's opinion, an extremely friendly robot, what with her heart sticker.But what she really wants is a friend to share this with...which she soon finds in her neighbor, Lark.
Lark is a "professional" birdhouse builder and immediately falls in absolute love with Penny's robots and joins her to build roboTown.
At first, everything works perfectly...but soon things take a strange turn.
One morning iPam's arms were raised. Another time the tin-can elevator in roboTown was up instead of down.and it only gets stranger .
As she was turning to leave, she heard a strange whirring behind her. She spun around, but all she could see were the robots lined up on the table.Meanwhile, Penny Rose is having a lot of trouble making friends at her new school (besides Lark) but soon an opportunity stumbles upon her.
We are the Secret Science Society. We think you might be a good member, but first you need to pass some tests.Should Penny Rose take a chance on these new friends? Or is one true friend enough?
One thing is for certain, her life will never be the same!
"But how is this happening?" Penny Rose asked. "I've gone over it a thousand times, but I still don't understand it."Ahhh! I absolutely adored this story.
"It's magic."
The plot was extremely well-done - plenty of dramatic twists and turns. I never knew where the story was going but I absolutely loved being taken on this adventure.
Penny Rose was such a hilariously quirky girl - everything she said was absolute gold.
Her cheeks burned hotter than a Bunsen burner.I loved how she bounded from extreme shyness to excitement whenever her little robots came onto the scene.
And the robots! Ah. They have stolen my heart.
The illustrations scattered throughout the book really tied things together and made it come alive.
All in all - this book was really well done and an absolute delight from cover to cover. Highly recommended!
With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
November 4, 2019
This is a cute younger middle grade magical realism story about a 9-year-old girl named Penny Rose who just moved to a new town. She’s not great at making friends and she enjoys creating little robots out of anything she finds (pencil sharpener, a pair of dentures, etc.). She wants friends more than anything, but somehow her little robots fill that need in the meantime. Little does she know that her neighbor, Lark, does the same thing with bird houses — piecing them together with odds and ends. So when the two meet up one day, they really hit it off. However, friendships are complicated, especially when secret science clubs and new friends get stirred into the mix.
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
June 19, 2019
Penny Rose is new to town, lacking in friends she spends her time creating robots in the family shed out back. So, when she discovers Lark, also friendless and never without her sunglasses, they quickly become best friends. Penny Rose and Lark are perfect compliments – Penny Rose in her creation of robots from “junk,” and Lark in her artistic love for making bird houses. Together they create the perfect Robot Town.
Author, Carolyn Crimi, gives readers a heartwarming read of friendship, trust and forgiveness with so many lessons handpicked for readers young and old. Especially enduring is Crimi’s nod to female scientists and engineers throughout, a great reminder that girls can do anything! The illustrations dispersed within further add to the marvel and imagery Penny Rose’s robots spark in the reader’s mind.
*Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Author, Carolyn Crimi, gives readers a heartwarming read of friendship, trust and forgiveness with so many lessons handpicked for readers young and old. Especially enduring is Crimi’s nod to female scientists and engineers throughout, a great reminder that girls can do anything! The illustrations dispersed within further add to the marvel and imagery Penny Rose’s robots spark in the reader’s mind.
*Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
October 11, 2019
Quirky and adorable! A dream team author and illustrator, too. :-)
January 17, 2020
Thank you @kidlitexchange and @candlewickpress for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This was a wonderful middle grade story. I really enjoyed all of the characters, especially the girls who love different forms of science. Penny Rose enjoys making robots out of discarded treasures she randomly stumbles upon. She’s new to town and hasn’t made any friends yet, until she observes the peculiar girl across the street. Lark is fascinated with Ornithology, the study of birds. She keeps journals about them, builds magnificent houses and even has crows who drop off lost objects as a sign of their gratitude.
Penny Rose and Lark hit it off pretty quickly and enjoy working on building a town for the robots together. They are startled to find that one day the robots have come alive and can interact with the girls. They agree to keep them safe and never show anyone, but then an unexpected invitation arrives in Penny Rose’s locker. She has been invited to join the Secret Science Society. The problem is Lark didn’t get asked and the members are requesting to see the unique robots to gain entry. Penny Rose finds out the hard way that friendships and promises are meant to be cherished.
Goodness, as a shy, science kid myself, I would have loved this book in elementary school. Not only was the story captivating and full of great lessons, but I also enjoyed the added mysteries surrounding the robots and the members of the club. Young readers will love Chimney, the pet squirrel too!! Loved the bit of girl power at the end.
The chapters were short and quick to read. I adored the lovely illustrations by @corinnaluyken that helped bring the adventure to life!!
This was a wonderful middle grade story. I really enjoyed all of the characters, especially the girls who love different forms of science. Penny Rose enjoys making robots out of discarded treasures she randomly stumbles upon. She’s new to town and hasn’t made any friends yet, until she observes the peculiar girl across the street. Lark is fascinated with Ornithology, the study of birds. She keeps journals about them, builds magnificent houses and even has crows who drop off lost objects as a sign of their gratitude.
Penny Rose and Lark hit it off pretty quickly and enjoy working on building a town for the robots together. They are startled to find that one day the robots have come alive and can interact with the girls. They agree to keep them safe and never show anyone, but then an unexpected invitation arrives in Penny Rose’s locker. She has been invited to join the Secret Science Society. The problem is Lark didn’t get asked and the members are requesting to see the unique robots to gain entry. Penny Rose finds out the hard way that friendships and promises are meant to be cherished.
