cover image Zoe and Robot: Let's Pretend!

Zoe and Robot: Let's Pretend!

Ryan Sias, Blue Apple (Chronicle, dist.), $10.99 trade paper (40p) ISBN 978-1-60905-063-4

Advertised as being for "new readers," this comic-style picture book will still challenge with words like "avalanche." The story is short and cute, repeatedly discussing the importance of imagination. Zoe, a girl with a pink cap, tries to entice her robot friend to play a game of pretend with her. Why she has a robot friend is never explained, and the robot struggles with the idea of pretend because it takes everything literally. When Zoe takes it to a pile of pillows so they can "climb a mountain," the robot is more than willing to point out it's only a pile of pillows. Eventually the story goes full circle and the robot does understand the importance of imagination, and all of their combined fun is safely done inside the house. Sias provides whimsical art in the Nickelodeon/Cartoon Network style, while providing enough imagination to go along with the story. Ages 6–9. (Apr.)