Some books take a long time to become “classics”.

Others? It doesn’t take long for them to become loved.

The Wild Robot definitely falls into the second category and has been much loved since it was released ten years ago.

If you have a child who is asking for more books like The Wild Robot, here are some titles to check out!

OVER 10 BOOKS LIKE THE WILD ROBOT

The Story of the Rover by Jasmine Warga
Without a doubt this was the most recommended title when I asked my Instagram community about books like The wild robot. Resilience is a rover built to explore and discover Mars. While it is being developed by NASA scientists, the unexpected happens. – begins to develop human emotions. This is on my list to read aloud to my four kids this year!

Pocket bear by Katherine Applegate
Pocket Bear is a small World War I mascot made to fit in a soldier’s pocket, created as a reminder that someone back home loved them and was rooting for their safe return. A century later, she ends up at the Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured, where a kind girl, a treasure-hunting cat, and a lot of heart give discarded toys (and readers) the sweetest reminder that everyone deserves a second chance.

Maya and the Robot by Eve L. Ewing
When Maya starts fifth grade without her best friends, she’s already feeling shaky: then she finds a forgotten robot in a store closet, and suddenly she has a science fair project (and an unexpected friend) in her hands. This sweet illustrated middle school story brings all the same emotions towards a robot friend just like you The wild robot.

Odder by Katherine Applegate
Stranger is about a little otter who comes face to face with a shark and how that fateful day changes her life forever. This is written in verse, just like his most famous book, The One and Only Ivan.

A Wolf Called Wanderer by Rosanne Parry
After an attack by a rival pack separates Swift from his family, this brave little wolf must rely on everything his parents taught him as he travels across the Pacific Northwest, facing hunger, hunters, fires, and highways along the way. This middle grade story, inspired by the real wolf OR-7, makes his thousand-mile journey even more amazing to read. My fifth grader loved it.

Peace by Sara Pennypacker
This book has won ALL the awards: National Book Award finalist, best book of the year on Amazon, etc. and has the same friendship across miles of vibes that make The Wild Robot beloved. Don’t miss the sequel, Pax, Journey Home.

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser
This sweet story follows five brothers who are about to lose their beloved brownstone home in Harlem, to an irascible (and mysterious) owner who refuses to budge. If you love the relationship and family vibes of The Wild Robot, you might love this one too.

Gary Paulsen’s Axe
She (like so many readers before her) was completely engrossed in the story of a boy alone in the wilderness trying to survive after a plane crash. This is definitely a little older than The Wild Robot (more like 4th-6th grade), but it’s just as great a wilderness survival story!

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
This is a classic survival story that I loved as a child and then loved reading aloud to my children. Sam is so unhappy living with his family in New York that he runs away to the Catskill Mountains. He learns courage, danger, and independence as he discovers how to survive on his own.

The Trumpet of the Swan by EB White
I’m pretty sure Ella listened to this audiobook at least a half dozen times and it was one of my favorite books as a child. This is great if your kids are a little younger, but still fun if they’re older too.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
I basically don’t like animals (I know) and I STILL think this is one of the best children’s books ever, Newbery winner or not. When a book is this sweet and funny and well-written, who cares if it’s narrated by a gorilla? Not me. (Full review here)

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
If you love the “worlds colliding” aspect of The Wild Robot, this is another great choice. While visiting his grandfather, Christopher notices something incredible: a wave of mythical creatures hurtling down the hill. It is then that he discovers that his grandfather is the keeper of a hidden door to a magical world. But there’s a BIG problem… the barrier separating the two worlds is starting to collapse.

Land of Stories by Chris Colfer
I’m pretty sure I didn’t see Ella for a month when she went through the entire series. Alex and Conner, twin brothers, open a beloved storybook only to find themselves sucked into the book. In a mysterious land where magic is rampant, they find themselves interacting with fairytale characters they’ve heard about their entire lives. The real question is. . . will they ever be able to return home?

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