Goodness, as a shy, science kid myself, I would have loved this book in elementary school. Not only was the story captivating and full of great lessons, but I also enjoyed the added mysteries surrounding the robots and the members of the club. Young readers will love Chimney, the pet squirrel too!! Loved the bit of girl power at the end.
The chapters were short and quick to read. I adored the lovely illustrations by @corinnaluyken that helped bring the adventure to life!!
November 1, 2019
My youngest daughter, Fiona, and I read this as a bedtime book for the past couple of weeks. We finished it last night and she loved it. The story is about a little girl who is a little awkward and shy and is trying to make friends in her new town. In her loneliness she starts to create these weird little robots from tiny spare broken things like calculators and dentures, which inexplicably come to life and keep her company. She eventually makes friends with a rather odd little girl down the street who loves birds, who also comes to love the robots. Then she gets a mysterious invitation to join a secret science society and has a chance to make friends with some popular kids -- but the opportunity inadvertently puts her friendship and her robots in jeopardy.
There are some hand-drawn illustrations in this sweet chapter book, which is about 33 short chapters. It was a fun read for me as well as for my daughter. She's asked me to find more by the author, which I'm inclined to do. This is a very G-rated book well suited for younger kids.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
There are some hand-drawn illustrations in this sweet chapter book, which is about 33 short chapters. It was a fun read for me as well as for my daughter. She's asked me to find more by the author, which I'm inclined to do. This is a very G-rated book well suited for younger kids.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
May 12, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance reader copy.
Very sweet book about two girls who create a world for their robots. There is so much to like here- the quirky personalities of the robots, the burgeoning but imperfect friendship between Lark and Penny Rose, even the idea of a Super Secret Science Club dating back to 1969. But it felt unfinished to me. I would eagerly trade Jeremy for more information about the creation of the robots or inner workings of the science club.
3.5 stars. Will recommend to 2nd+ through 4th graders.
Very sweet book about two girls who create a world for their robots. There is so much to like here- the quirky personalities of the robots, the burgeoning but imperfect friendship between Lark and Penny Rose, even the idea of a Super Secret Science Club dating back to 1969. But it felt unfinished to me. I would eagerly trade Jeremy for more information about the creation of the robots or inner workings of the science club.
3.5 stars. Will recommend to 2nd+ through 4th graders.
December 23, 2019
A friendship story all kids could benefit from reading. It teaches us to be true to who we are, to embrace our “weird”, and that we all have value. On the shorter side, which I consider a plus. I loved this one!
April 5, 2022
Very sweet young MG perfect for science-minded girls.
July 12, 2020
My 10-year-old twins give this a five!
June 14, 2019
What is most important to Penny Rose – her new and only friendship with quirky and creative Lark who helps to bring her robots to life, or acceptance into a secret society that may better understand her passion for science? What price will her robots pay for the choices Penny Rose makes? Thirty-one short chapters along with Corinna Luyken’s detailed drawings support this suspenseful and engaging story of character magic, and friendship.
I read an advance copy of this book in preparation for the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book 2019. Carolyn Crimi will be at the festival.
I read an advance copy of this book in preparation for the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book 2019. Carolyn Crimi will be at the festival.
May 24, 2021
3 1/2 stars. There is a lot to love in this fun, robot and friendship focused fantasy. Penny Rose loves making robots from repurposed items she finds, and the shed in her new home’s backyard is the perfect place to work. What isn’t perfect is how alone and friendless she feels. Finally she steels her courage and approaches the girl across the street, Lark, who has been ignoring Penny’s shy efforts to engage her. Much of the book focuses on their friendship and the creation of an enchanting Robot Town. But enchantment dims when Penny is invited to join a Secret Science Society and she starts pulling away from Lark.
The fraying of Lark and Penny’s friendship and how they each respond will speak to many fourth and fifth graders, while the super-great robots will keep them smiling.
What really knocked this book down for me was a single line near the end that feels gratuitously sexist and unkind. It also reminded me of another unfortunate element in the story that I wish had been more fully addressed - exclusionary name calling. It is totally understandable that Lark and Penny, both of whom feel themselves to be social outcasts, would make a proclamation excluding “dweebs, doofuses and dorks’ from seeing their robots. I assume those terms were chosen because they seem anodyne and not tied to any group, but in my mind they are synonymous with nerd, which didn’t make sense in the context. It would have made more sense for the two unique, awkward, and specialist-focused girls to want to exclude bullies and jerks and airheads. I was happy to see that Penny eventually realized she was the person whose behavior deserved some name calling (though again dweeb and dork wouldn’t have been the names I picked.). I would hope if we get to see her again, Penny Rose will evolve beyond self-castigation and recognize that not labeling others helps free one from the kind of mistakes she has been making.
Which brings me back to the line that truly pained me. The only male child character that features in the book is a baddie. Not only a man-splaining, bully with a fragile ego, he is also a fraidy-cat and a mama’s boy. Those last two character flaws seem uncomfortable to me and the poor, obnoxious kid started to feel like a scapegoat. When he is vanquished, eden is restored by having the two, cool, popular girls rename the Secret Science Society the Secret Sisters Science Society, effectively making it an exclusionary, single sex club. That smarted. I felt for any boy reading this story and was pained to recognize the dark flip-side of the books I read in my 1970’s childhood that helped discredit and dismantle the coolness of the ‘No Girls Allowed’ club. Yes, there can be single sex organizations, but I do not love the single, overly simplistic, and plain wrong, solution offered here. Name another intersectional category, other than male, that could be substituted as acceptable to exclude. In an era where boys academic performance and mental health is in crisis this feels unacceptable.
