This book wasn't quite as I was expecting and I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought it was. That aside though, lovers of comic books, drones, electronics, and robots will love all that it has to offer.

My kids and those in my class loved this comic. It was fun and informative at the same time. There was something for all abilities. I'd highly recommend. My one recommendation was that for the next instalment more content could be added as it was quite small especially for better readers and more capable students.

Next to my son I really enjoyed learning a new topic together.

In this comic format, the information is easy to digest, the text is direct and concise, everything is complemented perfectly with artwork.. It is an informative and educational book, and not so much an instruction book or a book to get down to work.

In a very pleasant way we learned about the historical background of automata, robots, drones and even something about computers. It is remarkable that automaton were made some centuries ago, with very basic mechanisms but that are still very useful. My son who loves to invent and caused him a lot of curiosity and interest to know that these mechanical devices existed in the past and to be able to build some.

We learned many anecdotes and data that we did not know, it was very educational, an interesting cultural tour on the subject and accompanied by a very pleasant automaton pigeon.
As we progressed in the book, we learned about sensors, the computer programming language that controls the response of robots according to the characteristics of the environment and the actions that you want them to have.

And we come perhaps to the part most expected by children about building their own first robot, acquiring a kit of adequate level. The authors describe the main functions of the components and invite children to become advanced robot makers, program their own robots from scratch and participate in competitions.

The introverted theme about artificial intelligence and the possibility of becoming self-aware are also discussed in a very general way; the fact that we already live in automated buildings or houses; that computers are becoming virtual assistants, interact with us and are more powerful.

My appreciation to the Publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review the book

Every volume of Science Comics is terrific! The Robots volume is just as informative as the other Science Comics. Extremely educational as well as interesting and fun -- it is perfect! I can't wait to read more of them!

This was awesome! Children's educational graphic novels are my new favorite genre. Here, obviously, I learned all about robots and drones - their history (which goes back way farther than you would think!), what defines them, how to make them, the future, etc. Gave me a lot of insights into what counts as a robot (they're everywhere! from your coffee maker to the blind-spot warning on your car!) and I think it would really encourage children to try their hand at building their own, if they are interested. Bonus points for the diversity of background characters - so many women represented in this STEM field plus color and religious diversity too!

I've had a mixed experience with the Science Comics series. This is a particularly good installment. The key is, Scott doesn't push too hard to give it a plot. This isn't a story, just a robot bird explaining the concepts, particularly the difference between a machine and a robot. We get history, basic details, a little bit about programming, and some speculation about the future, all with fairly simple but appealing illustrations. There is one fairly significant absence here: artificial intelligence doesn't even get a mention.

I didn't read this book - couldn't upload it. Wish I could have read it!

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

This latest installment of Science Comics: Robots and Drones by Mairghread Scott was an interesting and delightful introduction to the history of robots and drones. As with previous books in the Science Comics series, this graphic novel is written for younger readers, though it was perfectly told for this reader, whom has limited knowledge of robots and drones. The use of humour throughout was nice.

The reader is shown many ways that robots are used in our daily lives. This certainly made me more aware of the quantity of robots in our lives and how convenient they make routine tasks. For example -> there was a dialogue involving Tim and T1M – both performing the same routine task (attaching nuts to bolts) where Tim can only perform the tasks before getting tired and bored, whereas the robot does not have such constraints. We differentiate the tasks assigned to both to make sure:

“Nowadays, we like to have humans like Tim do complex, creative jobs, like improving our technology. While robots, like T1M help build that technology.”

Discussions clarifying the difference between Robots and Drones was all encompassing. I would like to think that now I truly do understand the difference! I enjoyed the use of examples to solidify the understanding of what drones are and how they are different from robots in use currently:

“Of course, a lot of drones are also robots. They get general commands from their humans, but they also perform a lot of functions on their own. The best examples are the rovers NASA has on Mars right now, Spirit and Opportunity.”

There was terminology new to me and I found the explanations and illustrations that went along with those were easily understood and very entertaining. I found I was fully engaged throughout the reading of this book.

The Hall of Awesome Robots – 25 Robots you should know. A special section at the end of the book…a very entertaining addition, providing a chronology of robots throughout history from the early 1900’s to present day. The side comments of humour added so much to my enjoyment of the book.

There is also a section at the end of the book with a brief, yet more in-depth discussion about drones. And then of course, the Glossary, which is a good refresher of the words used throughout the book.

The illustrations by Jacob Chabot were very good. I really enjoyed the variations between the characters and time periods when discussing robots through the ages.

All in all, I really enjoyed this edition of Science Comics and recommend it to those wanting to learn more about robots and drones and those just looking to refresh their knowledge.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Science Comics: Robots and Drones: Past, Present & Future is a nonfiction graphic novel written by Mairghread Scott and illustrated by Jacob Chabot. This new volume in the Science Comics series is currently scheduled for release on March 27 2018.

