Robots are a perennially popular topic among books nominated for the Cybils. Here are some favorites from seasons past.
Boy and Bot by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
Nominee, Fiction Picture Books, 2012
When a boy’s new robot friend falls down and bumps his power switch, the boy brings him home to nurse him back to health, only to have the robot turn back on while the boy is asleep.
Robot Zombie Frankenstein by Annette Simon
Nominee, Fiction Picture Books, 2012
Two robots use shapes to transform themselves into more and more outrageous creations in a silly game of oneupmanship. (A sequel, Robot Burphead Smartypants was nominated in Fiction Picture Books in 2014.)
Zoe and Robot – Let’s Pretend by Ryan Sias
Nominee, Fiction Picture Books, 2011
Zoe tries to teach her robot how to have an imagination in this Balloon Toons title, written in graphic format for very young readers.
Robot, Go Bot! by Dana Meachen Rau, illustrated by Wook Jin Jung
Nominee, Easy Readers, 2013
In this clever easy reader, a little girl makes too many demands of her robot, and then must work to make it up to him.
Monkey and Robot by Peter Catalanotto
Nominee, Easy Readers, 2013
Four short chapters describe the adventures of Monkey and Robot, two very different, very devoted best friends.
Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover by Cece Bell
Finalist, Early Chapter Books, 2012
When best friends Rabbit and Robot get together for a sleepover, Rabbit wants to follow the list he made right down to the last detail, but things don’t go exactly as planned.
Robot Dreams by Sara Varon
Finalist, Graphic Novels, 2007
This wordless graphic novel tells the poignant story of a robot and dog who are separated by a tragic incident, but never far from each other’s thoughts.
Nick and Tesla’s Robot Army Rampage: A Mystery with Hoverbots, Bristle Bots, and Other Robots You Can Build Yourself by Bob Pflugfelder
Nominee, Middle Grade Fiction, 2014
Tween detectives Nick and Tesla build four droids to help them solve the mystery of who is committing robberies around their hometown of Half Moon Bay. Included in the book are instructions for kids to build their own robots.
Celia’s Robot by Margaret Chang
Nominee, Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction, 2010
Because she is a slob, Celia Chow’s father builds a robot to serve as a nanny and housekeeper, leaving Celia to wonder whether her parents just don’t want to care for her themselves.
Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Brian Biggs
Nominee, Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction, 2014
Frank Einstein is a genius and an inventor. In his first adventure, a lightning strike brings his robot inventions, Klink and Klank, to life, and they subsequently attempt to help him work on his Antimatter Motor, until they go missing.
— Katie Fitzgerald, Story Time Secrets