Trainbots

by Miranda Paul, Shane Mcg (Illustrator)

The Trainbots are drawing, sawing, and building to get Toybots ready for kids to play with. But it looks as if the Badbots are sneaking and scheming to sabotage the delivery! Luckily, the Trainbots use their engineering skills to outsmart the Badbots in this rhyming battle of good versus evil.

Genres: Picture Books, Robots, Childrens, Trains, Fiction, Storytime, Transport

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 7, 2016

About the author

Miranda Paul has worked as a teacher, volunteer zookeeper, and freelance writer--among other things. She is passionate about creating stories for young readers that inspire, entertain, and broaden horizons. Miranda is also a thrill-seeker, and one of her bravest moments involved reciting poetry from inside a crocodile pit. (Yikes!)

In addition to being a picture book author, Miranda is a team member of We Need Diverse Books™ and a volunteer for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Learn more at www.mirandapaul.com.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

The colorful Trainbots battle bad guys on their way to deliver toy Trainbots to some lucky children. The artwork is eye-catching, but the author seemed more interested in rhyming than a cohesive story. All in all, a weird reading experience.

[Kirsti Call · Rating 5 out of 5]

Train bots has a great hook. What kid doesn't love trains and robots?

The rollicking rhythm of this book mimics the beat of a train as it races down the track. Filled with perfect rhyme and emotion-filled illustrations, Trainbots engages both parent and child. After we read this together, my five year old son declared: "This is my favorite book!" There's no better endorsement than that!

This book provokes discussion with its vocabulary and message about teamwork and problem solving. We also enjoyed finding the evil bots on earlier pages before they are introduced in the text. We've read this book over and over again. Thankfully, Miranda writes beautifully and Trainbots is well worth the second and third and hundredth reading!

[Maria Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fun book combines robots, trains, villains, and heros (who use math/engineering to solve a disaster). The rhyming text moves along with a "train" beat (chugga, chugga, choo, cho), building to a crescendo with the badbots attack and the hero bots's solution, then wraps up with same the "train" beat. It's superb pacing combines action with a delightful language choice. The illustrations are bold, detailed, and include a nice diversity among the robots and the children. Another great book by Miranda Paul, bound to be a reread favorite. [Reviewed made from an F&G].

[Lynne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

COMMENT: Active robot characters and rhyme (extremely well-written and clever) bring the child reader on an exciting journey where good combats evil in the form of badbots and children get toys in the end -- what more can one ask from a book? Especially appealing to robot and train lovers!

[Jasmine]

It's about robots who RIDE trains, not robots who ARE trains, which was disappointing.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trains and robots are a very popular item for kids. In that regard this book will be a hit. However the writing is inconsistent. Some of the rhymes are quite good: "Trainbots, ready? Trainbots, steady?" But there are several places where the rhymes are not child-friendly: "Trainbots boarding, how rewarding! Trainbots zooming, unassuming..." Unassuming is not a word easy to explain to children. It is a "concept" word, not something concrete.

Better shared one-on-one.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute train/robot book with interesting rhymes. My first readthrough, I was annoyed by the ponderous style of the listing of words to fit the rhythm, but on subsequent readings, I realized the rhythm is really a churning train-like chuggga-chugga that is quite clever. There is good drama and the story arc is satisfying.

[Hannah Kirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is just a fun and quirky book that very imaginative. It tells the story of some creative train bots trying beat the badbots. This a neat book for younger ages that would keep them engaged and turning the page for more.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some robots have made a train so it can transport robot toys to a town filled with children. Some evil robots try to hijack the train, but the original robots prevail and get the toys to the kids.

Illustrations are neat.

[Ashley S · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rhyming language in this story is active and clever. My 4yo enjoyed the Trainbkts saving the train from the Badbots. He liked pointing out the Badbots on each spread. The illustrations were bright and action-packed.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very, very simple, whimsical, rhyming, fun book. The colorful illustrations will keep a child interested as this story flows along. It is simply silly and easy and fun.

