Kyffin Reads Together

Kyffin Reads Together Summer Reading Program

"...friends and sandwiches make even the worst of situations more tolerable."

About the book:

Cog is a robot who looks like a young boy, designed to learn about the world around him. Under the patient guidance of Gina, an offbeat engineer, Cog feels safe and supported. When Cog decides to leave the house without Gina's permission, a terrible accident lands him in a lab run by scientists with methods far more clinical than Gina's. When Cog decides to break out and find his real home, enlisting the help of other robots in the facility, he learns that friendship, family, and community aren't just for humans. This book does not shy away from dark themes; from the people who do not help Cog after his accident to the scientists who treat robots poorly, the book has many examples of the problems that can occur when people lack empathy for those around them. However, Cog is an amusing narrator and the story deftly balances the significant questions of consciousness and mortality with humor and action. VERDICT A sensitive and thought-provoking early exercise in empathy and belonging for fans of Peter Brown's The Wild Robot.

• Taken from a book review published in School Library Journal Xpress written by Madison Bishop, Plymoth Public Library

Why read as a family?

According to www.readtothem.org, “The benefits of reading aloud are remarkable. Studies have shown that reading to children helps them to listen better and longer, to build bigger vocabularies, to understand concepts better, to feel positive about both books and learning– and much more. When an entire school reads the same book, the buzz and excitement around the book augments these benefits. Reading a book together brings the added joy of building and expanding a sense of community among students, parents, teachers, and staff – and beyond.”