عشق یعنی چه؟

by Jessie Sima, آناهیتا حضرتی (Translator)

یک ربات کوچولو به نام «زی» رفته است ماجراجویی که پیامی را توی یک بطری پیدا می‌کند. توی آن پیام نوشته شده: با عشق، بیَتریس. اما عشق دیگر چیست؟ بیتریس اصلاً کی هست؟ پیدا کردن جواب این سؤال شاید بهترین ماجراجویی باشد.
این داستان درباره‌ی ربات کوچولویی است که برای فهمیدن معنی کلمه‌ی «عشق» به یک سفر کوچک می‌رود و از افراد زیادی معنی این کلمه را می‌پرسد. واقعاً عشق چیست...؟

Genres: Picture Books, Robots, Love, Childrens, Family, Storytime, Fiction

44 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Jessie Sima is an author and illustrator of picture books. They grew up in a small town in southern New Jersey and now write and draw in a creaky house in New York State. When not making books, Jessie can be found reading graphic novels, watching spooky movies, and playing outside with dogs.

Visit them online at jessiesima.com!

Reviews

[Roya · Rating 3 out of 5]

بامزه بود. همون ایده‌ی تکراریِ ربات‌هایی که به دنبال معنای عشق و احساس می‌گردند این دفعه ورژن کودکانه‌ش‌.
به بچه‌ها یاد میده که عشق برای هرکس ابعاد و معنای متفاوتی داره.

[Hilda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is love? Asked the young robot.



I was so moved by this lovely story because I could relate (I think I almost cried at the end). This is Z's story and how he goes on a quest to find the meaning of love after finding a bottle with a message inside, signed Love, Beatrice. And what a journey it is. He travels far and wide and asks everyone he finds on the way if they know Beatrice or what love means. And the answers he receives are beautiful. I have my students write after all our stories. Just a quick message on a sticky note and their answers were so beautiful I wish I had taken a picture of them to remember them all. Kids know about love and they could also relate to Z and his quest to find the meaning of love.

Love is sharing your food, even when it's delicious.

Love is when someone is patient and takes the time to teach you new things.

Love is a sweater!

Love is a million puppies.

Love is snowflakes on my tongue!

Love is wishing on a star!

[Danika at The Lesbrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute! Z isn't gendered and doesn't go by any pronouns, but Z is also a robot, so take that as you will for nonbinary representation. A nice little easter egg of representation is that one of the examples of what love is (the only one that is romantic love) is between two women (an interracial couple).

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way I read this, the way that makes me smile, is to imagine an autistic child identifying with the robot Z and learning from it what love is. I will look for more by the author.
---
2nd read. It's actually much more than that. Highly recommended even if you've no interest atm about anything related to ppl on the spectrum. For example, it could also be good for a middle school child whose best friend started to hang out with a different clique... they don't love you, because you don't feel warm & safe with them, and they're not sharing & patient.

I'm still not sure about robots needing pajamas. Otoh, I love the names of the other robots, when finally revealed.

This time I noticed something else. Watch what the sea captain cat does as he (?) spends time with Beatrice. Another detail that makes the last spread so wonderful.

Raising my rating from a solid 4 stars to 4.5. Not sure why I've not given it the full 5.

I have decided not wait any longer but have requested five other works by the author just now.

[Maryam Kh · Rating 5 out of 5]

خوب و دوست داشتنی بود. ولی پرچمدار داستان‌های رباتی اون داستان آدم آهنی و شاپرک کتاب ادبیات راهنماییه‌. حسی رو که موقع خوندنش داشتم بعد از اینهمه سال فراموش نکردم :)

[Haze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warm and cozy 🥰😍

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is love? Z, the robot, does not know. It does not compute. After finding a note in a bottle that ends with the words, Love, Beatrice, Z is curious to know just what love is. When none of his robot friends can tell him, he sets out to find Beatrice, hoping that she can provide the answer. He encounters several people along the way who give him various answers, but none of them are Beatrice, and he doesn't understand the answers. Will he ever find Beatrice? And if he does can she help him understand what love is? In this sweet story about a feeling, Z, the robot discovers the wonderful definition of love. Other than the robots having no necks, I found the illustrations cute and perfect for the story. This book would work well not only for a story time on Valentine's Day but for introducing discussions of the feeling of love and what it means.

[Amin · Rating 5 out of 5]

رباتی در جستجوی معنای عشق!

