The Wild Robot on the Island

by Peter Brown

Roz is not where she’s supposed to be.

You see, the robot wasn’t designed to live in the wilderness. But when she washes up on an island, she must learn from the animal inhabitants and adapt to her new, natural surroundings, and before long, the island begins to feel like home.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Adventure, Robots, Family

48 pages, Hardcover

First published June 24, 2025

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Peter Brown is an American writer and illustrator who is best known for children's picture books.

"Peter has always loved telling stories. Growing up in New Jersey, he told stories by drawing whimsical characters and scenes from his imagination. Then, as a teenager, he fell in love with writing, and told his tales with words. While studying illustration at Art Center College of Design, Peter’s love of both words and pictures led him to take several courses on children’s books, and before long he knew he’d found his calling.

After graduating from Art Center Peter moved to New York City to be closer to the publishing industry. He was working on animated TV shows when he signed a book deal to write and illustrate his first picture book, Flight of the Dodo. Peter quickly signed up his second and third books, and his career as an author and illustrator of children’s books was under way.

Peter’s books have earned him numerous honors, including a Caldecott Honor (2013) for Creepy Carrots!, two E.B. White Awards and an E.B. White Honor, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book award, a Children’s Choice Award for Illustrator of the Year, two Irma Black Honors, and five New York Times bestsellers.

Peter lives in Brooklyn, New York."

Source: About Peter Brown.

