POWER DOWN, LITTLE ROBOT

This little red robot will do anything to avoid going to sleep.

When Mom Unit announces that it is time to power down for the night, Little Robot quickly initiates his stalling program (a program equally familiar to toddlers and robots alike). He takes twice as long to brush his cogs, he begs for an extra can of oil, and right before the door is shut, his circuits begin to hurt. Mom Unit patiently solves every problem, from error messages (nightmares) to rust monsters hiding in the closet, but she knows when it is time for a firm, “Enough!” Despite every effort to the contrary, Little Robot’s large, bulbous eyes finally begin to close. After all, who can resist the warmth and coziness of the sleep module? Zeltner uses a creative wash of acrylic on plywood with various stains and glazes to create this space-age family. Mother Unit looks especially svelte in a lilac metal dress, while Little Robot is boxy and bright red, appropriate for his defiant streak.

Riddled with robotic terms, this bedtime story is clearly one-note, but it’s still charming enough to earn fans of all youngsters who engage in bedtime battles.