ZIP'S NEW BUTTON
From the Zip the Robot series
by Rebecca Purcell
Zip, the World’s Greatest Robot, returns, even better than before, with an amazing feature so new even Zip doesn’t know what it does!
Zip, the lovable fire hydrant–shaped robot with an enormous grin and rabbit ear antennae, returns with a brand new, bright-red button on its midsection that’s just begging to be pressed.. When Zip’s friend Cat asks him what it does, Zip indulges a bit of presumptuous fantasizing about the luster this modification will bring to its robotic career: “It makes me even BETTER!” Anticipating instant fame, Zip explains he’ll need to wear sunglasses “to hide from my many eager fans.” Returning to the question of functionality, Cat asks again, “What happens if you PRESS the button?” Zip admits, “I do not know.” This allows for three fantasy scenarios involving space travel, time travel (with a dinosaur!), and invisibility before Zip finally breaks the suspense and presses the button. Handily, the button actually activates “<sleep mode> in 10 seconds.” That, of course, makes this an ideal final read at bedtime, concluding with a gentle press of the buttons in the midsections of the Zip fans at home.
A delight—like Zip itself, the art and storyline are clean and simple but also loaded with warmth and personality.
(Board book. 2-5)