Reviews

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

Cute enough to give me a short reprieve from the Shatter Me series. Not motivating enough for me want to read the entire series. I still plan to watch the movie though. 🍿🍿🍿. 🤭🤭🤭.
~~~~~~~
***Pre-Read:*** I have every intention of watching this movie this weekend. But first, a small glance into the book series. ☺️☺️☺️.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wild Robot on the Island (2025) is the fourth and latest installment in Peter Brown's Wild Robot book series.

As with the previous Wild Robot books, text and illustrations are both by Brown.

It's s familiar territory about the shipwrecked robot landing and making a life for itself on the island, befriending the animals and even becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned goose - but nonetheless as charming as ever. The illustrations are particularly captivating and well observed.

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This stunning new picture book brings the origin story of Roz to life through vibrant, full-color illustrations. Roz awakens with no idea how she arrived on the island and begins her journey as an awkward outsider. As she observes the tallest trees, the smallest creatures, and the island's natural rhythms, she gradually learns to build, forage, and even communicate.

When she discovers and hatches an orphaned gosling named Brightbill, Roz steps into the roles of caregiver, protector, and mother. Over time, the skeptical animals of the island become her allies and form a community. However, external forces—other robots sent to retrieve her—introduce conflict, forcing Roz to make choices that reflect her loyalty to her newfound family rather than her original programming.

This book offers gentle adventure, emotional stakes, and a hopeful message: compassion and care can emerge in the most unexpected forms. It encourages readers to think critically about technology, nature, and our place among other beings. Ultimately, we are led to reflect on what “home” truly means and whether life, no matter how constructed, can learn to be alive.

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://shows.acast.com/moms-dont-hav...

[Suhasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read with audiobook: Lovely voice of the narrator Kathleen McInerney and surreal sound effects!

Original review: Absolutely breathtaking Illustrations!
Colors just pop!
This is a simplified story of the first novel made into a graphic novel.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid retelling of book one in a picture book format.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not shocked this was amazing! Simplified yet still heartwarming story with beautiful illustrations.

Really, this book is a FIVE BILLION STAR rating because what the continuation of this story had done for my family. This is the first full length picture book my 8yo has sat down and read to me. And, because she was such a fan of the chapter books, quizzed me throughout! "If you can guess what happens next, I'll give you a point!"

I was going to order this book for her, but no, she wanted to go with me on release day to pick up a copy the second it dropped. This series helped build a bond with my kiddo. We read every night, but this made us dig a little deeper. Her reading comprehension has improved, she has gained confidence reading aloud, and she takes parts of the books and shares/compares them to her real-life experiences.

I have been a fan of this author, but didn't realize some of our favorite books were written by him. Although, Roz and The Wild Robot series really take the cake. ❤️

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

cool i wept at work reading this

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is time to meet Roz in this gorgeous picture book made from the story of the first book!


Which by the way, I didn’t know. I didn’t read the blurb. I didn’t read anything about the book. I just saw the book online and yeeted it on my Need to Buy list! I really love The Wild Robot series (the books) and I always wanted more of it. So I didn’t know that this one was a retelling in picture book form. I thought it was a new story. A new island. Imagine my surprise as I was reading it and things felt very familiar. Haha. Still I had a lot of fun and I am glad that I found this one in the library, I hadn’t expected it, I was already thinking of putting it on my Christmas wishlist for Santa.

In this one we meet a robot named Roz who lands on an island after her crate fell off a boat. She is cut-off from everything and we see that at the start she is a bit confused what to do. But then she started to look at the animals around her and starts doing what they are doing. She looks at each animal that lives on the island and imitates what they are doing. From their moves to making homes to well everything you need to survive. She even learns the animal language (that is dedication). At times it looked quite funny to see a robot make moves that you don’t expect from a robot or see her live in a small hut with a cozy fire. I loved seeing Roz again and I had fun following her as she made a home on the island. Made the place her own and helped out the animals around her. It was just the sweetest and I was just rooting for Roz.

And then she finds an egg and I knew what was coming was even more cute and adorable. She helps hatch the egg and becomes a mom/friend to the little one inside, which was just the cutest in the normal books but seeing it happen in gorgeous illustrations? My heart just melted with so much love and cute. I loved seeing the little one grow up and I loved seeing Roz and the little one grow closer with each year.

The art? WOW, I loved every moment of these and I wouldn’t mind several to be on my wall as decoration. It just made the story of our dear robot even more perfect.

All in all, I would recommend this one to first time readers and people like me who have read the book already. This is a gorgeous addition and I had fun reading it!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Haze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, Beautiful, Fab illustrations!!! 😍

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good interpretation of one of my favorite books. I was a little worried about how they would handle the part where Roz "finds" Brightbill but whew. It wasn't too bad.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really beautiful artwork 🥰

[Victor The Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This magnificent picture book retelling of Roz the Robot’s first adventure in the original novel series, of her discovering the island where she would call home and her being a mother to a duckling, is just so beautiful told with Brown’s colorful illustrations and lots of heart. Those new or familiar with his incredible trilogy will be won over in a heartbeat. A (100%/Outstanding)

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

So weird to see some reviews refer to this as the fourth in the Wild Robot series, when it's just a straightforward picture book adaptation of the first book, likely in response to the younger fans the story gained when the movie came out.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed listening to book 1 with my preschooler, but we will not be rereading again anytime soon. The movie was fantastic but a little scary for her, so same deal. Having this beautiful picture book around is a perfect alternate, something she can come back to on her own terms.

[Em Wiedemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very faithful to the story. As the author mentions, it’s a simplified version, but with BEAUTIFUL illustrations. I loved that it was my first book of 2026. The story of Roz and Brightbill always touches a sensitive spot for me. I loved it. ❤️🤖🪿

[Beth Reynolds Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great adaptation from the novels of which I have read all and seen the first movie. I am 71 yrs and have very much enjoyed them all.

[Robin Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t wait to read this one for B&N Storytime, but I couldn’t wait to get a copy that day. This book has gorgeous illustrations and even more gorgeous themes of friendship and resilience. This is the full chapter book condensed down to a kid-friendly picture book. Highly recommend it. (And totally making my tutoring nuggets read it and talk about what the author chose to include and what he chose to leave out!)

[Ashley Soukup · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this addition to the series. Beautiful illustrations!

[Ken Yuen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basically a picture book versio of the novel. Great illustrations!

[Jennifer Ingle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simplified version of The Wild Robot novel in picture book form. The illustrations are amazing, and the simplified version of the story captures the essence of the novel.

[Carmen (Jardín de Libros) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cuteeeeeeee

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful 😍
Perfect way to tiptoe into Roz's story.

