Synopsis
Snoot is a Drudgebot, seemingly condemned to slaving forever in the depths of the Cylinder that powers the all-important light inside Dome City. Because of his odd shape and his distracted nature, his peers make fun of him. Curious about what exists outside the Dome on the asteroid at the end of the Universe, Snoot ventures forth to discover darkness and danger, but also new friends. Tik and Tak, lightning bugs, a caterpillar named Fernando, and Silo, the sole surviving Makerbot, inspire Snoot to return to Dome City to help liberate the Drudgebots. Borrowing and evoking elements from Star Wars, Antz, Toy Story, and manga, this is a story about believing in one's self and going against the grain. The Saddest Little Robot is the first title under the new Red Rattle Books imprint — a series aimed to satisfy the need for socially aware, nondidactic, sophisticated children's literature that's in line with the ideals of a new generation of parents. This colorfully illustrated children's sci-fi fable encourages readers to look for truth beyond the surface and to realize they are strong enough to help change the world for the better.
Mid-West Book Review
Brian Gage's The Saddest Little Robot is an impressive work of children's literature about an ordinary little Drudgebot, unhappy in his endless labor in the depths of the Cylinder that powers the light in the great Dome City.
Curious about what lies outside his world, he journeys outside, makes unlikelyfriends, and meets with a great Makerbot who inspires him to return to his home and liberate his fellow Drudgebots. A moving story, told on a grand scale and wondrously illustrated by Kathryn Otoshi, The Saddest Little Robot will prove a welcome and much appreciated addition to school and community library science fiction collections for young readers.