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R Is for Robot: A Noisy Alphabet
These noisy robots make the alphabet a hilarious adventure!
In this noisy alphabet book, Adam F. Watkins’s silly robots are building the alphabet. Featuring hilarious robots making goofy noises, this alphabet book is perfect for young readers.
In this noisy alphabet book, Adam F. Watkins’s silly robots are building the alphabet. Featuring hilarious robots making goofy noises, this alphabet book is perfect for young readers.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published June 26, 2014
3 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
August 2, 2016
No, R is for Ratattat! And U is for Umph, and S is for Squeak.... How absolutely wonderful to have an alphabet book that is sound-effect words, compared to the vast majority that are nouns, and the few that are verbs. And the robots are enchantingly adorable, I swear. I was sad when the book was over and 'read' it all over again! My honest opinion (and I can't believe I'm saying this, being as I'm such a fan of libraries) is that this is a must-buy for every robot-loving toddler you know. Simple, creative, perfect.
September 18, 2017
Some adorable, busy robots noisily build an alphabet, and you can follow along.
Fantastic artwork by the author.
Fantastic artwork by the author.
June 19, 2017
Great illustrations--much for little minds (especially those who like machines, etc) to look at. Would be great in a read-alone and lap-read. Could be fun in storytime because they words represented by the letters are sounds--and the kids love to imitate sounds. And yes--I did have to laugh at some of the humor. Silliness, but it will be loved by the kids who think they're too old for an ABC book.
7/8/15 Used in my "Machines & Things" theme. I told them it was noisy, so they would have to help me with the noises. That was all they needed. As soon as I said, "A is for Aaroogah," they immediately repeated the word. And it went that way the whole book. It was perfect! And with such a large crowd (my first in many months), the volume was great. All the quieter kids joined in with the others because there were so many. It was fantastic! While they were too far away to see some of the intricate details, they totally got the idea of the robots and the noises they were making and thus enjoyed it highly.
6/14/17 Used in my "R" theme. Kids loved making the sounds with me. A great choice.
7/8/15 Used in my "Machines & Things" theme. I told them it was noisy, so they would have to help me with the noises. That was all they needed. As soon as I said, "A is for Aaroogah," they immediately repeated the word. And it went that way the whole book. It was perfect! And with such a large crowd (my first in many months), the volume was great. All the quieter kids joined in with the others because there were so many. It was fantastic! While they were too far away to see some of the intricate details, they totally got the idea of the robots and the noises they were making and thus enjoyed it highly.
6/14/17 Used in my "R" theme. Kids loved making the sounds with me. A great choice.
April 8, 2021
My 4-year-old's rating: 4 stars "I like this one very much."
My rating: 3 stars
This is a cute and quirky robot alphabet book. It is meant to be read aloud, although an older child might enjoy exploring the creatively drawn text and robots. A young child will struggle to read the words as they are illustrated. There is no real story or information in the book, simply funny robots with their antics and corresponding sound effects.
Content note:
My rating: 3 stars
This is a cute and quirky robot alphabet book. It is meant to be read aloud, although an older child might enjoy exploring the creatively drawn text and robots. A young child will struggle to read the words as they are illustrated. There is no real story or information in the book, simply funny robots with their antics and corresponding sound effects.
Content note:
February 23, 2022
Love the detailed illustrations and the skinny-limbed mechanical robots with expressive faces. Although the pages look simple, there is a lot there: a very obvious letter, an item that begins with the letter (it was a challenge to find some of them), action, a sound that begins with the letter, color, and emotion (determination, fear, worry, frustration, and glee). The author does a great job showing emotion on the robot's faces as they haul letters in every color.
June 19, 2018
A true picture book - there are no words except for the sounds that robots make for each letter. The pictures are beautiful - and any machine loving kid will enjoy the detail. Plus the reader gets to practice making noises such as Kapow and Neigh. A great book to have in your library when your little readers asks for "just one more story". You can make this as short and sweet as you like.
January 19, 2022
I liked this one well-enough, though it might be a little too busy for a Storytime. I might actually rather read this one-on-one (or one-on-two) with my kids at home on the couch. So I can point out all the images and let them look at it longer than a few seconds.
Still, it's going in the Storytime folder. As a backup.
Storytime Themes: Robots, Alphabet
Still, it's going in the Storytime folder. As a backup.
Storytime Themes: Robots, Alphabet
September 29, 2023
An A to Z alphabet book featuring robots who work together to build the alphabet. The sounds used for each letter throughout the book delivers a noisy, but entertaining adventure during in the construction. Sure to thrill all robot lovers.
