ROBOTS

This appealing introduction to the rapidly changing world of robots for middle-grade readers describes simply what they do, how they work, current uses and future prospects. Opening with a reminder that real-life robots are not yet as accomplished as those in science fiction or the movies, the editors of Yes provide a quick summary of robotic history, from Leonardo da Vinci in the 1400s through mid-20th-century innovations, before going on in more detail about the variety of robots being developed and used today. The material is up-to-date, even including recent discoveries by the Mars rovers. Although no sources are given, the acknowledgements reveal a wide variety of informants. With breezy text, Woo’s cartoon-like drawings interspersed with color photographs, plentiful text boxes and a new topic on nearly every two-page spread, this is sure to attract browsers as well as those with a more sustained curiosity about this engaging topic. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)