Parents' Guide to

R Is for Robot: A Noisy Alphabet

By Jan Carr, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Robots + loud sounds = lots of phonics fun.

Book Adam F. Watkins Picture Book 2014
R Is for Robot: A Noisy Alphabet Poster Image

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What's the Story?

Though R IS FOR ROBOT is an alphabet book, there's a clear story line: The robots are constructing an alphabet, accompanied by lots of noisy power tools and other fun sounds. They cart off A and B (Ahoogah, Beep Boop), bang on C (Clang Clink Crash Clank), and polish up D (Drip Drop). The story even includes obstacles to overcome -- J needs more girders? JOLT! -- and built-in urgency -- a clock on the T page shows time a'tickin': Tick Tock! Young readers may not worry that the robots will make it to Z (Zap!), but they'll feel lots of satisfaction at the end when the robots stand back to admire their fully constructed alphabet tower.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

While alphabet books can be lots of fun for an illustrator, they may be ho-hum for readers -- but not this one! Robots plus noisy onomatopoeia make for lots of participatory fun. There’s even a visual story threaded through. As the robots construct an alphabet out of steel and girders, they use tools that are LOUD, and the sounds on each page demonstrate the sound of the letter being constructed. ABCDE? That’s Ahoogah, Beep Boop, Clang Clink Crash Clank, Drip Drop, Eek! There's lots of opportunity for interactive reading as kids gleefully chime in with the sounds.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the letters of the alphabet and their sounds. What are some of your favorite letters?

  • How are these robots like humans? Have you ever started a task and encountered obstacles? How did you work to overcome them?

  • Do you like to build things? What tools have you used? How were they helpful? How do you build something bit by bit? What were the individual steps you took?

Book Details

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