June 26, 2017
So the original copyright was 2014 but board book format copyright 2017?
June 29, 2017
It's an ABC book of onomatopoeia!
August 4, 2019
Cute for an alphabet book. Kids that just like making noises will LOVE it!
November 17, 2021
A fun book full of goofy robot noises for each letter of the alphabet.
June 5, 2022
Totally unexpected. Lot to discuss and so much left to imagine with.
August 3, 2023
Sounds to go with the letters of the alphabet.
December 15, 2024
One of my favorite circle time books. Very silly book with fun illustrations. Great way to teach onomatopoeia and great book for the kids to interact and move around a bit.
February 8, 2017
I actually had the opportunity to see this read aloud to 4 year old twins, and it made me realize that perhaps this is not the best alphabet book for pre-readers. The words aren't easily recognizable - I.e. aren't typically used in conversation and therefore not very familiar, and with the way the illustrations are with the letters frequently at odd angles I wondered if even those were recognizable to someone just learning them.
However, hubby and I enjoyed it immensely. Children do love sounds and love imitating them, so this definitely has that going for it, and it made it quite fun for us to read aloud. About halfway through I realized that every illustration did include somewhere a more common item that starts with each letter, so readers should have fun hunting for those as well. And for any child that loves robots, they will love the variety and uniqueness of those depicted here!
However, hubby and I enjoyed it immensely. Children do love sounds and love imitating them, so this definitely has that going for it, and it made it quite fun for us to read aloud. About halfway through I realized that every illustration did include somewhere a more common item that starts with each letter, so readers should have fun hunting for those as well. And for any child that loves robots, they will love the variety and uniqueness of those depicted here!
September 12, 2014
Review originally posted on
In this noisy alphabet book, Watkin's uses robots and goofy noises to bring the alphabet to life. Of course, alphabet books have been so many times that it is rather difficult to stand out among the crowd, but R is for Robot manages to find a certain level of originality. Perfect for reading aloud, with an extra object on every page for kids to alphabetically identify, this is perfect for the classroom. There are so many great craft ideas and noises that children can make that begin with these letters and for that reason alone, I think this book sets itself apart from other alphabet books. The illustrations are colorful and vibrant and other than an odd fart joke on M, I found it entertaining as far as alphabet books go.
In this noisy alphabet book, Watkin's uses robots and goofy noises to bring the alphabet to life. Of course, alphabet books have been so many times that it is rather difficult to stand out among the crowd, but R is for Robot manages to find a certain level of originality. Perfect for reading aloud, with an extra object on every page for kids to alphabetically identify, this is perfect for the classroom. There are so many great craft ideas and noises that children can make that begin with these letters and for that reason alone, I think this book sets itself apart from other alphabet books. The illustrations are colorful and vibrant and other than an odd fart joke on M, I found it entertaining as far as alphabet books go.
October 3, 2016
R is for Robot is a very fun book, to say the least. The pictures really create a fun and inviting atmosphere and environment. The sounds are fun to say and to teach young kids. The plot is almost non-existence, but in a book for younger readers it is not needed.
The book is for early readers but it obviously also falls as an ABC book. Now it is important to note that just because a book is an ABC book doesn't mean it is for young readers, because you can find quite impressive ABC books for adolescents. However, this book is clearly made for younger readers, as it appeals to that audience, as well as the sounds that the book is making. Overall, it is an enjoyable book, that is not to hard to read and to teach
The book is for early readers but it obviously also falls as an ABC book. Now it is important to note that just because a book is an ABC book doesn't mean it is for young readers, because you can find quite impressive ABC books for adolescents. However, this book is clearly made for younger readers, as it appeals to that audience, as well as the sounds that the book is making. Overall, it is an enjoyable book, that is not to hard to read and to teach
September 28, 2014
Watkins, Adam F., (2014). R is For Robot. New York: Penguin Young Readers Group.
School Library Journal
Alphabet Book
This is the perfect book for children who are just beginning to learn the letters in the alphabet and are starting to learn each letter's sound. The robots are building a structure of all of the letters in the alphabet. Each page shows a robot working on a letter and there is a sound effect that starts with the letter on each page. When kids are reading this book, they will want to make the sound effect sounds which will get them familiar with beginning sounds. I can see myself using this book as a resource in my future classroom.
School Library Journal
Alphabet Book
This is the perfect book for children who are just beginning to learn the letters in the alphabet and are starting to learn each letter's sound. The robots are building a structure of all of the letters in the alphabet. Each page shows a robot working on a letter and there is a sound effect that starts with the letter on each page. When kids are reading this book, they will want to make the sound effect sounds which will get them familiar with beginning sounds. I can see myself using this book as a resource in my future classroom.
