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Oct 08, 2014JCLChrisK rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
This book has one Klink the super-intelligent robot, one Klank the somewhat-intelligent robot, and lots of klunky storytelling. Most other reviewers seem to feel it takes science and makes it fun with a zany story; I feel it takes what could have been a fun and zany story and makes it awkwardly pedantic, artificial, and ridiculously riddled with overly detailed science information: "The setting sun lights up the dramatically cloud-speckled sky in fiery reds and oranges. Frank leans back in his cushioned seat, hands behind his head. 'Beautiful, isn't it, Watson?' Watson and Frank quietly admire the sunset. 'Even more beautiful,' Frank continues, 'when you know that it's caused by the sunlight rays traveling through more air molecules at sunset. And the short-wavelength blue and green light getting scattered out, leaving the longer-wavelength reds and oranges.' There is something like that on every page. It's three parts science lecture, two parts slapstick, and one part plot and character. I applaud the effort and think there are some readers who will enjoy it, but I think the meshing of science with story could have been much more skillfully accomplished. Though, as I page through the book while reviewing it, I must say that Scieszka's stilted audiobook narration definitely detracted from my enjoyment of the story while the illustrations I missed would have added to it.