[Suzie Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my 3 year old's favorite!

[osoordinary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A says, it was OK. I liked the ending the most.

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was donated to Stags Read by the author. It will be given directly to a student or placed in Little Free Libraries in our area.

Adorable and fun! This would be a great read-aloud.

[Nancy Messina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warren really loved this one. The bad being on most pages was so fun for him to point out.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Train and robot enthusiasts might find this rhyming tale amusing. Colorful illustrations of all those trainbots, badbots, hero-bots, boybots, girlbots, and toybots provide plenty of action.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun rhyming book with robots and a train ride. My kids like robots and trains so this was a good combo.

[Sharon Verbeten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miranda Paul's latest picture book takes young readers on an exuberant ride, and it's hard to miss with the playful mix of robots and trains, both preschool favorites. The fast-paced text keeps the train rolling along the page turns, and at every turn, precise rhyming text informs of the robots' latest moves. Rhyming books can often suffer from labored and painful rhymes, but just like in her previous ALA Notable Book Water is Water, Paul shows she is a master with crafting a clever and spot-on rhyme. That makes the book even more effective for read alouds and story times. Shane McG's artwork is vivid, vibrant and reminiscent of William Joyce's classic Rolie Polie Olie. It's the perfect counterpart to the pacing, rhythm and rhyme of Paul's industrious robots. This book has it all for its intended audience. Highly recommended for any children's library collection.

[Romelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the great train robbery in this action-packed rhyming picture book of Trainbots versus Badbots. A perfect book that combines the love of trains and robots all in this fast-pace fun adventure with the kid in mind.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

So it's not hard to think of two popular subjects (like trains and robots) mush them together and make it into a children's book - and - most likely it will be well liked by built in fans. However - it's a treat to read one of these books and find that it is SMART with a good rhyming scheme and great vocabulary. It also has a pretty dynamic narrative - which will help parents because this book will be demanded to be read again and again!

[Saba N Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Miranda Paul takes three popular children’s themes, robots, trains and superheroes, and fuses them to create a fun, silly, fast-paced story for children ages 4-6.

As a teacher, I appreciate the use of rhyming language and advance vocabulary introduced in Trainbots. From planning, drafting, to engineering, and locomotive parts, children will enjoy this fun, less structured book during lessons on trains. It is definitely a 'bot-tastic book to read-aloud over and over again!

[Kate Puleo Unger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is cute, and the train and robot aspects definitely appeal to young kids. My son wanted to read this book right away based on the cover, but this book is rhyming and does more telling about the pictures than telling an actual story. Maybe I'm just beyond that since my son is older, but I didn't enjoy this book as much.

Ages 2-5

http://www.momsradius.com/2016/10/cyb...

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun! I loved how Miranda Paul managed to work in scientific terminology without messing up the rhythm and rhyme: “Trainbots drafting, engineering…clever crafting, racketeering!”

The illustrations remind me of animated films – bright and dynamic, with fun expressions on the character faces.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rhyming picture book with robots on trains. What a good idea and Miranda has done a good job weaving in the story arc with the rhyme scheme. I envy writers who do this so well. The trainbots and the badbots are at odds in this story and the illustrations are glossy and colorful and hold the kids attention really well. And the story is not a long one but has action and fun.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun-filled book for kids including three of the things kids love--robots, trains and superheroes! The illustrations are adorable and contemporary and the text is enthusiastic and action-packed. The ending is an especially sweet surprise.

[Melissa Gorzelanczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, lyrical picture book with a great message for kids. The illustrations are detailed and action-packed. Another must-have read from author Miranda Paul. Highly recommend!

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable trains, robots, evil villains, superheros, and kids all rolled into one. The toys get to play, be for the kids can play with the toys.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robot storytime

[Joey Gremillion · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE the illustrations of this book. Shane McG, you have a new fan!!!

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish the text had been more appealing.