July 29, 2014
A team of robots are building an alphabet. Each letter is presented with an accompany sound with the final spread showcasing all 26 letters together.
The full effect of the book is similar to a wordless book in that there's more to "read" in the action displayed in the pen and ink, and oil paint illustrations than there is in the text. The essence of the story is what readers tell themselves after looking at the artwork. I liked the senior citizen robot on the letter S page, but overall this book was just okay for me.
PreK-2.
The full effect of the book is similar to a wordless book in that there's more to "read" in the action displayed in the pen and ink, and oil paint illustrations than there is in the text. The essence of the story is what readers tell themselves after looking at the artwork. I liked the senior citizen robot on the letter S page, but overall this book was just okay for me.
PreK-2.
August 9, 2014
R Is for Robot : A Noisy Alphabet is a hullabaloo of onomatopoeia, as comic robots try to put the alphabet together, one sound at a time. From “Ahoogah� and “Beep Boop� all the way to “Yoink� and “Zap�, Watkins� clanking crew puts together and organizes the letters, though not everything always goes as planned. This colorful alphabet book will be popular with boys and girls who love robots and anything mechanical.
Original post on
Original post on
July 6, 2014
The robots are building the alphabet! And of course, they have to make noise. So each letter focuses on the noise that robot is making.This gives the reader the opportunity to incorporate a wide variety of into their reading of the book. K, for example, is Kapow! And who is that ninja watching all the action? Check out each page to see if you can find something else that also starts with that letter besides the sound the robot makes. My almost 3 granddaughter enjoyed this one! This would be a great read-aloud for a robot program.
January 2, 2015
I'm not sure what age group this is meant for but my 7-year-old thought it was boring. The only words are the ones the robots use for each letter (for example, the letter A and the word Ahoogah, B has the words Beep Boop, C has the words Clang, Clink, Crash, Clank). Each letter has a robot and a few things for your child to find that correspond with the letter (H has "Hiss" along with a hydrant, hose, heart, hoist, etc). The book doesn't have a list of things to find so you're on your own with guessing.
June 24, 2015
“R is for Robot� is a picture book with very few words. This book encourages children to learn their alphabet from A to Z. this would be a very creative way to introduce or review the alphabet! The book contains large colorful spreads with large A-Z letters. On each page there is a different kind of robot that makes the sound of the corresponding letter on the page. Once the book has been read all the way through, the reader can check their comprehension at the end on the page that contains the entire alphabet. I would use this book to review the alphabet.
Read
May 18, 2014Cuuuute! This is perfect for my baby cousin, whose father is currently teaching him the alphabet. I will definitely be reading this with him the next time I see him. It is short with colorful, cute pictures that are sure to attract the eyes of young children. There are no real words, but noises that will help little ones associate letters with sounds. Very clever, and fun!
Thanks to Penguin for the review copy.
Thanks to Penguin for the review copy.
July 26, 2014
If you are looking for quiet book R Is For Robot: A Noisy Alphabet written and illustrated by Adam F. Watkins is not for you. It's a fun-filled title loaded with action and humor. One read aloud will not suffice. Expect requests to read this again and again.
My full review:
My full review:
October 2, 2014
I think the book blurb is perfect for this book:
Join a band of adorably quirky robots as they noisily work together to build the alphabet. Full of fun sounds from Ahoogah to Zap, this alphabet book takes readers on a unique alphabet adventure.
I love this alphabet book and will definitely use it for an alphabet storytime or a robot one.
Join a band of adorably quirky robots as they noisily work together to build the alphabet. Full of fun sounds from Ahoogah to Zap, this alphabet book takes readers on a unique alphabet adventure.
I love this alphabet book and will definitely use it for an alphabet storytime or a robot one.
January 16, 2021
22 month old reader loved it. Nice change from the standard ABC books, in that the words are all sounds (a farting robot goes 'Meep'). Lots of room to be silly while reading. Also promotes investigating the illustrations, as each letter includes a picture of an actual object that starts with that letter. I think there is more to this book than some reviews have credited it.
July 1, 2014
This is a great alphabet book for kids! It is full of sounds to make, letters, and of course, robots. The pictures are fun and interesting; there's lots to see and discover on each page. Wonderful for both girls and boys!
October 17, 2014
A darling alphabet read, the letters are matched up with onomatopoeic robotic/machine sounds. With whimsical illustrations, this book will delight boys and girls alike, and is a super fun way to learn more about the alphabet!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
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