Gauld, Tom. Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess, The. Tom Gauld, Illus. Picture Book. N. Porter, 08/2021. [40]pp. $18.99. 978-0-8234-4698-8. OUTSTANDING. GRADES PRE-3.
In this beguiling fairy tale, a childless king with white skin and a queen with brown skin adopt two unusual children: a little wooden robot whose body is inhabited by a family of beetles, and a little log princess who turns into a log when she sleeps. When the princess disappears, her brother sets off to find her, and the memorable pair experiences many adventures before returning home for a joyous reunion with their parents. Using language common to fairy tales (“There once lived…”), the well-paced story veers off in unexpected but totally delightful directions, and the bold, expressive illustrations provide a fitting counterpart to the clever text. Offering plenty of room for a reader’s imagination to soar, this book makes a wonderful read-aloud for both small and large groups.
Jenny Andrus, Independent