RO-BO

A new friend brings new experiences.

One morning, a young boy named Milo wakes up to a surprise: RO-BO, a gray metallic robotic sphere with pincers for arms and helicopter blades atop its head. He instantly takes to his new pal, and they engage in activities both nice (playing video games) and naughty (saying “the bad words”). Concerned that Milo is spending too much time inside, Mama sends them outside, where they encounter a group of kids struggling to build “a GIANT spaceship with room for everyone.” Working together, RO-BO and company eventually take to the air and land in “a strange and faraway place” filled with fantastical creatures and flora. When RO-BO suddenly shuts down, Milo and his friends come together to bring the bot back to life using kinetic energy, safely bringing everyone back and leaving Milo with an epic story to tell. Argentinian author/illustrator Ruiz Johnson has crafted a relatable ode to the importance of maintaining human connections in a world full of technological distractions. Detailed panels, rendered in acrylic, pastel, and pencil and edited digitally, combine with Schimel’s spot-on translation from Spanish to create a unique world that will inspire readers to go outside and touch grass. Ruiz Johnson employs her signature style; her landscape of brightly saturated colors is entirely inviting. Milo is brown-skinned; his friends are diverse.

An appealing look at the power of play.