«گرم است
و خیلی نرم
و امن
وقتی حسش کنی معنی‌اش را می‌فهمی»

«خانه 🏠 جایی است که قلب ❤️ آنجاست»


چقد گوگولی و خوب و پر از حس خوب و بامفهوم هستن!
چه زمان خوبی باهاشون آشنا شدم

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I realize the usage of robots is appealing (not to me) but this story makes up for it. How can this little robot compute what love means? Very sweet tale.

[Stacy K Shera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warm. Cozy. Safe. LOVEly.

[Audrey | WellReadandUndead(ish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! Thank you, Helen, for the recommendation! A little robot doesn't understand what love is and goes on a quest to find out. Humor, insightfulness, and heart-warming things ensue. Beyond being a truly enjoyable book, I could see this book being helpful for those with alexithymia as it helps identify and label what "love" is and how that looks different for different people (and robots).

One of my top five book recommendations for Valentine's Day. Check out the other ones: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YN5Fm6...

[Brenda Lower · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a great valentines day book that's not super mushy or all red and pink. Talks about Love- what is Love, how does it feel like? Super cute, great explanation.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story about the meaning of love. A heartfelt story about a robot that parents will find comforting and balming.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read this and am left in chills. What a beautiful story about discovering what love means to not only oneself, but to many.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one! A charming story about love and family. Just delightful and I love that the robots spell out family.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love and good feelings abound on every single page of this wonderfully cute and simply adorable read.

Z is a little robot, who lives with other robots who take care of it. One day, Z discovers a message in a bottle with only two words: Love, Beatrice. But what is love? Z asks his fellow robots, but they have no idea. So, Z decides to venture out into the world and find Beatrice in hopes she can explain the strange word. As the journey goes on, Z crosses paths with various people, none are Beatrice but each tries to explain what love means. However, their answers don't compute. It appears that Z will never learn the true meaning behind the strange word 'love', but then, something surprising happens.

The first pages had me wondering how this read would really be. The robots, especially Z, are kind and likable, but their metal and simple exterior comes across a bit cool. And this is perfect! As the story continues, Z's wondrous journey warms more and more with every person he meets. By the end, the at first cold exteriors, leave a super warm and cuddly feeling. In other words, it builds right with the story and ends in the way it should. Kudos just for that.

The meaning of this book is clear, and it is a message kids can never ever get enough of. It makes them consider what they might tell Z if the cute robot stopped and asked them to define love. The various answer make it clear how wonderful and the various ways in which love in shown. Throw in a cute little adventure as Z sails down the small stream to places the robot's never been before...and the slight tension which builds by the end when it doesn't appear the goal will be found...and it's an exciting read, which holds the attention until the last page. In other words, this book has everything a good story needs.

The illustrations are gentle, warm, encouraging, bright and allow the good feelings to flow. Each adventure gains more depth through the illustrations, and they carry just the right amount of details to invite readers to flip through them on their own. Especially Z...for all of it's simpleness... is as adorable as can be.

I highly recommend this book and believe hugs and cuddles will be expected at the end.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to Julianna tonight. She liked it. Gives it 5 stars. She likes it she says because she liked that the family of robots found the girl Robot Z & Z put a note, Love Z. I really liked this book. Great story; illustrations, and a story to talk about what is love & Robot X realized he was feeling love all along but did not know what the feeling was.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

My whole entire heart. (Also props for making the robot genderless!)

[Megan Sanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love the captain who is a cat.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, it can be hard to explain. But this book really does a great job <3

[Laurie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and quirky book about the meaning of love. Recommended.

[Arpita Rajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super sweet🤧🤌🏼

[elstaffe]

Enby robot ftw

[Pan · Rating 4 out of 5]

این کتاب رو امروز برای پسردایی‌‌ام که ۵ سالشه خوندم و خیلی ازش خوشش اومد، تهش گفت به‌نظر منم عشق یه همچین چیزیه.

[Ðayana · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute as hell

[Anmiryam · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this gentle look at the true meaning of love doesn't make you smile, then your soul is a deep dark dead thing.

[Calli Leventis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would be good for a K-3 audience. They/their pronouns in action!

[Lacey Louwagie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best picture books I have ever read. Not only do you get to read dialog in a fun robot voice while simultaneously trying not to choke up, but you also get to hear your preschooler's insights about love. ❤️

[DaNae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looking to add to our Valentine's line-up.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this book is just delightful! One day while Z, a little robot, is out adventuring it finds a note in a bottle. The writing is blurred but it is signed, Love, Beatrice. Love does not compute to Z or the robots who look after him. The next day Z sets off to find the meaning of love. If you are looking for a feel good book that shows all the ways people and robots show their love, look no further.