From tea-serving robots in feudal Japan to modern rovers exploring Mars, robots have been humanity's partners, helpers, and protectors for centuries! Join one of the world's earliest robots, a mechanical bird named Pouli, as he explores where robots came from, how they work, and where they’re going in this informative and hilarious new book! Ever dreamt of building your own best friend? It might be easier than you think!

Science Comics: Robots and Drones: Past, Present & Future is another great addition to the Science Comics series. The art style and the combination of story and information works well to capture and keep the attention of readers from all age groups. I am admittedly a fan of the formula, but how can you argue with something that works to teach and entertain so well. I like that the information is given in short bursts, giving readers time to digest and understand before piling more on, and I really enjoyed getting more information on early robots. Automatons are such a staple in some of the steampunk that I have read that it was interesting to see them in historical context rather than as something fantastical. The explanations of the technology of robots and drones, and the differences between some devices that people often refer to interchangeably but are not, is very accessible and I learned quite a bit.

Science Comics: Robots and Drones: Past, Present & Future is a book that will engage the mechanically inclined, and the not so adept. The information and story are fun and well paced, as I have come to expect. If this is the first of this series you have seen, I highly recommend checking out the entire series, or at least the volumes that touch on topics that might interest you and the children in your life.

I’m a huge fan of the Science Comics series, they are fun and packed with information. I always learn something new from these books even though they are meant for kids! The subtle humor and easy to read format make these books great for reluctant readers and perfect for classrooms.

Robots and Drones explains the many subtle differences between the two with simple distinctions. The book also gives a brief introduction to programming that most adults could benefit from reading. I love the illustrator’s attention to diversity in the characters, representation is important, especially for young readers, and I’m so happy to see illustrators embracing this concept.

Science Comics continues to expand the list of topics available, this time exploring the fascinating field of robots and drones. Going back to 350 B.C., the author traces the development of machines created to imitate the flight of birds up to today's military drones and drone racing. Early automatons that had only one possible response to input are compared with today's assistants like Siri and Alexa which can complete a range of tasks. Along the way there are explanations of the difference between a robot and a remote-controlled machine, and examples of robots we encounter in everyday life. There is also a discussion of the fear many people have of robots, with portrayals in movies such as the Terminator series or in novels such as Isaac Asimov's I, Robot.

This series follows in the tradition of the Magic School Bus and the Max Axiom books by sharing science concepts through a graphic format. In this case, the comic style illustrations bring the history of robots and drones to life for readers. There are plenty of facts, and a helpful glossary. This book is an excellent introduction and offers enough details to give readers a good place to start researching the topic more deeply on their own.

This book is very clear and easy to understand. The art is wonderful and having a robot bird as a narrator is really a great idea. This whole series is very good for explaining science concepts and getting more children interested in and understanding science.

A rare misfire for the usually outstanding line of Science Comics. Perhaps it’s a reflection of my relative lack of interest in the topic, but I didn’t find this installment as entertaining, informative, or frankly, good as many of the others. It’s narrated by Pouli, a mechanical bird and “the first machine that ever flew”. But we don’t see how he worked, and his personality is non-existent as he walks through a catalog of things that can be considered robots, including:

A coffee maker
A vacuum
A tea-serving doll in 1960s Japan
A bomb-disposal robot
Explorer drones
The Mars Rover

Early on, the book tackles the idea of what a robot is (and isn’t — for example, a remote-control car, since it can’t respond to its environment). There are brief mentions of historical automatons, but I found these mentions superficial and unconnected to the main content, because they aren’t given sufficient space to be explained or described. Some of the items mentioned I only knew were relevant because of knowledge I already brought to the text (such as what cams are or why punch cards are historically important).

Later topics include how robots and humans can work together, with each having different strengths, and how to build and program a robot. That latter one is a great introduction to logical thinking and breaking down a task, but it seems to have wandered in from another book, particularly once we start delving into robot parts and how resistors work. There’s a lack of topic coherence here; instead, it feels like a grab bag of “concepts related to robots in some way”. I missed the stronger structures or even stories I’ve read in other Science Comics.

Chabot does a terrific job with both the machines and people using them, though. I’m impressed by his animated sense of movement, and I’m fondly reminded, in his character designs, of Kurt Schaffenberger’s work. I also liked the short section on robots in fiction, including Asimov’s Laws, and the resulting ethical questions robot development may raise. But again, there wasn’t enough space given, so the debate is raised and quickly dropped.

There’s a final section, “25 Robots You Should Know!”, that I’d rather have read a lot more about than the one- or two-sentence descriptions given. Perhaps this would have been a better structure for the book overall. There’s good information here, but I felt as though a lot of space was wasted on irrelevant information, leaving me confused as to just what the purpose and message of the book was.