The fraying of Lark and Penny’s friendship and how they each respond will speak to many fourth and fifth graders, while the super-great robots will keep them smiling.
What really knocked this book down for me was a single line near the end that feels gratuitously sexist and unkind. It also reminded me of another unfortunate element in the story that I wish had been more fully addressed - exclusionary name calling. It is totally understandable that Lark and Penny, both of whom feel themselves to be social outcasts, would make a proclamation excluding “dweebs, doofuses and dorks’ from seeing their robots. I assume those terms were chosen because they seem anodyne and not tied to any group, but in my mind they are synonymous with nerd, which didn’t make sense in the context. It would have made more sense for the two unique, awkward, and specialist-focused girls to want to exclude bullies and jerks and airheads. I was happy to see that Penny eventually realized she was the person whose behavior deserved some name calling (though again dweeb and dork wouldn’t have been the names I picked.). I would hope if we get to see her again, Penny Rose will evolve beyond self-castigation and recognize that not labeling others helps free one from the kind of mistakes she has been making.
Which brings me back to the line that truly pained me. The only male child character that features in the book is a baddie. Not only a man-splaining, bully with a fragile ego, he is also a fraidy-cat and a mama’s boy. Those last two character flaws seem uncomfortable to me and the poor, obnoxious kid started to feel like a scapegoat. When he is vanquished, eden is restored by having the two, cool, popular girls rename the Secret Science Society the Secret Sisters Science Society, effectively making it an exclusionary, single sex club. That smarted. I felt for any boy reading this story and was pained to recognize the dark flip-side of the books I read in my 1970’s childhood that helped discredit and dismantle the coolness of the ‘No Girls Allowed’ club. Yes, there can be single sex organizations, but I do not love the single, overly simplistic, and plain wrong, solution offered here. Name another intersectional category, other than male, that could be substituted as acceptable to exclude. In an era where boys academic performance and mental health is in crisis this feels unacceptable.
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August 26, 2019This was a sweetly gentle story about friendship and girls who love science.
March 8, 2023
This looked like a charming little book. I'm a sucker for robots, and a girl's homemade robots coming to life seemed like it would be a delightful read. And for the most part this was cute, especially with the illustrations. But I suppose I was hoping for something a bit... more. The writing felt simplistic, and I was hoping for a little more personality from the title characters. Still, this does manage to be a charming story about friendship, creativity, and of course, robots.
Penny Rose doesn't make friends easy -- she would much rather stay in her workshop and build her robots. But then two things happen that change her life -- she befriends a neighborhood girl named Lark, who's obsessed with building birdhouses; and her robots come to life! Penny Rose and Lark are soon captivated by their new little friends, and even build a miniature town for them to live in! But when Penny Rose receives an invitation to join a secret science club -- a club that Lark isn't invited to -- she finds herself having to choose between Lark and the club. And when she finally makes her choice, her robots end up caught in the middle...
The writing in this book felt rather simplistic. I understand this is a book geared towards younger readers, and I didn't expect complex writing, but I still think that even younger readers can appreciate good writing. It felt workmanlike and bland, and prefers to list off character traits in characters rather than show said traits in the writing itself. Also, one of the robots is shown to have the ability to see the future, which ultimately feels like it was only added to clumsily foreshadow the climax of the book.
The book isn't terrible, however -- far from it. Penny Rose and Lark are characters that remind me quite a bit of myself as a kid -- awkward and shy, with peculiar interests, but still wanting to have friends and be accepted by others. I enjoyed seeing them become friends and share an interest in the robots, and even the conflict in their relationship feels realistic. I think Penny Rose makes some thoughtless decisions at times... but again, this feels realistic. Kids don't always make logical, thoughtful decisions, and it's easy to see how one can accidentally hurt a friend in the quest to feel accepted by their peers.
The illustrations are a nice touch -- a little on the scratchy side, but that adds to their appeal. And of course, the robots are adorable. They don't have much personality, but they're still fun.
Kids will enjoy this, and probably want to try building little robots of their own. Me, I hoped for a bit meatier of a read, but still acknowledge that children will enjoy this.
Penny Rose doesn't make friends easy -- she would much rather stay in her workshop and build her robots. But then two things happen that change her life -- she befriends a neighborhood girl named Lark, who's obsessed with building birdhouses; and her robots come to life! Penny Rose and Lark are soon captivated by their new little friends, and even build a miniature town for them to live in! But when Penny Rose receives an invitation to join a secret science club -- a club that Lark isn't invited to -- she finds herself having to choose between Lark and the club. And when she finally makes her choice, her robots end up caught in the middle...
The writing in this book felt rather simplistic. I understand this is a book geared towards younger readers, and I didn't expect complex writing, but I still think that even younger readers can appreciate good writing. It felt workmanlike and bland, and prefers to list off character traits in characters rather than show said traits in the writing itself. Also, one of the robots is shown to have the ability to see the future, which ultimately feels like it was only added to clumsily foreshadow the climax of the book.
