The robot makers

Gr 4--8--La Ion is a wonderful youth soccer player and hopes to someday become a famous athlete. However, he's crestfallen when he's forced to transfer schools and discovers his new one doesn't have a soccer program. When La Ion accidentally stumbles upon the school's "Robot Soccer Club," the enthusiastic members (Sori Oh and Georu Kang) will stop at nothing to make La Ion a fan of this unique activity. This is a solid comic for young kids that uses edutainment to its fullest; each chapter's end features informational educational passages about a variety of different topics (robotics, coding, Isaac Asimov) that never feel overly complex. The illustrations feature an full array of full and vibrant colors, much like its characters. The trio of leads are all charismatic and bubbly in their own way. With STEM at the book's core, it's a read that is sure to get kids interested in imaginative experimenting, showing them that this use for robotics is absolutely something that can happen outside of fiction, too! A charming reading experience for upper elementary and middle school comics fans. VERDICT With its cute characters and edutainment value, this series starter is sure to be a hit with young comic readers, with the potential to get them interested in the science behind it as well.--Joe Pascullo