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Summary
Summary
Clink was a state-of-the-art robot with the dazzling ability to make toast and play music at the same time. But that was many years ago.
Now kids want snazzier robots who do things like play baseball and bake cookies. So day after day, Clink sits on a shelf and sadly watches as his friends leave with their new owners. He almost gives up on ever finding a home--until the day Clink spies a boy who just might be the right one for him....
Reviews (4)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Though this is his picture book debut, illustrator Myers's vision of the robot Clink's world is fully developed. It's a place where toy stores sell shiny, talented robots who do homework and make chocolate chip cookies, while the chunky outdated robot Clink-much cuter than the others, of course, with a toaster head and blocky red feet-only plays music and makes toast. Kids line up for the cookie-making robots and wave lonely Clink's burnt toast away: "He hadn't been programmed to cry, but somehow he leaked rusty tears every time." Finally, a boy named Milton appears, who "likes burned toast, is great at fixing things, and... loves to dance." DiPucchio's (Grace for President) text percolates with plenty of humor, and the inevitability of the plot provides security for smaller readers. Myers has a wonderful time drawing gems like the victim of Clink's disastrous haircuts (the unfortunate girl looks like a trimmed hedge) and the polka-dot underpants a fellow robot offers to Clink as consolation. Extra marks for the distinctive combination of geek elements with a dash of sentimentality. Ages 4-7. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Clink, who's "rusty (even his dust had rust)" and "squeaky (even his creaks made squeaks)," just can't compete with his newer, fancier peers in the robot store. While others are able to perform tasks such as completing homework, baking cookies, picking up dirty laundry, or playing baseball, Clink is programmed to play old-fashioned music and make (dry) toast. After watching customers leave with his newfangled friends, Clink becomes progressively despondent and discouraged. However, when a young boy named Milton discounts one new robot after another, Clink is able to show his stuff by breaking out in a "head-boppin', toast-poppin', show-stoppin' tune," dancing with twirls and twists, and -- oops! -- hitting Milton with a rusty spring. As good luck would have it though, Milton "likes burned toast, is great at fixing things, and...loves to dance." The witty text, occasionally interspersed with colorful, onomatopoeic robot-centric words ("Plink! Pop! Ping!"), is ideal for reading aloud. DiPucchio skillfully mixes the self-esteem-building moral with a retro quality, and parents will dig the sense of nostalgia-for-the-simpler-things the way youngsters will the sparky robot theme. Myers's paintings, reminiscent of Mark Teague's, burst with loud colors and an energy that's perfect for a store -- and story -- full of bopping robots and smiling clientele. katrina hedeen (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Clink simply can't keep up with the newer, fancier robots crowding him off the shelves at the Robot Shoppe. When you could have a robot that bakes cookies and does homework, or one that can simultaneously pick up dirty laundry and play baseball, why go for the old, rusty contraption that can only play out-of-fashion tunes and pop dry toast out of his toaster head? It's a sad state, but in the darkest hour, Clink finds a home with a young harmonica-playing boy who is taken with none of the flashy robots the shop owner tries to foist on him but is just right for Clink. DiPucchio's fresh take on the unwanted-puppy story is loaded with humor and pathos, both ably magnified by Myers' feisty artwork. Clink's a heartstring-tugger, all right, but kids will be tickled by all the other absurdly outfitted robots bouncing around the brightly colored pages as well. A warm, funny reminder that unique individuals make for unique friends, and that it's OK to wait for that perfect fit.--Chipman, Ian Copyright 2010 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-This predictable story is another addition to the genre of toys/animals that languish in a store unappreciated until the right child comes along to claim them. Clink is an old-fashioned robot collecting dust and rust in a store full of newer and flashier machines. While the other bots can do amazing things like pick up dirty laundry while playing baseball, give people outlandish hairstyles, and help kids with their homework while baking chocolate chip cookies, all Clink can do is play old music and make burnt toast. As in other tales of this ilk, it looks as if no one will ever want him, but at last the right child shows up. Myers's exaggerated illustrations of people and gadgets follow the text but do not extend it, and the protagonist is not charming enough to endear himself to young readers. Skip this clunker in favor of Don Freeman's Corduroy (Viking, 1968).-Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