The book isn't terrible, however -- far from it. Penny Rose and Lark are characters that remind me quite a bit of myself as a kid -- awkward and shy, with peculiar interests, but still wanting to have friends and be accepted by others. I enjoyed seeing them become friends and share an interest in the robots, and even the conflict in their relationship feels realistic. I think Penny Rose makes some thoughtless decisions at times... but again, this feels realistic. Kids don't always make logical, thoughtful decisions, and it's easy to see how one can accidentally hurt a friend in the quest to feel accepted by their peers.
The illustrations are a nice touch -- a little on the scratchy side, but that adds to their appeal. And of course, the robots are adorable. They don't have much personality, but they're still fun.
Kids will enjoy this, and probably want to try building little robots of their own. Me, I hoped for a bit meatier of a read, but still acknowledge that children will enjoy this.
October 1, 2019
Two girls discover their mutual love of tinkering and science in this quirky, fun, illustrated novel. Eleven-year-old Penny Rose is new in town, and doesn’t really have any friends yet – unless you count the little robots she makes in her shed. She makes them out of found objects, and tinkers lovingly with them, giving them names and looking after them every day. Lark, her neighbor, is a quirky girl next door who loves birds and tinkers with found objects given to her by the crows; she makes birdhouses to keep her friends safe from the elements. The two girls become friends and create an entire town for the little robots… and when a mysterious wind sweeps through their town, it brings some surprises with it! But while Penny and Lark enjoy one another’s company, a secret science club at school offers Penny membership in their society. Penny feels the tug between her new best friend and a group of like-minded science friends, but making the wrong decisions for the wrong reasons could cost Penny her best friend and the robots that she loves so much.
This is such an unconventional, enjoyable book! I love the idea of making creations out of found objects, and the touch of magical realism infused in this story makes it a joy to read. It’s a STEM story, a friendship story, and a comforting story about second chances. The little robots have their own personalities, each reflected in their names, bestowed on them by Penny. Penny is more tech-focused, while Lark prefers the world around her, showing that making and tinkering presents endless creations. The black and white illustrations throughout give life to the story and keep readers interested as they move through the book.
There’s a downloadable guide with discussion questions and activities, making this a good idea for an ELA/Science partnership or book club/Discovery Club program. I can’t wait until my library’s copy arrives, so I can start telling kids how much they need to read this book. Maybe it’s time for a secret science society at MY library… hmmmm…
This is such an unconventional, enjoyable book! I love the idea of making creations out of found objects, and the touch of magical realism infused in this story makes it a joy to read. It’s a STEM story, a friendship story, and a comforting story about second chances. The little robots have their own personalities, each reflected in their names, bestowed on them by Penny. Penny is more tech-focused, while Lark prefers the world around her, showing that making and tinkering presents endless creations. The black and white illustrations throughout give life to the story and keep readers interested as they move through the book.
There’s a downloadable guide with discussion questions and activities, making this a good idea for an ELA/Science partnership or book club/Discovery Club program. I can’t wait until my library’s copy arrives, so I can start telling kids how much they need to read this book. Maybe it’s time for a secret science society at MY library… hmmmm…
October 22, 2019
That afternoon, just as she was about to leave the shed, she smiled at all the robots.
"Looks like I have a friend after all," she said.
As she was turning to leave, she heard a strange whirring behind her. She spun around, but all she could she were the robots lined up on the table.
Children's author Carolyn Crimi (writer of picture books such as There Might Be Lobsters and I Am the Boss of This Chair) teams up with My Heart and The Book of Mistakes illustrator Corinna Luyken to bring readers the wonderfully unusual and heartfelt chapter book Weird Little Robots. When readers meet protagonist Penny Rose Mooney, they learn three important things: one, that Penny Rose can build incredible miniature robots; two, that Penny Rose does not have a best friend; and three, something...peculiar... seems to happening lately with her robots. Penny Rose has Arvid (her cat), her parents, and her array of robots, so it seems like having a best friend isn't really necessary. However, while celebrating her birthday with her parents and cat, Penny Rose thinks that sharing a slice of birthday cake with a best friend might be a rather lovely thing. After considering how she might approach and make friends with her "mysterious" goggle-wearing neighbor and classmate, Lark Hinkle, a slightly bumpy and awkward encounter leads to the beginnings of a genuine friendship. One in which Penny Rose not only shows her beloved robots to an amazed Lark, but also one in which Penny Rose tells Lark that she thinks her robots might actually be alive. An invitation to a super secret science club at school that makes a point to exclude Lark fractures parts of the new friendship, but a brazen move by a jealous classmate to steal Penny Rose's robots just might bring the two back together. With dynamic, oh so perfect black and white illustrations by Corinna Luyken throughout (the characters beam off the page), Carolyn Crimi's compact novel is rich with important subject matter and magic woven throughout. Speaking to friendship, loyalty, robotics, bullies, and the wonder of what happens when you believe in the impossible, Crimi and Luyken's novel is an affecting and uncanny story, perfect for fans of authors such as Michelle Cuevas, Kallie George, or Sara Pennypacker.
I received a copy of this title courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada/Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.
August 30, 2019
@kidlitexchange #partner
Thank you to the publisher @candlewickpress, the publisher @carolyncrimi1228, and the illustrator @corinnaluyken for sharing an advance copy of Weird Little Robots with the #kidlitexchange network. This book will be available in October 2019. All opinions are my own.