[Shadow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, and I loved the audiobook narration by Kathleen Mclnerney! :)

[Shawna Fender · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork was so cute and detailed! It's really nice that younger children will now have another way to enjoy The Wild Robot. ^_^

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh so cute and oh so gorgeous illustrations

[Bonnie Tesch · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are beautiful, but the abridged story lacks all conflict and drama. I'm not sure who the target audience is.

[Maddie Noone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this science fiction story isn't about space, it explores the ideas of science around us and how inclusion is important for everyone.

The Wild Robot On The Island by Peter Brown follows the story of a robot named Roz. She washes up ashore on an island and has to navigate through challenges and learn to adapt to her new environment, facing challenges along the way. She also makes new friends and starts to form her own sort of family. A theme I saw was the importance of identity, acceptance, and how everyone is different, but still exists together as one. As Roz adapts over time, we see how even though she looks different or acts differently, that doesn’t mean she matters any less. We see how she was accepted for who she was by the surrounding animals, and learn how who she is, is enough. Another theme I noticed was adaptation. We saw how Roz had to adapt to her new surroundings, and live a way she wasn’t used to. I believe this was a message throughout the story because although children and adults go through something out of their comfort zones, it’s something we learn to adapt to and possibly enjoy. The Wild Robot On The Island is part of the science fiction genre, exploring themes of technology and scientific aspects.

One thing I believe this book could educate children on would be the concept of how our lives don’t always go according to schedule, and sometimes we have to adapt and go off our set path, and that’s okay. I think this is a great lesson to teach young readers, and that this story does it excitingly. Something else kids could learn is the importance of inclusion, and how being different from each other doesn’t make us unable to form connections with others. This was a WOW book for me because it does such an amazing job at sharing how differences can make us stronger. It was a unique way of telling an emotional and exciting story that showed powerful relationship-building. I also really enjoyed the visual aspects and the illustration as well. It had a warmer feeling to it, and it was easy to understand and connect the text to the images.


Peter Brown uses several writing crafts to help enhance his storytelling. Something I enjoyed was the point of view he decided to use. I enjoyed reading in the third-person because we got to see Roz’s emotions differently, as well as the animals surrounding the island as well. I thought this form of writing really brought the story to another level. Another craft I noticed was the imagery. It explained in great detail the environment around Roz and created a great visual for young readers.

The Wild Robot on the Island includes anti-bias perspectives, first through the exploration of looking past hurtful stereotypes that were represented in the story. It explores the theme of accepting someone for who they are inside, not what they look like on the outside. It focuses on acceptance and inclusion. The story portrays the social aspect of how important it is to be accepting, how culture is different for everyone, and no one is the same, nor should they have to be.

[Trinity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding where you fit in can be impossible, but adapting to your surroundings can make it easier. In The Wild Robot on the Island, this story follows a robot named Roz who washed up on the shore of an island in an unfamiliar environment. Roz must learn how to adapt in order to survive on the island. At first, the other animals on the island are afraid of her but as she learns to adapt to the environment on the island like the animals have, she learns to communicate with them and care for them after she finds a gosling egg to raise as her child. I thought this story was really adorable and meaningful because it shows that even if someone is in an unfamiliar environment they can always find a place where they belong. One major theme in this book is adaptation, this is shown when Roz is forced to adapt to her surroundings by observing the other animals in order to survive. Another theme in this book is belonging, this is shown through how Roz was eventually accepted by the other animals on the island because she adapted to their ways and was able to communicate with them. The genre of this book is science fiction because it is in a real setting but features a robot and its experience of survival. Through reading this book I learned the importance of patience and kindness when building trust with others especially in an unfamiliar place. This is a WOW book for me because it takes an engaging concept and uses it to portray a powerful message.

The author used multiple literary devices and other forms of writing craft in this book. First, the author used the writing craft technique of personification. An example of this writing craft from this book is when the author gave Roz, who is a robot, human-like feelings and emotions like caring and forming relationships with the other animals on the island. This writing craft technique enhanced the quality of the book by helping readers connect on a more emotional level by using a non-human character. Second, the author used the writing craft technique of imagery. An example of this writing craft from this book is when the author gave descriptions of the island. This writing craft technique enhances the quality of the book by helping readers become fully aware of the surroundings in the book which makes it more engaging. The author portrayed anti-bias perspectives in this book by showing how Roz, someone who could be considered an outsider, can still be accepted in a different community.

[Briceli Alfaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the moment I started reading The Wild Robot, I was hooked. It’s a touching story about a robot named Roz who washes up on an island and learns to survive among wild animals. What makes it special is how Roz slowly becomes part of the natural world, forming friendships and even caring for an orphaned gosling. I loved how the book mixed nature, technology, and emotion so beautifully.

The major themes in this book are adaptation and connection. Roz has to adapt to her new surroundings, learning from the animals and the environment. This shows readers that growth comes from being open to change. The theme of connection stood out too Roz learns that empathy and care can exist between anyone, even those who are completely different.

The main genre of this book is fantasy and science fiction. Children reading it can learn that differences don’t make you less capable and that kindness helps build understanding. This was a WOW book for me because it was heart warming. I didn’t expect to feel such strong emotions for a robot, but Roz’s story reminded me that compassion and resilience can come from anywhere.

Peter Brown used strong writing techniques that made this story unforgettable. First, he used personification, giving Roz human emotions and thoughts. When she worries, learns, or shows love, it makes readers feel close to her. This technique made the book powerful and easy to connect with.
Second, Brown used imagery to bring the island to life from the sound of the wind to the animal movements. His descriptions made me feel like I was standing right there with Roz. I would consider this an anti-bias book because it challenges the idea of being an outsider. At first, the animals fear Roz because she’s different, but eventually they see her kindness and accept her. It teaches kids that everyone deserves understanding, no matter who or what they are.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish Goodreads allowed half stars! This one really would be 4.5, let it be known.

The Wild Robot on the Island is a retelling of The Wild Robot, slimmed down and with extra illustrations. Like the junior reader version of a book that's already a pretty junior reader level. :) The illustrations are gorgeous and 100% full color. Peter Brown has so much talent.

The Wild Robot is a FANTASTIC book that I recommend to readers of all ages. The Wild Robot on the Island simplifies that wonderful story down just a tad too much. It loses something without any of the plot ups and downs in the original. In this version, Roz arrives on the island and settles in and adopts the goose and everyone lives happily ever after. But these things don't seem to count for as much without any of the work that Roz has to put into getting to know the animals or without the tension of letting Brightbill grow up.

While lovely, The Wild Robot on the Island is not a replacement for The Wild Robot. I would recommend to readers already familiar with the original who want more of Peter Brown's excellent artwork.