Whenever a book in our catalog has a movie adaptation slated for release, we typically have a surge of interest from schools who wish to share a title before it hits theaters. With Peter Brown’s The Wild Robot, however, the “surge” has been more like a tidal wave.
The Wild Robot begins with a shipwreck – Roz, a robot, finds herself marooned on an island filled with a variety of wild animals. She is not programmed to speak the animals’ language, which makes surviving the elements and earning the local fauna’s trust quite the daunting task. Roz also has encountered another, rather human problem: she is trying to determine her purpose. A rockslide changes everything, as Roz finds herself caring for an orphaned gosling named Brightbill. It is amid motherhood – and the many other challenges that the island’s residents face – that Roz begins feeling more like a living creature rather than a cold, mechanical robot.
With a premise like that? It’s no surprise that Peter Brown’s novel has been a One School, One Book favorite for years. And with so many schools discovering The Wild Robot for the first time, we thought we’d look back at a few memories OSOB participants have shared with us! Enjoy:
Neihardt Elementary School
When Neihardt Elementary launched their The Wild Robot OSOB, staff put their art skills to use in creating a window mural of Roz and Brightbill. A real-life, giant version of Roz was placed in their school’s entryway (pictured above) during the entirety of the reading event. This Roz, like her literary-self, changed along with the story… and even had a goose friend and a special boot by the program’s close.
Families were also challenged to create their very own models of Roz. As you can see, Neihardt Elementary’s library was overrun by a factory’s worth of ROZZUM units. Incredible!
Walnut Ridge Elementary School
The staff at Walnut Ridge truly went all out for their The Wild Robot event. From wearing t-shirts depicting Robot’s cover to wearing their very own Roz costume, their creativity knows no bounds! A mural was set up in the hallway (a perfect opportunity to grab photos during a Family Reading Night), complete with prop pine trees and Walnut Ridge’s very own Roz the robot.
Story Elementary School
To kick off their time with The Wild Robot, the staff at Story Elementary sent home their books in backpacks. This was made possible by a grant from the Foundation for Allen Schools, which proudly supports classroom innovation and provides educational opportunities for Allen ISD students and teachers. Remember: when launching your school-wide read, it never hurts to reach out to the community. You’d be surprised at how many local businesses and community foundations are ready and willing to lend their support!
Birchcrest Elementary School
While students received their copies of The Wild Robot, cookies representing Roz and the elements of her island home were passed out to teachers and staff. What a sweet way to kick off the read!
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The Wild Robot is set to arrive in theaters on September 27th, 2024.
Have you and your school read The Wild Robot? If so, share some of your favorite memories from the event in the comments below. Happy reading!