Penny Rose has just moved into a new town and has yet to make any friends. Currently, her only company are the robots she makes out of random objects like calculators, broken cellphones, and marbles. After spending her birthday alone, Penny Rose makes a wish and with a little bit of magic her life drastically changes. First, she becomes best friends with Lark, then they discover that the robots have come to life and, finally, Penny Rose is invited to join a secret science club. Penny Rose ends up having to choose between her best friend and the science club she's dreamed of and her poor little robots end up facing the consequences of her actions.
Weird Little Robots is a beautifully written story of friendship and trust. I love that there is a strong focus on the love of science. Penny Rose loves building robots, Lark loves ornithology, and one of the other girls in the science club is into environmental science. I love that Lark embraces who she is through and through and that Penny Rose eventually learns to do this too. This book is also about forgiveness, trust, and being there for your friends. Lark is the perfect example of this. This story is written in such a warm, fun, and inviting way. I was pulled into Penny Rose and Lark's world from page one. Luyken also did an amazing job of illustrating the book and bringing Crimi's characters to life.
Thank you to the publisher @candlewickpress, the publisher @carolyncrimi1228, and the illustrator @corinnaluyken for sharing an advance copy of Weird Little Robots with the #kidlitexchange network. This book will be available in October 2019. All opinions are my own.
Penny Rose has just moved into a new town and has yet to make any friends. Currently, her only company are the robots she makes out of random objects like calculators, broken cellphones, and marbles. After spending her birthday alone, Penny Rose makes a wish and with a little bit of magic her life drastically changes. First, she becomes best friends with Lark, then they discover that the robots have come to life and, finally, Penny Rose is invited to join a secret science club. Penny Rose ends up having to choose between her best friend and the science club she's dreamed of and her poor little robots end up facing the consequences of her actions.
Weird Little Robots is a beautifully written story of friendship and trust. I love that there is a strong focus on the love of science. Penny Rose loves building robots, Lark loves ornithology, and one of the other girls in the science club is into environmental science. I love that Lark embraces who she is through and through and that Penny Rose eventually learns to do this too. This book is also about forgiveness, trust, and being there for your friends. Lark is the perfect example of this. This story is written in such a warm, fun, and inviting way. I was pulled into Penny Rose and Lark's world from page one. Luyken also did an amazing job of illustrating the book and bringing Crimi's characters to life.
July 27, 2019
Thank you to the publisher and to @blue_slip_media for the free copy of this book. All opinions are my own. I’ll be sharing this with #kidlitexchange very soon!
Penny Rose and Lark are both unique MG girls who are obsessive about creating things from found objects, who are in the same class and are neighbors. However, they have their differences. Penny Rose is looking for a friend and Lark is not. Even though Penny Rose has the robots she builds in her backyard shed, she wants more. But Lark is perfectly happy being a loner, a bird watcher, a friend of birds and a builder of interesting bird houses, until Penny Rose figures out what Lark can’t resist; a trail of interesting found objects which leads Lark across the street and right up to Penny Rose’s workshop door. So their friendship begins.
Carolyn Crimi’s words are part magic, part STEM and part friendship in this quirky MG book. Corinna Luyken’s charming cover immediately pulls you into this sweet story and quickly gives you the assurance you’re in for a joyful ride. Her drawings are generously sprinkled throughout the story and that, along with the short chapters, makes this an especially good choice for a reluctant reader or a fun family read aloud. As a bonus, it’s one of those books that can be shared with a wide age range and will appeal to young and old. I can just imagine a cozy storytime and hearing the words, “just one more chapter, please?”
Ages 7+ will love this fun story, and you will, too. Pre order now for it’s 10.1.19 release!
Penny Rose and Lark are both unique MG girls who are obsessive about creating things from found objects, who are in the same class and are neighbors. However, they have their differences. Penny Rose is looking for a friend and Lark is not. Even though Penny Rose has the robots she builds in her backyard shed, she wants more. But Lark is perfectly happy being a loner, a bird watcher, a friend of birds and a builder of interesting bird houses, until Penny Rose figures out what Lark can’t resist; a trail of interesting found objects which leads Lark across the street and right up to Penny Rose’s workshop door. So their friendship begins.
Carolyn Crimi’s words are part magic, part STEM and part friendship in this quirky MG book. Corinna Luyken’s charming cover immediately pulls you into this sweet story and quickly gives you the assurance you’re in for a joyful ride. Her drawings are generously sprinkled throughout the story and that, along with the short chapters, makes this an especially good choice for a reluctant reader or a fun family read aloud. As a bonus, it’s one of those books that can be shared with a wide age range and will appeal to young and old. I can just imagine a cozy storytime and hearing the words, “just one more chapter, please?”
Ages 7+ will love this fun story, and you will, too. Pre order now for it’s 10.1.19 release!
August 31, 2019
Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing an ARC of this book to the #Collabookation reading group. Penny Rose and Lark both struggle with making friends, as they appear to be "different" to those around them. Penny Rose loves spending time building robots out of random things she finds lying around, while Lark looks for treasures that the crows drop while passing by. Through their love of science, they come together and become friends, when something magical happens one night. Penny Rose's robots magically come to life and find a way to even communicate with her. As the new kid in school, Penny Rose randomly gets invited to try out to become part of the Secret Science Society. Not knowing who sent her the message, who is in the club, or where they even meet, she betrays Lark and the robots' trust and goes against her word. As a result, soemthing bad happens and Penny Rose needs to save the robots and her friendship with Lark. Will they remain friends? Will Penny Rose become a member of the Secret Science Society? Can Lark forgive her for her betrayal?
