I'M PROGRAMMED TO LOVE YOU
by Elias Barks ; illustrated by Gemma Román
A robot caregiver shows their love for their tot bot. In first-person narration, this parental unit describes activities that human parents engage in, such as hugging, kissing, cuddling, teaching, and reading with their youngster. The images show clever interpretations of said activities, with the grown-up droid acting as a night light at bedtime, projecting holograms to teach concepts, feeding Hex Nuts cereal to the little automaton, and welding a knee that has a boo-boo. The art is decidedly retro and recalls many mechanical creatures of several animated movies; the rather surprising palette is dominated by pink, orange, turquoise, and metallic blue. A companion title, I Love You More Than Plunder, follows a similar formula but from a pirate angle. Here a gray-bearded pirate expresses their love for a Pippi Longstocking–esque preschooler with blue, textured hair in four Afro puffs. On each double-page spread this ruddy-complexioned duo engage in buccaneer activities, from “swashbuckling tussles” with other pirates to wrestling sharks underwater. The oversized trim of both titles provides an immersive lap-reading experience for youngsters, though many of the jests are more for grown-ups than the little ones—and will grow old for them quickly. While there are some clever moments, ultimately it’s a one-joke offering. (Board book. 2-3)