Owen thinks life would be perfect if he had a robot, but quickly learns AI is no substitute for dear old mom.

I wasn't a big fan of this book. The writing seems stiff and formal, and there does need to be some sort of concluding page. What does Owen do with the robot that failed to meet expectations?

The illustrations also bugged me. Owen and his mom, with their clown makeup and odd costumes, seemed more suited to a Halloween-themed book, and looked out of place in a modern setting.

Perhaps this one will appeal more to kids, but I wasn't enthralled.

Thank you to the author, Familius and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This children's book explores what happens when you get exactly what you ask for - Owen's mom makes him eat balanced meals and pick up his messes. He thinks a robot will do everything he asks it to, and he'll be much happier. He wins a robot and once assembled, he starts going through his wish list - and gets an upset tummy, loses all games because the robot always wins and realizes that nothing replaces the love of care of your mom/parent. I loved the illustrations, but some may find them a bit too edgy for their taste.

Hmmm… A bratty kid dislikes his mother's rules at breakfast, demands for a tidy home, and suggestions for things to do at appropriate times, so is determined – and successful – in a bizarre win-a-robot contest. But when the robot turns up, is life going to be all sweetness and light? This is an unusual balance of old-school morals and lessons, prepared with a nice robot dressing, but it certainly has flaws. For one thing, nobody is supposed to think the kid a brat – and yet he is. We're supposed to engage with his selfishness and his incessant demands, otherwise the pay-off doesn't work. But he is incessantly and unlikeably demanding, and the story therefore deserves more of a downer for him before he can even think of a happy ending. This is a book to suitably prove that the grass is not always greener on the other side – but the main character barely merits getting any grass in the first place. Three and a half stars.

A young boy does not want to do what his mother says, such as cleaning his room and not eating ice cream for breakfast. He wants a robot because the robot will do whatever he orders. But it’s realizing that giving orders doesn’t make you happy. That is the lesson of this book. I have read better books. The idea is there but drawn out and not fun. This is a problem because the illustrations are amazingly fun. Their bright, their lively, the emotion is all there on the page. Between the frustrated boy and the exasperated mother, and even the robot just wanting to do this. The illustrations are what really make this book. The story I could take or leave.

🤖 What a heartwarming story about a boy discovering the irreplaceable value of his mom!

🤖 Owen struggles to understand his mom and her rules, so he decides to replace her with a robot. However, he soon realizes that while robots might be cool, they can’t replace the love and care of his mom.

🤖 This book beautifully captures the inquisitive nature of children and celebrates the special bond between mothers and their children.

🤖 The illustrations have a charming Tim Burton-esque style that I absolutely adored! Check out my slides for some examples.

🤖 This book is perfect for any child and would make a lovely Mother’s Day gift.

Thank you @familiusbooks for a copy of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

‘Robots Don’t Make You Go to Bed’ is a beautiful story about how a robot mother could never replace the real deal. It explores the special bond between a child and their human mother, contrasting it with the efficiency of a robot designed to care for the child.

Plot: ★★★★★
The story is heartwarming and inventive, focusing on the unique and irreplaceable bond between a child and their real mother. The plot effectively conveys a touching message about the limits of technology and the importance of genuine, personal relationships.

Character: ★★★★★
The characters, especially the robot mother and the real mother, are well-developed and relatable. The robot mother is portrayed with technological efficiency, while the real mother embodies the loving and irreplaceable qualities that make her indispensable.

Illustrations: ★★★★★
The illustrations are vibrant and beautifully complement the narrative. They effectively capture the emotions and themes of the story, enhancing the reader's connection to the characters and their experiences.

Engagement: ★★★★★
The book is highly engaging, with a narrative that captures children's attention and holds it throughout. The blend of imaginative elements and emotional depth makes it compelling and memorable.

Readability: ★★★★★
The text is clear, accessible, and well-suited for its target age group. The language is straightforward, yet expressive, making it easy for young readers to follow along and grasp the story’s message.

Enjoyment: ★★★★★
Readers are likely to find the story both enjoyable and meaningful. The combination of a touching message, relatable characters, and beautiful illustrations creates a delightful reading experience.


‘Robots Don’t Make You Go to Bed’ is a beautifully crafted story that underscores the irreplaceable nature of human relationships through a captivating narrative and engaging illustrations. It successfully blends imaginative elements with a heartfelt message, making it a wonderful read for children and a poignant reminder for readers of all ages.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Robots Don't Make You Go to Bed is a fun children's picture book about Owen who wants a robot because robots will do whatever you ask of them unlike his mum who won't let him eat ice cream for breakfast, makes him put his toys away, won't read a 6th book at bedtime... When Owen wins his very own robot in a competition, he can't wait to get it built and programmed. The robot does exactly what Owen says, and Owen begins to realise that getting your own way and taking liberties isn't as fun as he thought it would be.
This was a fun book for children, but I found it ended very abruptly, which is why I've marked it at 3 stars. I'm not sure if the digital ARC is missing pages or if the book does end so abruptly, but it wasn't ended well for me at all, and I can see children asking where the end of the story is.

Thank you NetGalley. This was a cute story. My son loved this one. He especially loved the illustrations!

Robots Don't Make You Go to Bed was a cute, albeit simplistic, story about a boy who just wants to do what he wants to do: he wants to eat ice cream, go to bed whenever he decides, and have as many stories read to him as he decides. He thinks a robot is the answer to all of his problems because the robot will follow his commands. Finally his dream comes true and he gets a robot. He programs it and orders it around but things don't work out how he expects: who knew he would feel sick after eating a giant ice cream? In the end all he wants is his mom and the robot brings her to him. I wish this book had gone a bit further: The ending felt abrupt as he gets his mom and it's described as "the robot finally did something right." However, the robot wasn't the problem -- it was that the boy didn't realize that his mom was making decisions in his best interest. We never got to the point where he realizes how much his mom loves him and does for him. There's no reflection; it simply ends. This one fell a little short for me but 4-6 year olds will enjoy the robots and the idea of getting to do what you want.

I received an electronic ARC from Familius through NetGalley.
Owen doesn't like having rules. His mom won't let him eat ice cream for breakfast and makes him clean up his toys. So, he wants a robot instead as they won't make him follow rules. To his delight, he wins a contest and assembles his robot. And, it works like he hoped - except it doesn't work exactly like he hoped. Readers will enjoy the humor and quirky illustrations. They may even connect with wishing for a life without rules and then relate to getting their parents back. A fun read for elementary classes that could lead to dialogue and STEAM exploration.

This book has beautiful, quirky illustrations, and a story that kids will really enjoy, with a message that parents can get behind. A good one to add to your children’s library,

The uniquely drawn illustrations feel like a more approachable spin on Tim Burton, a take that will surely intrigue children. The narrative easily delves into the idea that one thing, in this case a robot, could solve all of the boy's dislikes about his day, something that most kids definitely have wished more than once in their young lives. It gives a great lesson about being appreciative for what you have, even if sometimes you don't think others have your best interests in mind. A lovely read.

If you're reading this review, you can likely guess the story just from looking at the cover: a little boy tries replacing his mother with a robot he's won, only to find that a robot just can't replicate the care of a mother. The story is told with simple words and cute, expressive pictures that I found quite fun to look at. And yes, there's a bit of "let children make their own mistakes," too, as Owen tries eating a breakfast of ice cream with his robot mother only to find it makes him sick. The happy ending is as you might expect, Owen learning to appreciate his mother more and that always getting what he wants (or what he THINKS he wants) isn't good for anyone Overall, a solid choice for young children.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was just perfect… Beautiful quirky illustrations that fitted the story so well. The story being predictable to me but it teaches children a great lesson in a really fun way.

At the start we see Owen filling out entry forms to win a robot kit because he thinks a robot will give him everything he wants and do everything he doesn’t want to do. It will be so much better than having a mother.

Owen soon realizes why his mother does and says certain things and this leads to a beautiful and incredibly satisfying ending I loved!

This was such a fun and quick read. The illustrations did give a bit of a Tim Burton character vibes. It is definitely a great read for kids for its message. I do believe that kids have a funny perspective in the things they think are good in their eyes. An ice cream sandwich for breakfast sounds amazing and like the best thing ever but nothings beats having a fulfilling nutritious breakfast. Nothing is better than having your mom with you, even if you feel like she’s always nagging.

This book will do well at opening kids eyes and it’s kind of funny. I would recommend for everyone to try it out!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

This was a really cute story that has a clear message, but it isn't too overt. Owen gets to go through everything that he thinks he wants, so little readers will be able to follow his journey and come to their own conclusions. The artwork that accompanies the story is really well done, and enhances the overall story. This will be a great story for kids to read, and for parents to share with their kids so they can understand why sometimes "no" is important.

This story teaches kids that getting everything you want is not always a good thing.
The story is from a little boy's perspective. He's tired of his mom making him eat balanced meals and pick up his messes. He thinks a robot will do everything he asks it to, and he'll be much happier.
It turns out, a robot is no fun to play with because it always wins, and eating huge ice cream sundaes for breakfast makes you sick. And noone loves and takes care of you like your mom (/parent/caretaker.)
It's a good lesson against being bratty.
The writing is entertaining, and the illustrations are in a unique style that's slightly edgy.

I read an advanced copy of this book in order to review it. All opinions are mine.

I grabbed this book because I thought my daughter would get a kick out of a robot story and we did enjoy it. The illustrations for this book were cute and kept us interested. Or was a quick read but then the enemy got really quick. I needed a smidge more about the grandma lol. We are quickly introduced and then left hanging.
Otherwise, this was a great read and we would recommend it to others.

Thank you to Netgalley and Familius for the copy.

Robots Don't Make You Go to Bed is a fantastic picture book about a young boy who wants a robot, because robots don't make you clean your room or go to bed on time. I really loved this one! The illustrations are super cute and unique. This is definitely a "be careful what you wish for" story, but it still felt fresh and exciting!

Thanks to Laurel Gale, Familius, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own!

"Robots Don't Make You Go To Bed" is a classic story of "be careful what you wish for"! Owen's mom won't let him eat ice cream for breakfast, or keep his toys strewn all over the floor, or stay up late after reading 6 bedtime stories. But a robot would! This story is very cute and does a great job of showing the consequences of ones actions and what would happen if children actually got what they wanted all the time. I really enjoyed the illustration style of this book, giving it an endearing and whimsical Tim Burton feel.