This story focuses on themes of friendship, being different, science, and real-life problems that kids can relate to. I loved how short the chapters were, which will make it feel accessible to children, and let's be honest, adults as well. This book is available on Oct. 1, 2019. I will be buying my own personal copy to add to my classroom library and will be reading this book to my class as a read-aloud this year. #WeirdLittle Robots
This story focuses on themes of friendship, being different, science, and real-life problems that kids can relate to. I loved how short the chapters were, which will make it feel accessible to children, and let's be honest, adults as well. This book is available on Oct. 1, 2019. I will be buying my own personal copy to add to my classroom library and will be reading this book to my class as a read-aloud this year. #WeirdLittle Robots
December 26, 2019
Thank you to Candlewick Press and Blue Slip Media for providing me a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This was a charming story of two young girls who don't quite fit in with everyone else, but fit together perfectly. Penny is a shy scientist, who builds robots in the shed in her backyard and allows them to be her friends. She wants friends, she just isn't sure how to actually go about making them. Lark is a neighbor who has her own obsession with building amazing bird houses. When the two become friends, the robots come to life as if to agree with their relationship. Penny is confused when she gets an invitation to a secret science society, but is not allowed to tell Lark. She wants to fit in, but loses Lark in the process.
This is a really interesting take on magical realism and allowing younger readers to get a glimpse of someone dealing with social anxiety. Both Penny and Lark have social anxiety, but deal with it in different ways. Together, they are comfortable with themselves and allowed to be true to their inner natures, but when they fight, they realize that an important part of them is missing. There is also a touch of bullying thrown in when the "secret science club" acts like a bunch of mean girls, and one boy, forcing Penny to do things that she isn't comfortable with in order to fit in. This was an oddly charming book.
This was a charming story of two young girls who don't quite fit in with everyone else, but fit together perfectly. Penny is a shy scientist, who builds robots in the shed in her backyard and allows them to be her friends. She wants friends, she just isn't sure how to actually go about making them. Lark is a neighbor who has her own obsession with building amazing bird houses. When the two become friends, the robots come to life as if to agree with their relationship. Penny is confused when she gets an invitation to a secret science society, but is not allowed to tell Lark. She wants to fit in, but loses Lark in the process.
This is a really interesting take on magical realism and allowing younger readers to get a glimpse of someone dealing with social anxiety. Both Penny and Lark have social anxiety, but deal with it in different ways. Together, they are comfortable with themselves and allowed to be true to their inner natures, but when they fight, they realize that an important part of them is missing. There is also a touch of bullying thrown in when the "secret science club" acts like a bunch of mean girls, and one boy, forcing Penny to do things that she isn't comfortable with in order to fit in. This was an oddly charming book.
January 5, 2021
When two science-savvy girls create an entire robot world, they don’t expect the robots to come alive. But life may be a bit more magical than they thought.
Nine-year-old Penny Rose has just moved to a new town, and so far the robots she builds herself are her only company. But with just a bit of magic, everything changes: she becomes best friends with Lark, has the chance to join a secret science club, and discovers that her robots are alive. Penny Rose hardly remembers how lonely she used to feel. But then a fateful misstep forces her to choose between the best friend she’s always hoped for and the club she’s always dreamed of, and in the end it may be her beloved little robots that pay the price.
Out October 2019
240 Pages
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is a lovely chapter book with beautiful illustrations. I did receive an ARC so my copy did not reveal finalized images, yet, they were still beautiful.
I can’t express how much I enjoyed this book. It’s about being the new girl, making new friendships, being a nerd robot builder, imagination, magic, break-ups and mending fences. This book will inspire girls 8 to 12 to build their own robots and Robot Towns. I love the entire story and all its brilliance and have to go now and build my own robots and robot town. 🙂
Nine-year-old Penny Rose has just moved to a new town, and so far the robots she builds herself are her only company. But with just a bit of magic, everything changes: she becomes best friends with Lark, has the chance to join a secret science club, and discovers that her robots are alive. Penny Rose hardly remembers how lonely she used to feel. But then a fateful misstep forces her to choose between the best friend she’s always hoped for and the club she’s always dreamed of, and in the end it may be her beloved little robots that pay the price.
Out October 2019
240 Pages
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is a lovely chapter book with beautiful illustrations. I did receive an ARC so my copy did not reveal finalized images, yet, they were still beautiful.
I can’t express how much I enjoyed this book. It’s about being the new girl, making new friendships, being a nerd robot builder, imagination, magic, break-ups and mending fences. This book will inspire girls 8 to 12 to build their own robots and Robot Towns. I love the entire story and all its brilliance and have to go now and build my own robots and robot town. 🙂
October 24, 2019
There's quite a lot of magic infused into this delightful friendship book, but it starts with lonely Penny Rose, just moved to town, who isn't quite sure how to make friends. She has a notebook that she fills with "conversation starters" who rarely seem to fit when most needed. Her best friends have become tiny robots, created in an old shed in her new home. When they begin performing more actions than expected, it's rather fun, but would be much more fun with a real best friend. Down the street is Lark, considered too weird by most because she spends a lot of time looking up, at the birds! Finally, these two get together and Lark proves to be a friend of the robots, too. Everything is good, until it isn't! Penny Rose has been invited to some Secret Science Club and betrays Lark in a couple of ways. In the biggest challenge between them, on Halloween night, both realize what a real friendship can be. Including fantasy feels like it might connect to those who wish for more connections and don't quite know how that looks. Carolyn Crimi shows some of the actions and words that help with Corinna Luyken's illustrations adding to this sweet friendship story.
