A Feel-Good Experiment with Lots of Laughs
Space Bot is on a covert mission to answer one question: are humans friendly? To answer this, it visits earth and observes a young family, gathering data about their habits and behaviors. But when its mission goes awry and its data is scrambled, Space Bot is forced to unexpectedly interact with its subjects...only to make the greatest discovery of all: friendship!
With humor and heart, SPACE BOT: MISSION EARTH is an affirmation that humans are far more good than bad, and that curiosity, caring and friendliness can make the world-even the whole UNIVERSE-a better place.
BONUS: SPACE BOT: MISSION EARTH is also the perfect complement to early elementary common core science lessons, highlighting key science curriculum skills such as asking & answering questions about the natural world, observing & describing the natural world, planning & carrying out investigations and analyzing & interpreting data.
About the Author :
Jane Smith is the award-winning author-illustrator of fourteen children's picture books, including the popular Chloe Zoe series, Hello New House and Miss Meow. Jane enjoys knock-knock jokes, cartoons and making kiddos laugh. She lives in sun-kissed Wilmington, North Carolina with her husband and super star daughter. Visit Jane at www.superjane.com. Jane Smith is the award-winning author-illustrator of fourteen children's picture books, including the popular Chloe Zoe series, Hello New House and Miss Meow. Jane enjoys knock-knock jokes, cartoons and making kiddos laugh. She lives in sun-kissed Wilmington, North Carolina with her husband and super star daughter. Visit Jane at www.superjane.com.
Review :
In Smith's picture book, a robot from outer space heads to Earth to discern the answer to an important question: Are humans friendly?
Space Bot disembarks on Earth on a mission to collect data about humans. Is humankind good or bad? The traveler is looking for an answer and begins an investigation. Space Bot starts to secretly observe human behaviors and habits, from eating breakfast to brushing their teeth. Just as it prepares to form its "friendliness hypothesis," the bot is discovered hiding behind a tree by a group of surprised children. Space Bot tries to escape, but a malfunction strands it on Earth without the ability to finish its analysis. Now, Space Bot is forced to rely on the children's smarts to fix its broken system while witnessing their kindness toward a stranger firsthand. This is a sweet story with comic book-style illustrations by the author that are sharp and hooky; the cast of human characters is diverse and engaging. The robotic-styled font is a charming touch that evokes the robot's analytical thinking. Ultimately, the strongest element is Smith's prose, which captures the children's compassion with simple, tender lines such as "Do you need a hug?" and "Do you want to play with us?" The story offers a reassuring reminder that perhaps Earth's humans aren't so bad after all.
An endearing affirmation of human warmth.
-Kirkus Reviews
