What to read after... The Wild Robot

Published on: 05 November 2024

Whether you love the book or enjoyed the film, we've got recommendations of great books for fans of The Wild Robot to try next.

The Wild Robot found a place in readers' hearts in a very short time, appropriately for a story about a robot swiftly making friends herself. Readers love it for many reasons – the survival adventure, the friendships across species, the wonderful black-and-white illustrations by the author, and the kind, selfless character of Roz the robot.

We've collated some suggestions for further brilliant reads after this exciting story.

Resilient robots

If robots pique your reader's interest, then try Boot by Shane Hegarty, illustrated by Ben Mantle, where Boot the robot makes friends with other robots and tries to find out why it's at a scrapyard. What happened to its owner? Fun and friendly.

For an off-world robot adventure packed with action and starring a humorously grumpy robot, Scrap by Guy Bass, illustrated by Alessia Trunfio, is a hoot. It combines non-stop perilous situations with reflections on humanity – all set on a robot-only planet. And of course, the classic story by Ted Hughes, The Iron Man, is brilliant for considering themes of compassion and community.

Firm friends

Roz the robot learns about her animal neighbours and adapts her behaviour and language so as to be an excellent friend to them. She even adopts a gosling! Another story of friends with very different backgrounds is Stitch by Padraig Kenny, illustrated by Steve McCarthy. Stitch and Henry Oaf have been made by the Professor and become friends with a girl named Alice, leading to danger, tough realisations and a wonderful friendship.

An unusual friend also features in The Snow Girl by Sophie Anderson, when a snow girl called Alyana comes to life, much to Tasha's delight. But what will happen when winter ends? Meanwhile, Ginika in The Storm Swimmer by Clare Weze becomes friendly with Peri, a boy who lives in the sea. When Peri falls ill, Ginika has to make some tricky decisions.

Island adventures

IIllustration: Bill Bragg

In The Wild Robot, Roz is washed up on the shore of a remote island and has to survive without humans. She 'goes wild'. Other excellent island adventures we recommend include Lost on Gibbon Island by Jess Butterworth, set near Cambodia. How can the shipwrecked Lark and her baby gibbon companion stay alive?

The Storm Keeper's Island by Catherine Doyle is set on an island off the coast of Ireland which has a magical history. Can Fionn stop the dark magic taking over? Finally, The Island at the End of Everything by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, set in the Philippines, has Ami desperately returning to a remote island that has been quarantined. Will she make it in time to be reunited with her sick mother?

Join in!

What do you love about The Wild Robot, and which books would you recommend to fans? Let us know by getting in touch on social @BookTrust, using the hashtag #WhatToReadAfter.