November 9, 2019
Penny Rose is an exceptionally shy girl who finds solace and intellectual satisfaction from creating robots in her home science workshop. When she makes friends with Lark, the maybe equally geeky kid across the street, life starts to look better. Then the robots come alive! And Penny Rose gets an anonymous invitation to join a secret science club! The only problem is, she can’t tell Lark. This is as much a magical realist/sci-fi story as it is one of dealing with social anxiety. I like that the little robots have personalities, and that the girls give them great names, like Data, iPam, and Fraction. And it’s great that these girls are science geeks, one more unabashed than the other. When the friends make assumptions about the fashionable, popular kids in their class, assuming that they aren’t into science, they end up finding out that there’s always more than meets the eye.
Luyken’s illustrations add fun details, although they would have been better in color, like the cover.
I wasn’t totally satisfied with how the bully got his comeuppance – he didn’t end up respecting Penny Rose so much as fearing her.
Luyken’s illustrations add fun details, although they would have been better in color, like the cover.
I wasn’t totally satisfied with how the bully got his comeuppance – he didn’t end up respecting Penny Rose so much as fearing her.
November 20, 2019
Penny Rose is new to town and has no friends. She spends her time making robots out of reclaimed materials. Then she runs into Lark, another girl who is also a loner who makes things out of found items, when they both find a compass. The kids at school think Lark is strange. Soon Penny Rose and Lark become inseparable best friends. That friendship is tested when Penny Rose gets a secret invitation to join a secret science club and she starts seeing Lark in other kids eyes.
This story is about what it means to be a friend.
All in all, this was a really cute story that brings in elements of being an outcast and finding someone who accepts you for who you are. And the pressures of fitting in, even at the exclusion of others. My beef with the book is this: the storyline revolves around science, yet they added the element of magic. I like the magical bits as far as the story goes, however I feel it sells short a book for girls interested in science. It's almost as if the magical component was added to make the story more appealing to young readers
This story is about what it means to be a friend.
All in all, this was a really cute story that brings in elements of being an outcast and finding someone who accepts you for who you are. And the pressures of fitting in, even at the exclusion of others. My beef with the book is this: the storyline revolves around science, yet they added the element of magic. I like the magical bits as far as the story goes, however I feel it sells short a book for girls interested in science. It's almost as if the magical component was added to make the story more appealing to young readers
April 9, 2020
Our 8 year old munchkin and myself really LOVED this one! This was our March selection for our 'bedtime' story and she looked forward to it with so much enthusiasm!
While the munchkin was a huge fan of robots that the girls create from ordinary trinkets coming to life (she started collecting trinkets from around our house immediately to create her own gadgets!), I on the other hand was very pleased to see the love and fun of science that was expressed throughout. The focus on the joys and adventures that can be had with science as well as your imagination is also what helps a new friendship blossom between the two main girl characters and in turn excited the munchkin about science too- extra bonus points!
A very enjoyable read that delivers not only on the fun magical spectrum, but which also depicts the importance of having friends that support and except your interests, hobbies, and passions as well as embracing a love of all things science. Girls and science, yes please! Let's have more books like this one!
While the munchkin was a huge fan of robots that the girls create from ordinary trinkets coming to life (she started collecting trinkets from around our house immediately to create her own gadgets!), I on the other hand was very pleased to see the love and fun of science that was expressed throughout. The focus on the joys and adventures that can be had with science as well as your imagination is also what helps a new friendship blossom between the two main girl characters and in turn excited the munchkin about science too- extra bonus points!
A very enjoyable read that delivers not only on the fun magical spectrum, but which also depicts the importance of having friends that support and except your interests, hobbies, and passions as well as embracing a love of all things science. Girls and science, yes please! Let's have more books like this one!
September 27, 2019
I won this book from Goodreads- thank you Goodreads.
This book is a cool book for kids age starting at 10 or 12. It is about 2 friends who are very different yet very much alike. This book is about friendships lost and gained. About how to be a true blue friend.
Penny Rose just moved to a new town and she only has robot friends, robots who she made from this and that.
One day she becomes friends with her neighbor Lark also builds things from this and that but they are not robots they are birdhouses. the girls become best friends. Penny has always wanted to be in the secret science Club and she may have to choose between her best friend she has always hoped for and the club she has always dreamed of. In the end, it may be her e=beloved robots that pay the price.
The pictures in the book are quirky and wonderfully illustrated.
I want to wish this author very much luck for this book and all her future books she will write.
This book is a cool book for kids age starting at 10 or 12. It is about 2 friends who are very different yet very much alike. This book is about friendships lost and gained. About how to be a true blue friend.
Penny Rose just moved to a new town and she only has robot friends, robots who she made from this and that.
