Robomop by Sean Taylor

by Sean Taylor

This is Robomop, a hardworking robot who's good at his job, which is cleaning...well, yes, the public restroom. But it's not all mopping, slopping, rubbing, and scrubbing. Robomop also does a wicked honky-tonk dance to the window washer's radio, and he dreams of seeing the sun and sky. So when he's carried outside one day, Robomop believes his wish has come true at last. Has it? Well one thing is for for this little robot, finding his place in the world means never giving up trying.

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

Hardcover

First published February 7, 2013

About the author

Sean Taylor started writing poetry as a teenager. In 1993, he came across a newspaper article which reported that a goat slaughtered in Iran had been found to have teeth made of gold. He tried writing a story for children. It was called 'The Goat with the Golden Teeth' and it won second prize in a competition run by the British newspaper 'The Independent' and Scholastic Children's Books. Since then, Sean has focussed on writing for children and has published over forty books for young readers of different ages. As well as writing, he has many years’ experience visiting schools, where he works with poetry and storytelling to encourage young people to write themselves. He lives partly in England (where he was born) and partly in Brazil( where his wife is from.)

Reviews

[Laima · Rating 5 out of 5]

For kids aged 4 to 7.

This book is a cute little treasure - I loved it!
and I could use a Robomop at my house.....



Free read from We Give Books.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robomop is a hardworking machine stuck cleaning a bathroom in a basement. He schemes ways to escape, but each well-planned escape is thwarted in one way or another. He's lonely and wants to enjoy the sunlight and fall in love.

One day the inspector brings a new robot cleaner, a lady robot and Robomop thinks he might like the new arrangement except that Robomop is finally taken above ground and promptly thrown away. A happy ending is still in store for Robomop, though, when the window cleaner, who was also let go, takes Robomop home with him and Robomop lives out all of his dreams, though, not in any way he ever imagined.

What a great picture book read for adults! Woodblock illustrations are fantastically textured and the muted color palette helps set the tone for the story.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robomop works hard to clean the basement bathroom but is lonely. He tries to create ways to be taken outside to experience life. He gets his wish but not in the way he wants. He is replaced by an updated model cleaner. The fired window cleaner takes him home and he becomes part of their family. Happy ending with lots of humor along the way.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Screw Kirkus - I think this book is a treasure.

[Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robomop just wants what we all want, purpose and good company. Through a series of fails, and what he thinks is the worst possible thing that could happen, he ends up in the best situation possible. The illustrations are cute, almost retro looking.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

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[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adorable story.
Absolutely appropriate for preschool on up.
There’s a deep message - I’d recommend many readings as there is some rich vocabulary worth repeating

It’s just amazing
Colorful illustration theme as well

I very much enjoyed this story and would highly recommend it

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a major hit in our house. It’s such a fun story. We pick up extra copies from time to time to share with friends.

[babyhippoface · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, the clever humor here, enough to keep adults entertained just as much as children.

Robomop is a fantastic cleaning tool, but he's stuck cleaning a bathroom. In the basement. {{sigh}} He wants to see the world, not just dark basement walls! But, alas--robots cannot climb stairs. So he devises a plan to escape the basement. Fail. Another plan. Fail. Then just when things finally start to look hopeful, he's picked up and carried out of the basement and place into...the garbage. Another [[sigh}}.

The little extra touches are what makes this book memorable: Robomop, his head buried in a satchel and his body an arching rainbow, failing to make it all the way into the satchel; his "small honky-tonk dance to the tunes"; his accidental headfirst-into-the-toilet dive/fall. The illustrations, done all in pale blue, bold yellow-gold, black, and white, feature blocky portions that look as though they were sponged on. The palette is a really quite nice retro feel.

This is a book parents won't mind reading over and over, because it's easy on the eyes and the first-person narrative by the robot is particularly well-done.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Robomop! He is stuck cleaning a bathroom in a basemen. Day after day after day it is the same. He dreams of escaping to find fresh air, friends and to fall in love. He can't do it on his own because Robomops are not equipped for going up stairs. He tries hiding in a duffel bag and even pretending he is broken thinking the inspector will take him up and out for repairs. Just when he gives up hope the inspector brings a lovely Bio-Morphic Bellebot Cleanerette to the basement. Maybe at least some of Robomop's dreams will come true. Then he realizes his plans have backfired and the lovely Cleanerette isn't there to join him, but to replace him. Now Robomop is taken from the basement and put in the trash. This is not the freedom and fresh air he had dreamed of.
I love the sweet story and the retro=style illustrations.

[Alicia Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robomop just wants to get out of the bathroom where he's been set to work all day alone by himself. He wants to see the outdoors and go on adventures. He wants to meet new people and he wants to do wonderful things with his time. He's just cut out for so much more than bathroom duty.

