Hello, Robots

by Bob Staake

Hardworking robots Blink, Zinc, Blip, and Zip run into a sudden downpour and get their circuits crossed, resulting in confusion and comedy.

Genres: Picture Books, Robots, Childrens, Humor, Science Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2004

About the author

Bob Staake has authored and/or illustrated more than forty-two books, including The Red Lemon, a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year. His work has graced the cover of The New Yorker a dozen times, and his November 17, 2008 Barack Obama victory cover was named Best Magazine Cover of the Year by Time magazine. He lives on Cape Cod, in Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Mama Bearian]

As the robots wake up and start their day, they get dressed and eat breakfast in a very unusual way. Their socks go on after their shirts, and they get all mixed up until it's time for a REBOOT! This is a great rhyming robot book for babies or toddlers.

[Emily]

Many pages describe what four robots do with their expertise in cooking, fixing, yardwork, and cleaning, but when they get rained on, things go wrong. (Many picture books about robots seem to be about things going wrong.)

[Jennybeast]

Cute robots with individual strengths, good twist after experiencing water -- nice book.

[Bubba]

Nice for early/emerging readers. The repeating rhyme is nice and the illustrations were recognized. We had to get our other favorite: Sputter, Sputter, Sput by Staake too!

[Kiyoko]

Creative story that gave us lots to discuss along the way. Why are the robots acting different? What is going wrong? I enjoyed the illustrations.

[DiAnne Warfield]

Holt-Delhi library PJ story time 08-13-2025

[Meredith]

Fun illustrations, but too high-concept for my PreKs. And too disturbing for me re: switched heads.

[Karen]

I heard "Hello, Robots" before I saw it, and because I was distracted, it didn't quite grab me like other Staake books did. My then three-and-a-half year old son, however, was immediately interested and wanted to check out the book. So we did. Then he didn't want to bring it back to the library, so we had to buy our own copy. Now whenever we read this book, i.e., every day and usually more than once a day, my son "reads" the refrain in a robot voice. I get it now. It's funny.

The illustrations are typical Bob Staake artwork, which is a shorthand way of saying that they are brilliant, funny, a bit twisted, and convey the unexpected. The two pages showing the robots in the rain so intrigue and worry my little boy that he has painted his own scene of robots in the rain. Good children's books entertain. Great children's books spark the imagination. Excellent children's books inspire. It's pretty clear to my young son what kind of books Mr. Staake creates.

[Sara Bland]

Obviously a great read for students who love robots. This is a pretty specific theme, and I'm not sure that some students would be interested in reading this particular story if they are not already interested in robots. There are four robot friends who all do their part around the house, until one day they get rained on. At this point, they are kind of fried and decide to switch heads! This is where it gets a bit interesting because all of the robots then switch and combine their household chores. Parts of sentences are written in fuzzy looking letters to differentiate that something different is happening now that their heads are all switched. This is a cute little book with a nice ending. Themes present are friendship, doing your part, and trying new things.

[jacky]

I had hoped this would be better and it was just okay. Natalie asked to hear it again and got on a bit of a robot kick from it though. I liked the colors and the rhyming, but the story was just alright. I also thought that the head switching could be a bit scary as well as the robots getting hurt by the rain. Natalie's been particularly sensitive to that type of thing recently.

[Sarah Metts]

So CUTE! AND ROBOTS!!! DOUBLE AWESOME!

It is about four robots, each with their own jobs to do around the house. A storm comes and scrambles their brains. Soon, the robots are cooking birdhouses and raking the windows. But they find a solution and soon find the house in working order again. The illustrations are simple but inviting, the colors are vibrant and contrasted well.

[A]

Nothing can stop hard-working robots, Blink, Zinc, Blip, and Zip, from performing their many household tasks until they get caught in a downpour. The rain makes them mix up all their chores (mixing nuts and bolts in soup, shinning grass, and raking glass, etc.). They swap heads and all the chores get done correctly once again. Very silly and cute. Very colorful

[Alexandria Hiam]

Nothing can stop hard-working robots, Blink, Zinc, Blip, and Zip, from performing their many household tasks until they get caught in a downpour. The rain makes them mix up all their chores (mixing nuts and bolts in soup, shinning grass, and raking glass, etc.). They swap heads and all the chores get done correctly once again. Very silly and cute. Very colorful

[Amanda]

The illustrations in this one and the fun names made this a fun one to read. While I don't think my 2 1/2 y/o understood how funny the robots were after a storm gave them electrical shortages, I think he overall liked the book. I think it would really be a hit for pint-sized robot fans.

[Paul Hankins]

Bob Staake's illustrations are like a pop-art wonder. Fans of robots would love this one. How is this book not being built into a series for younger audience about the further adventures of Blink, Zink, Blip, and Zip?

I'd watch it.

[Adrianne]

Staake used rhyming to tell the story of how the robots malfunctioned, worked out their problem, and were able to smile again. I asked Vince if he thought this book was funny. He smiled at me and said, "I want to get this book again!"

[JoAnna Studer]

The helpful house robots in this book go haywire after accidentally being left outside in a rain storm. This is the kind of book that parents search for. It makes reading to your child fun and funny. Great rhymes, illustration and plot! Check it out.

[Samantha]

Meet a team of smiling robots who each have a special talent. A rainstorm strikes and when everything dries up, not alls quite right. The robots do a switch to fix the glitch and are back to smiling by book's end.

Vibrant digital artwork shows the robots excelling at what they do. PreK-2.

[The Book Box]

Mama read this to my classmates for distance library!

Mama read this book to my brother and me this morning. I love robots so I really liked it, and it made my parents laugh. Definitely one we'll re-read!

[Vanessa Woolverton]

Zander loved this book. It has very cool pictures and not too many words.

[Sarah Kiesche]

My son really loved this book. The colors and repetitive rhyming lines are very catchy and the role switches made him laugh. Great way to discuss jobs and rhyming words. K-1

[Holly]

Preschool

[Melissa Legacy]

A great book to read aloud at story time because it has a lot of bright colours and the story is easy. The kids really liked pointing out the colours and identifying the different chores.

[Dawn]

b

[Rosa]

A cute robot story that also has a letter sounds component. I think this would go great with a pre-k robot story time.

[Leah Irby]

Robots= can't go wrong in Judah's book

[Kristin Becker]

My 3 year old loved this book. Loved the color, the rhyme, & repetitive frame.

[Owlsome Readers]

AR Level: 2.2
Points Value: 0.5
AR Quiz No. 115119

[Michelle Farella]

Cute robot book, on the longer side though. Not too much room for interaction.

[Nicole Jones]

Picture Books-great colors, fun intorductory book for beginning readers, small plot