#Robodog – David Walliams
#HarperCollins
#JonathanBall
The city of Bedlam is desperate; the streets are rat-infested and filthy; the buildings dilapidated, and, worst of all, the inhabitants are ruled by super villains of the underworld. These thugs are captained by the dastardly duo, Mighty Mind, a giant criminal mega-brain living in a fishbowl on wheels, and his henchperson, Hammerhands, a terrifying woman with hammers instead of hands.
The Police Chief needs a hero. Fortunately, she is married to a brilliant scientist-inventor, the Professor, whose speciality is actually washing machines, but she is able to use spare parts to build the ultimate crime fighter, called Robodog. This robotic hero has the strength of a German shepherd, can follow a scent like a bloodhound, barks louder than a spaniel, has the speed of a greyhound, the pride of a terrier, the bravery of a schnauzer and is as keen nosed as a beagle.
Robodog will nevertheless need all the assistance available to overpower the conniving cats determined to destroy him; Pavarotti, a cat so large that he flattens his enemies by sitting on them; Slash, the terrifying feline street fighter who is rumoured to have killed a pack of wolves; the wise old Codger and the evillest cat in the world, Velma. They are not his only challenges, however. With only the so-called ‘lost patrol’, the most useless dogs ever, namely the nervous Scarper, the idle Gristle, and the Silly Plank, as well a rat who identifies as a mouse, at his side, Robodog must outwit and arrest Mighty Mind and Hammerhands and their fellow criminals. Their fight against despicable characters like the Masked Honker who farts deadly fire, Dr Stench who has bad breath as a weapon, the Ice Queen who can turn you to ice with the touch of a single finger, and the two-headed ogre whose heads are constantly in disagreement, will take them from the underground sewers to outer space, and all the way back.
Unlike Dave Pilkey’s somewhat stupid Dog Man, Robodog is not only brave, strong intelligent, and capable of heroic deeds, he is also a very likeable character who cries tears of oil when sad and whose biggest dream is to be a real dog, loved by his human parents. Walliams succeeds in combining his self-confessed love for the canine world with an amusing adventure story for young readers. Ratty, the rat-mouse, also plays a monumental role in teaching Robodog, and thus also the readers, life skills and healthy perceptions, such as acceptance of those different from you and the value of friendship and loyalty.
The illustrations are by Adam Stower and the book is suitable for readers of eight years and older.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #Uitdieperdsebek Jonathan Ball Publishers