My roommate brought this home with her one evening and we had a good laugh reading it. The story is really cute and definitely something that kids will be able to relate to in terms of wanting to escape responsibilities that may feel stifling. The illustrations are both interactive and entertaining through their use of movement. A very adorable read.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am allowed to say one book is cute, so I am going to say this one was! I found myself saying aww throughout the entire story. I felt sorry for the robomop, and I think if I read the story to kids, they would feel the same way. I kept making predictions as well, but ended up being wrong. For example, I thought he would escape and join the circus, but I was wrong. Then I thought the new mop would become friends with him, but she didn't. I loved the ending though, which I also didn't see coming. I was very glad that robomop found his happy ending. Also, I really liked the illustrations. They felt slightly futuristic and technology based.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robomop is a clever cleaning machine who longs for friends and fun, but he is stuck cleaning a bathroom in a basement. He thinks he's finally found a friend, but then he gets thrown away! Will Robomop ever find happiness?

This would be a good book to use when teaching about descriptive verbs or onomatopoiea. A good read aloud book, but not necessarily a great book for a beginning reader by themselves. Some of the words and phrases are beyond the average lower elementary kid. Kids will probably love the illustrations as Robomop can strike some rather humerous poses.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the illustrations, but didn’t care for the story. It had a good ending, but it didn’t do anything for me. It reminded me a little of the Jetsons, even though that wasn’t a show I watched...I guess it reminded me of the idea of that show, or what I’ve always pictured in my head. The pictures were stylized and fun, but overall it was a teensy bit depressing. I think it depends on how you view things – but I can see other people enjoying this story.

*Taken from My Sentiments Exactly!: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2013...

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very sweet story about a robomop. He wanted a friend to work with him in the basement for he felt lonely. But when he started acting up, the owner kicked him out and replaced him with another robomop. The owner also replaced the window washer with the same robomop. So the window washer took the old robomop home and had him work at the washer's house. Here the robomop was happy surrounded by friends. I would use this book to help students create a topic to write about.

[Sherry Thornberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book about a lonely cleaning robot who just wanted to get out in the world. He did and was quite happy with his new family. Especially when he met the vacuum. I liked the way this book gave a robot hopes, dreams, and aspirations just like a human. It really makes the reader feel compassionate for the robot which is really an inanimate object. The pictures were not great but it is a book worth sharing with a class nevertheless.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable story about a cleaning robot who is depressed in his old job, and wishes he could be anywhere else but in the basement cleaning the bathroom every day. He concocts an ingenious idea to get himself out, but it backfires and he is thrown out with the trash and replaced. Oh, what will he do next? Grab a copy for yourself and find out. The illustrations are so colorful, and just add to the story. If only our appliances could talk, what would they say?

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun illustrations and the story was cute. My son liked it better than I did (ergo the 4 stars vs 3) - but it was a fun breakaway from the typical children's books out there. I read it with a robotic voice - and the rest of the day, my son ran away speaking like the robot and replaying the story out.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a longer story for older children about a cleaning robot and his desire to be free of his basement home. When he is replaced by a newer model, the window cleaner (also replaced) takes him home. And they all live happily ever after. “Finding your place in the world means never giving up trying.”

[Josianne Fitzgerald]

Cute story of a robo-mop who dreams of finding love and friendship in the outside world. He's stuck in a basement, but that doesn't keep him from trying to escape and dancing to honky tonk music every chance he gets. The illustrations are sort of retro, in pastel colors, and you can't help but root for him.

Read through WeGiveBooks.org.

[Shanshad Whelan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might be a little biased, seeing as how I have a soft spot for science fiction, but I think this is a great little story worthy of some chuckles--now the test is to see how well it reads aloud to my 4 year old!

[Dest · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, earnest robot yearns for a better life, a life outside of the basement bathroom he has to clean. He tries multiple silly methods of escape, but finally finds a savior in a honky-tonk loving window washer. Super cute and charming.

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Age: Kindergarten-2nd grade

Something felt off about this book. The artwork was cool but the first-person narrative felt like forced humor. The first-person narration only allowed Robomop to do two things: describe the plot and whine.

[Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great second grade class read aloud. Robomop is sad because he is stuck in a bathroom and can't see the sun. He tries to escape over and over but never succeeds until he is thrown out. Then robomop finds a new home with a family that is right for him.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Robomop stuck in a basement bathroom always cleaning with no chance to see the sunshine. He tries everything to get out, but robomops can't climb stairs. I thought this book was super cute. I loved all the illustrations and the schemes Robomop comes up with to escape. The ending is perfect!

[Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny little robot, funny jokes, happy to see pictures of a potty. Always good for a laugh. This is the kind of book you read at Barnes and Noble or borrow from the library but not one I would buy to keep unless you were super into robots. Anything that references potties is a win with my boys.

[Alison Durbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fun read. I liked the Robomop character, and I felt bad for him when he was replaced by a newer model. I appreciated that the ending was a happy one. I thought the illustrations were nice as well. Overall, I think kids would enjoy this character and his story.

[Marissa Pezzullo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good bed time story more than a read aloud. Robomop has had his fair share of trouble. He wants to see the world but is stuck in a basement bathroom to do his job which is cleaning it. It was a funny book but I would not read it aloud.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny,charming and imaginative in equal measure. Loved it.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Robomop is a hardworking robomop but when he gets replaced he finds a new place to call home. I enjoyed the illustrations but I didn't really enjoy the story as much.

[Cory · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very odd, but in a very endearing sort of way.