One day she becomes friends with her neighbor Lark also builds things from this and that but they are not robots they are birdhouses. the girls become best friends. Penny has always wanted to be in the secret science Club and she may have to choose between her best friend she has always hoped for and the club she has always dreamed of. In the end, it may be her e=beloved robots that pay the price.
The pictures in the book are quirky and wonderfully illustrated.
I want to wish this author very much luck for this book and all her future books she will write.
October 27, 2019
A wonderful story about a little girl named Penny whom is new town and has a interest in science and robots. These robots she feels are her only friends. This interest leads to the development of a secret science club at school. This story intertwines wanting to be and have friends with learning that you have to know how to be a friend first before you can be a good one. The fact that people are different and they can still interact and get along and that's ok is an important but subtle message in this story.
I also like the fact that the story shows and portrays to people especially young girls that it is ok to be interested in Science and Robots. I recommend this book and believe that it would have broad appeal to readers across much of the upper half of Elementary grade readers (3rd-5th). Could even be used as a class read loud where the teacher reads it to the class a chapter a day.
I also like the fact that the story shows and portrays to people especially young girls that it is ok to be interested in Science and Robots. I recommend this book and believe that it would have broad appeal to readers across much of the upper half of Elementary grade readers (3rd-5th). Could even be used as a class read loud where the teacher reads it to the class a chapter a day.
November 22, 2019
Penny Rose has moved to a new town and hasn’t made any friends. She spends her time making small robots from recycled materials. Over the road, lives a girl called Lark who is a little strange. She is obsessively interested in birds and doesn’t seem to have any friends. She is a natural choice for Penny Rose to befriend. Lark and Penny Rose enjoy playing with the robots and a fantasy twist is introduced into the story when the robots take on a life of their own.
Meantime, Penny Rose is invited to join a secret science club. She is flattered, but it causes conflict in her relationship with Lark. In the end, the story shows the value of working to preserve a friendship.
The story is well-told and the fantasy twist was fun, but it distracted from the natural reality of the story. The book would appeal to children with good imaginations, but not those who like their stories grounded in facts.
A fun read.
Thanks to Christian School Supplier for providing a free book for review
Meantime, Penny Rose is invited to join a secret science club. She is flattered, but it causes conflict in her relationship with Lark. In the end, the story shows the value of working to preserve a friendship.
The story is well-told and the fantasy twist was fun, but it distracted from the natural reality of the story. The book would appeal to children with good imaginations, but not those who like their stories grounded in facts.
A fun read.
Thanks to Christian School Supplier for providing a free book for review
December 8, 2019
Thanks to the Kid Lit Exchange network and Candlewick Press for the review copy of Weird Little Robots by Carolyn Crimi and illustrated by Corinna Luyken. All opinions are my own.
Penny Rose is nine years old and has just moved to a new town. She has struggled to make friends and spends most of her time building robots in the shed in her backyard. After spending her birthday alone, she makes a wish for a friend. The next day things begin to change. Her robots come to life and start moving on their own. She also befriends a girl named Lark, and they begin to work together on the robots. Then one day Penny Rose finds an invitation in her locker to join a secret science club. Penny Rose must choose between her only friend and joining the club.
This is a heartwarming story about friendship, loyalty, and promises that I feel many kids will be able to relate to. I also love that this book focuses on girls interested in science and STEM. With a few beautiful hand-drawn illustrations sprinkled throughout, this would be a good book for readers that love graphic novels. This book would be ideal for grades 3 – 6.
Penny Rose is nine years old and has just moved to a new town. She has struggled to make friends and spends most of her time building robots in the shed in her backyard. After spending her birthday alone, she makes a wish for a friend. The next day things begin to change. Her robots come to life and start moving on their own. She also befriends a girl named Lark, and they begin to work together on the robots. Then one day Penny Rose finds an invitation in her locker to join a secret science club. Penny Rose must choose between her only friend and joining the club.
This is a heartwarming story about friendship, loyalty, and promises that I feel many kids will be able to relate to. I also love that this book focuses on girls interested in science and STEM. With a few beautiful hand-drawn illustrations sprinkled throughout, this would be a good book for readers that love graphic novels. This book would be ideal for grades 3 – 6.
August 7, 2019
From acclaimed picture book writer, Carolyn Crimi, comes the sweet and quirky middle-grade novel, WEIRD LITTLE ROBOTS. A story about a lonely, robot-making eleven-year-old named Penny Rose who wishes for a friend but gets a whole lot more than she ever dreamed.
The gentle and wise narrator's voice will draw readers in from the first page and the rising action and unexpected events that occur as the plot unfolds will keep readers intrigued until the final word. The character's (both human and robot) are vividly captured by Crimi's words and Luyken's art and their choices, actions, and reactions are well explored. Their love of science, creating, and repurposing discarded objects adds an additional layer of intrigue and wonder to the story.
This delightful, early middle-grade story is a worthy addition to home bookshelves and classroom libraries. Buckle up your tool belt and enjoy!
The gentle and wise narrator's voice will draw readers in from the first page and the rising action and unexpected events that occur as the plot unfolds will keep readers intrigued until the final word. The character's (both human and robot) are vividly captured by Crimi's words and Luyken's art and their choices, actions, and reactions are well explored. Their love of science, creating, and repurposing discarded objects adds an additional layer of intrigue and wonder to the story.
This delightful, early middle-grade story is a worthy addition to home bookshelves and classroom libraries. Buckle up your tool belt and enjoy!
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