Ricky Ricotta's Giant Robot ANNOTATION
Ricky Ricotta, a small mouse, saves a giant robot from his evil creator, Dr. Stinky, and in turn, the robot protects Ricky from the bullies at school and it saves the city from Dr. Stinky's plan to destroy it.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Ricky Ricotta is a very nice mouse, but every day, the neighborhood bullies in Squeakyville pick on him. Sometimes he feels so alone! He doesn't have brothers or sisters, and he wishes he had a pet or a special friend--especially on his way to school, when the bullies throw his backpack into the garbage. Little does Ricky know that a very special friend is about to change his life: a giant flying Robot! And when an evil menace threatens to destroy Squeakyville and then the world, Ricky's Robot helps to show everyone that a little mouse can be a Big hero!
SYNOPSIS
Ricky Ricotta is a very nice mouse, but every day, the neighborhood bullies in Squeakyville pick on him. Sometimes he feels so alone! He doesn't have brothers or sisters, and he wishes he had a pet or a special friend -- especially on his way to school, when the bullies throw his backpack into the garbage. Little does Ricky know that a very special friend is about to change his life: a giant flying robot! And when an evil scientist threatens to destroy Squeakyville and then the world, Ricky's robot helps to show everyone that a little mouse can be a BIG hero!
Using short, comic-book-style chapters, Dav Pilkey launches this fast-paced, fully illustrated adventure series that will have readers cheering!
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
"Some day something BIG will happen, and you will find a friend," his father tells Ricky, a lonely mouse whose diminutive stature makes him a target of bullies. Mr. Ricotta is only partially right: Ricky does find a friend, but nothing of consequence happens in this slim volume--the first in a series. The book features the same "flip-o-rama" technique (readers flip certain pages back and forth, creating the effect of animation) as do Pilkey's Captain Underpants titles. Unfortunately, both the artwork (which looks suspiciously like Pilkey's) and the plot lack the wry bite and comic energy of that earlier series. Evil Dr. Stinky McNasty creates an enormous robot that refuses to obey a command to stomp out Ricky's hometown of Squeakyville. When the mad doctor tries to punish his uncooperative invention, the tiny mouse comes to the defense of the giant robot and it follows him home. Ricky's new "pet" bests the bullies, wows Ricky's class at school and manages to foil Dr. Stinky's attempt at revenge. Pilkey's tale may well give timid or bullied kids a shot of reassurance, but its humor falls as flat as Dr. Stinky's attempt to destroy the city. In eight adventures scheduled to follow, Ricky's robot battles creatures from other planets. Ages 6-10. (Feb.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|
Children's Literature - Childrens Literature
Young boys and girls have wonderful imaginations. A fantasy adventure where good wins out over evil is always popular. Particularly when it is accompanied by black-and-white drawings that seem to jump off the pages and take on a life of their own! Though there is nothing particularly unique about this story itself, it is enhanced with 'flip-o-rama' pages periodically that invite the readers to animate the action themselves. In addition, at the end of the book, junior artists can easily follow the "How to draw the robot" directions, and thereby launch their own self-made characters. The book reinforces early readers who will feel proud and successful reading their first chapter book. With large print and brief dialogue surrounded by action drawings, the 3 to 5 page chapters result in a book easily mastered. IThis book, and those that follow in the series will find a welcome home on children's bookshelves. 2000, Scholastic Inc., Ages 7 to 10, $16.95 and $3.99. Reviewer: Kathleen Orosz—Children's Literature
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