Blink and Block build a fort

Two robot pals decide that collaborating beats competing. Block, who's square and purple, and Blink, who's round and blue, are ambling along when they notice an assortment of empty boxes. Each claims to have been the first to think of making a fort with them. They quarrel briefly; then, miffed, each sets about building a fort--alone. Before long, each robot is curious about what the other is doing. It turns out each robot constructed something simply to obstruct the other's view. Then…surprise! Each friend's better nature wins out. Blink and Block join forces, combine their separate cache of boxes, share tools and compliments, and decorate their collective project. By story's end, the friends have proudly done what they set out to do--create "the best fort ever!" Kids will enjoy this cute, early-reader comic and want to befriend these two wide-eyed, jovial characters who prove that true pals resolve differences amicably and help each other. Emergent readers will find the text accessible, with a few basic sight words and simple sentences per page; vocabulary includes short and long vowels and vowel blends. The pages preceding the story contain useful tips to help children navigate comic panels and word balloons. Colorful, crisp illustrations are funny and uncluttered, allowing readers to focus on the action and the lively, expressive protagonists. The message here: Real pals build their friendships up. (what is a robot?) (Graphic early reader. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.