We’ve just finished reading The Wild Robot by Peter Brown and absolutely loved it. My 10-year-old and I were so hooked that we’ve already dived into the second book (The Wild Robot Escapes)—and ordered the third one too!

What is The Wild Robot About?

The story follows a robot named Roz who finds herself shipwrecked on a remote island. She’s the only robot to survive the crash and must quickly adapt to life in the wild, completely alone. At first, the island's animals are terrified of her and call her the monster. But Roz is clever and determined. She studies the animals, learns about their habitats, and even picks up their language so she can communicate.

One early moment that stood out to us was when Roz adopts an orphaned gosling. As the other animals watch Roz tenderly raise the little goose, they slowly begin to trust her—and that’s where the magic of the story really begins.

A Slow Start That’s Worth It

I'll be honest—at first, I wasn’t sure this book was for me. The chapters are incredibly short (many just two pages long), and I initially found it hard to immerse myself in the story. But my son was really enjoying it, so we kept going. I’m so glad we did.

Before long, we were both totally invested. The characters are brilliant (with Chitchat the very chatty squirrel being one of my favourites!), and the story takes you on a beautiful adventure that’s full of surprises.

Why We Loved It

There are so many highs, lows, twists, and turns that we couldn’t wait for bedtime each night just to read more. Through Roz’s journey, we learned about:

• Different animal habitats

• Bird migration and hibernation

• Predator and prey dynamics

• And most importantly—friendship, no matter who you are

If you’re enjoying the story halfway through, I’d definitely recommend ordering book two in advance. The ending of the first book leaves you desperate to find out what happens next.

Who This Book Is For

🧒 Independent Readers (Age 9+)
Perfect for kids who love animals, robots, and adventurous stories.

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents Reading at Bedtime (Age 6+)
The short chapters are ideal for children with shorter attention spans.

📚 Teachers for School Story Time
I actually found this in the Teachers' Picks section on Amazon, and my children said it’s been read in their school too. It’s a brilliant all-rounder that has something for everyone.

The Wild Robot Film

After finishing the books, we discovered that The Wild Robot has also been made into a film, based on the first book. We found it on NOW TV and really enjoyed it as a family.

In my opinion, the book is better (isn’t that always the way?), but the film is still a lovely watch—especially if your child needs a little nudge to read the book first!

👉 Check out our full film review here.