The Wild Robot book series + movie

Well, I did it! After trying to read this book series years ago, then letting it linger on my nightstand for months, I finally finished all three books before seeing the movie! 

The Wild Robot review

The Wild Robot Escapes review

The Wild Robot Protects review

Turns out, the movie really just covers the first book, and not that closely in many ways, but I'm glad to have read them all just because.

The movie was amazing! It was gorgeously animated and really funny in so many parts. The way Roz and Pinktail talked about motherhood and their children cracked me up. But it was also a really emotional movie... to me. Or maybe it was just my current mood and state of mind? Or the fact that I'm a single mom just like Roz? The mother-son stuff was very touching for sure. And the way the animals came together to help each other was just something I needed to see right now for that hope or sense of good in the world.

I would definitely watch this movie again (when it's streaming so I can sob in peace). I really hope they make movies for books two and three as well. Book two is still my favorite, and while the ending of the movie kind of touched on book two in a different way, I think it actually leads to a natural progression to Roz working on a family farm, so I hope they do it!

The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown

 

I did it! I finished the series before we go see the movie (later today... probably just in time to catch it in the theaters honestly. I'm a little late to the party with the books and the movie)!

In book one, Roz builds a life on the island as a wild robot, communicating and befriending animals. In book two, she's taken from that life and sent to work on a farm among humans. I felt like that covered two possible worlds really well, and was unsure what book three would be about.

In this book, Roz wants to protect her island from the poison tide before realizing it impacts all ocean wildlife and much of the rest of the natural world as well. I thought that was a really good premise, and important considering everything changing in our natural world and all the impact those somewhat gradual changes are happening.

The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown

Well, it took me several tries over several years to read the first book, but I finished the second in about two days!

I think part of it was already knowing the characters... and maybe having the ticking clock of seeing the movie in theaters over my head. I've found different things online - it's just the first book, the ending is the same as book two, it covers all three, etc. I didn't know what to believe but also just got incredibly invested in the book and wanted to finish it!

Seeing Roz interact with humans was really interesting, especially as she grew closer to the children. And I liked seeing her in charge of other robots. I always love how she wins over the animals, too, so I felt like there was more action in this book, and more at stake.

I liked it more than the first, but it didn't really end on a cliffhanger like the first one did, so I'm really curious to read the third. Think I can finish it before Friday?

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

I first tried to read The Wild Robot years ago, not long after it came out, because I was working in the public library with children and teens and wanted to stay current.

But I couldn't get into it.

I was sure it was interesting and I loved Peter Brown's picture books, but I didn't know why this wasn't hitting right for me. However, I strongly believe in the right book at the right time, so I figured it just wasn't time for me and I could come back to it later.

I tried another time, maybe four years ago, and it still wasn't drawing me in.

My son read it over the summer and loved it. Then he read the other two books in preparation for seeing the movie (books before movies - teach 'em young!). I was going to do the same, thinking that my love for comparing and contrasting books with their movies would inspire me.

Nope. I started the book in September, read a few chapters (so short! so easy to finish!) and put it down. I read dozens of books before coming back to it, no kidding.

But when I was finally determined to finish it so we could see the movie, I was completely invested! And it wasn't just because I needed to get it done to see the movie. I got into the story and fell in love with Roz and her family and friends.

There's something just so sweet and hopeful about it, everyone coming together... such a stark contrast from our current world, I suppose. And even when bad things happened, Roz was positive and either tried to change things or accepted them. Certainly a timely message, and one I needed to read.

Now I have books two and three waiting for me, and I can't wait to dive in!