Layla and the Bots Built for Speed by Vicky Fang, illustrated by Christine Nishiyama for Branches Scholastic Books.
We are always on the lookout for more early chapter books and I thought this was a very cute series. It is in graphic novel form, which kids love. I think it gives them a lot of confidence when reading and makes longer books less intimidating. This series is also apart of the scholastic Branches collection. “Branches” is their early chapter book collection. They very conveniently have an image of a tree branch on the cover and you can scan the juvenile section of the library and look for that image on the spine to find the right books for your early independent readers.
This series follows a girl named Layla and her robot friends. They solve problems using engineering and all things STEM. They are also compassionate characters usually helping those around them and always ending the book with a rock concert. “Layla and the Bots” is actually their band name! This book would be enjoyed by boys and girls alike, which is always a plus as well.
Ages: 5-9
Themes: Engineering, Friendship, Compassion
