R Robot Saves Lunch

In this jaunty debut, “R Robot,” a stocky blue robot with a single antenna and mechanical pincers, has an important job to do at the factory: locate a missing robot “who was last seen at lunchtime the day before.” All of the robots—who resemble R Robot, other than some variations in size, color and appendages—join in the search for their missing friend, making a “big mess” in the process. When lunchtime rolls around, the robots discover that “Big Cooker” (a colossal barrel-shaped robot wearing a chef's hat) is malfunctioning and send in R to investigate. Readers are likely to guess the source of the clog and laugh aloud when R Robot, the headless missing employee and a spray of metallic detritus spew out of Big Cooker's backside. (R Robot uses the “extra head” he always brings to work “just in case” to fix up the missing robot, though the final page oddly shows the newcomer with an orange, not blue, head.) With charisma to spare, the robots—expressive even without defined facial features—carry the simple story line to its rollicking conclusion. Ages 5–8. (Aug.)