BEN'S ROBOT

ROBIN STEVENSOS
Illustrated by DAVID PARKINS

ORCA BOOK PUBLISHERS

Text copyright © 2010 Robin Stevenson
Illustrations copyright © 2010 David Parkins

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be
invented, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Stevenson, Robin, 1968-
Ben’s robot / written by Robin Stevenson ; illustrated by David Parkins.

(Orca echoes)
ISBN 978-1-55469-153-1

I. Parkins, David II. Title. III. Series: Orca echoes

PS8637.T487B45 2010        jC813’.6        C2009-906871-0

First published in the United States, 2010
Library of Congress Control Number: 2009940933

Summary: Ben discovers having a bossy friend isn’t that much fun,
even if it is a real walking, talking robot.

Orca Book Publishers gratefully acknowledges the support for its publishing programs provided
by the following agencies: the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund and the
Canada Council for the Arts, and the Province of British Columbia
through the BC Arts Council and the Book Publishing Tax Credit.

Orca Book Publishers is dedicated to preserving the environment and has printed this book
on paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Typesetting by Teresa Bubela
Cover artwork and interior illustrations by David Parkins
Author photo by David Lowes

www.orcabook.com
Printed and bound in Canada.

13 12 11 10 • 4 3 2 1

For my amazing son, Kai.
I love you forever and for always.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter One

Ben stood up straight. He stuck his arms out in front of him. They were as stiff and rigid as two metal poles. “I’m a robot,” he said. It didn’t sound quite right, so he said it again. This time his voice was flat. “I. Am. A. Robot.”

Jessy grinned at him. She pulled a piece of cardboard out of her pocket. She held it out in her hand. “I brought my remote control,” she told him. “Robot, go forward!” She pretended to push a button.

Ben took a few steps, keeping his legs straight. He imagined his knee joints were held together with steel bolts. Stride, squeak. Stride, squeak. He stopped. “My hinges need oil,” he said in his robot voice.

Jessy giggled. She ran over and pretended to squirt oil into his knee joints. “There you go, Robot. Is that better?”

“Knee joints. Check.” Ben took a few more steps. The squeak was gone. “Elbow joints. Check.” He lifted his arms and dropped them again. “Check complete.”

Jessy sat down on the damp grass. She pulled her shiny black hair into a ponytail. “Now what?”

“What do you mean?” Ben asked. They played this game every day at recess. Jessy should know what came next. “We still have to complete the checks. You know. Circuit boards, batteries, sensors.” He switched back to his robot voice. “Please give your next command.”