Benjamin McFadden and the Robot Babysitter

by Timothy Bush

"Drawing or writing, Bush's pen is loaded with wit."

Welcome to the spaceship home of Benjamin McFadden--where tennis is played in spacesuits, books are read in zero gravity, and robot babysitters have eight arms and are preprogrammed to send you to bed at 8:00 p.m. sharp. But the night his parents go to the Rings of Saturn Preservation Dance, Benjamin McFadden isn't ready for bed. Taking matters into his own hands, he reprograms Babysitter, and his own private party is soon underway--until Benjamin is finally ready to rest. The only hitch? Now Babysitter wants to party, and Benjamin must stop the festivities before his parents get home. Timothy Bush takes fun and multiplies it by a million in his most far-out book to date, filling it with fanciful illustrations and a story meant especially for fans who thirst for adventure!  

Genres: Picture Books, Science Fiction, Childrens, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 17, 1998

Reviews

[Jalessia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story starts off with Benjamin's parents going out for the night, leaving him home with his robot babysitter. Benjamin wants to stay up past his bedtime and have a cookie, but the robot babysitter was not having it. making him get ready to go to bed. The Benjamin reprograms the robot to have fun. Learning the hard way of what happens when you get actually what you want. This is a great book for younger and older children.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny take on the "be careful what you wish for" story.

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love this book. It's one of our favorite bedtime stories, and we wish there were more!

[Atlantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is what might happen at my house if we left our kids with a Robot babysitter. Sort of reminded me of the Jetsons. LFL donation

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Benjamin McFadden is supposed to go to bed after his parents go to the Rings of Saturn Preservation Dance. But Benjamin doesn't want to go to sleep. He wants to have fun. So he does something his parents warned him never to do, he opens up Babysitter Robot's back and reprograms Babysitter to have fun. Benjamin enjoys the results for a little while as he and Babysitter play games, read books, and eat lots of food. But when Benjamin gets tired, Babysitter won't let him sleep! Babysitter continues to insist on having more fun, and building more robots to help have more fun. Soon, Benjamin's home is one crazy zoo of fun and nothing is working to return Babysitter's programming to normal so he can get some sleep. Eventually, Benjamin finds the password to reset Babysitter before his parents come home.

Probably a good option for those who love A Day with Wilbur Robinson or parents trying to get kids to go to bed on time, but I'm not entirely sure. The illustration style is unique in the kids picture book world. It is almost like Dr Seuss for adults meets Art Deco. Most of the colors are warm hues, and I think this would have appealed more to kids with brighter colors and more kiddie animation-like illustrations. Of course, kids are probably going to love the craziness that ensues when Babysitter goes overboard on the fun, and the illustrations are humorous, but they just seem to be a more mature/acquired taste in style.

[Carolyn James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book, especially for young boys. Benjamin Mcfadden is a cute story about a boy who programs his robot babysitter so he can stay up late and do all kinds of fun things. He soon learns he should be careful what you wish for!

When I was teaching in a class of all boys I found it hard to find book everyday that they would enjoy. Having a boy protagonist, robots and space made this a big winner! It’s great for a read aloud.

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute pictures and a cute story. This was fun for us both.

Tema says, "I really liked it. I liked the part when benjamin fcfadden changed the program and the babysitter said "it's time for fun" and then when he got tired he said I want to go to bed and the babysitter said no and made more robots."

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic art, and a fun story line that actually teaches without feeling preachy. My kids loved this story. I read it twice the day I babysat for my neighbor and the kids still wanted me to read it again. I will have to purchase this book

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benjamin re-programs his robot babysitter for fun but robots don't get tired and eventually she wears him out. Gorgeous art and good humor for older kids.

[Marie Flanigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read-aloud introduction to science fiction. It's a funny, sci-fi take on the sorcerer's apprentice.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be careful what you wish for!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this futuristic picture book about a boy and his robot baby-sitter. Too long for storytime, but a really well done story and illustrations.

[Cayla Lile]

This is such a cute book a flit a boy who programs his robot babysitter to let him do fun things. I think young boys would love this book!

[Kalynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and clever. What he does to his babysitter robot to program in some fun and how it backfires.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

text to text: the Cat in the hat

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's a science fiction story for younger kids. It was so unusual that even my "pink girly" niece liked it. The word 'fun' may take on a whole new meaning after you read this book.

[Heather Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

megan fall reading 2016, children's book, picture book, robots, babysitter, programming, first grade, second grade,

[Monica Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another story that says too much of a good thing is not so good.

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun!