Cardboard robot by Felix Hayes and Hannah Broadway

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Bloomsbury Books, 2011. ISBN 978 1408806555.
(Ages 4+) Picture book, Humour. A seemingly simple story of the disagreement between two friends, Robot and Monkey, becomes a tale of reconciliation and co-existence, when Monkey is unhappy and refusing to play the usual games with Robot. The two friends share a large house with lots of things to play with, read and do, but one day when Robot suggests a range of things to occupy their time, Monkey says no to them all.
Robot proceeds to make a cardboard robot to play with, but the robot cannot respond to his games. The Cardboard Robot cannot throw back the ball, or play at being a pirate or run a race. Monkey's interest is piqued when Robot asks him for help to make his Cardboard Robot more adventurous, and so he too builds a cardboard monkey, named Super Monkey. Together the two friends and their cut out playthings work together to have fun.
A charming story of working together, of finding common ground and what it means to be a friend, parents and teachers will make good use of this story in the home and classroom to mentor co-operation and working together. With good humour the story also reflects things the children can do at home, especially making things to play with. The fold in page at the end of the book has cut out pieces for children to make their own Monkey and Robot and dress them up to play with when the story has finished.
Fran Knight

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