Like Science Comics: Sharks, Robots and Drones is a really interesting way of presenting a non-fiction text. The images are engaging and it's very informative. The character which guides the reader is a nice child-friendly touch. Thanks First Second Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

Although I usually prefer nonfiction books to contain photographs, this book, which summarizes a history of robotics, is more effective and appealing with graphic novel illustrations. Covering such topics as the definition of a robot, first robots, types of robots, functions of robots and components of robots, this engaging book would be an excellent addition to any elementary library collection.

My high-interest, low-level readers are very attracted to comic books, and this one provides them with what they need while also including lots of great science facts. The comic bubbles are short and easily digested, but are not babied-down (vocabulary). The pictures are age-appropriate and enhance the text. I will be finding a few more of these to add to our (5th grade) classroom.

The latest volume of Science Comics takes a deeper look at robots. With Poulli, a birdlike robot that's also the first machine to ever fly through the sky (back in 350 BCE!), as our guide, readers get a guided tour through the history of robotics, and learn what is versus what isn't a robot. New, programmable coffeemakers? Robots! Remote-controlled cars - not really. Kids get a refresher on simple machines (levels and pulleys) and how those simple concepts formed the building blocks for more complex machines, eventually leading to modern technology, robots, and drones. There's a focus on the good robots and drones can accomplish (for those techno-phobes who see The Terminator as our eventual future) and the human component of computer programming. Isaac Asimov, legendary scientist and science fiction writer who gave us the Three Laws of Robotics, gets some recognition here, too.


There's a nice shout-out to libraries and after-school programs as places to go to learn more about getting into programming and robotics, and some cool pop culture nods that parents will recognize (Star Trek and KITT from Knight Rider, to name a couple). The artwork features diverse characters putting their learning into practice, and the history of robotics covers diverse areas of the world. Poulli is a friendly, cute guide that will appeal to readers, and the language - as with all Science Comics - is easy to understand but never dumbs down information.

There's a Hall of Awesome Robots, spotlighting 25 robots from history; a closer look at how drones work, and a glossary of new terms to finish up the volume.

Me? I immediately add the newest Science Comics to my shopping cart ; they're a great add for my "True Story" nonfiction section, where I put books that may get lost on the actual nonfiction shelves, but will grab attention on their own. Plus, my True Story section is next to my Graphic Novels shelf, so it's a win all around.

Science Comics are always popular. Robots and Drones are topics that my kids love at the moment, so this is perfect. The illustrations are engaging as always, the writing light but informative and I think this one will be particularly popular.

My son and nephews all read this and loved everything about it. They keep asking me for more more more. Received a free earc in exchange for a honest review from Net galley

The Future Is Now!

This volume is part of the "Science Comics" series. The series started with some predictable topics - dinosaurs, volcanoes, and so on - but it seems to be expanding to cover less obvious and more "scientific" topics. Upcoming titles address rockets, sharks, and trees, (not all in one book of course, although that could be a good book), which seems to cast the net fairly wide. I mention the series mostly because this "Robots and Drones" book was intriguing and rewarding enough to make the entire series potentially interesting.

This book struck me as awfully ambitious. It isn't just photos, drawings and snappy patter. Unusual for a book like this, it has serious and substantive content first and jokey asides later. The tone is an engaging combination of earnest, gung-ho, and into-the-future!, which makes the book, (intentionally I think), both informative and inspirational.

The layout is comic book style. There are generally three to six full color panels per page. Drawings are comics/realistic and usually illustrate or act out whatever fact or principle is being introduced. Our host/narrator is a bird named Pouli that is modeled after an ancient mechanical bird circa 350 BCE. This amiable guide leads the reader through the history of robotics and drones. Along the way we define what a "robot" is, (which is trickier and more subtle than you might imagine). We look at early robots, simple robots from day-to-day life, (i.e., arguably your coffeemaker and certainly your Roomba vacuum cleaner). We consider the differences among a remote controlled toy car, a computer, and a true robot.

From there we take a side trip to simple machines of which a robot is constructed, (screw, lever, pulley), and consider automata, (say, the Jacquard loom). This is fairly sophisticated stuff, but it is presented and illustrated clearly. And so it goes - functional components, on-board intelligence, even different levels of programming and language are addressed. Artificial intelligence, robots in popular culture, do-it-yourself robot building, drone racing, "intelligent" houses, Asimov's rules of robotics - the list of topics goes on and on.

It seems to me that any kid interested in robots, computers, engineering, drones, and the like would find a lot to like in this book. It is kid friendly, what with cheerful Pouli and its clear narrative, but the book is never patronizing. Some jokey/Dummies-style books can be overloaded with dumb jokes and puns and the like, but this book just has occasional "funny" bits that the reader can take or leave depending on his or her taste.

So, this book was instructive, accessible, and entertaining, and covered a topic that you usually don't see that much, (compared to, say, sharks). I'd feel good about handing this to any budding scientist, or really to any kid interested in how things work.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)