Masterpiece Robot: And the Ferocious Valerie Knick Knack!

No author, no matter how talented, no matter how many pages written or how wide a scope cast, can rival a child for sheer, unbridled imagination. Children are natural-born storytellers, and, unlike most adults, they don’t have built-in limits for what makes sense or what can logically follow a given event. Kids are awesome that way.

Masterpiece Robot brings a little bit of that childlike magic to life, offering a split-screen view of reality versus imagination in this delightfully quick read. As we see the real backyard antics of Molly and Laura, we also watch the parallel story of Masterpiece Robot and Sidekick battling the fierce robotic army of Valerie Knick-Knack.

The color scheme is vivid, and the little metallic flourishes on heroes and robots alike add a nice touch of crispness and detail to the wild visuals. Although we’re given little background on the world behind Masterpiece Robot — all of the focus is on the kids’ alter egos, not the environment they inhabit — that ensures that we constantly keep our eyes on the faux-fight between siblings.

It’s a fun way to transport young readers and parents alike back to the days of cardboard spaceships and blanket forts-turned-castles.