The Brainiac's Book of Robots and AI

Paul Virr introduces readers to the myriad robots doing all the dull, dirty and dangerous work in our world.

This new addition to the Brainiac series approaches science and technology from a creative angle to make STEM learning as accessible and fun as possible. Hands-on activities include building a grippy robot hand, making a mechanical hopping frog, testing yourself for artificial intelligence, designing a battle-bot, and writing the first bill of robot rights. Readers will also find out which gross and scary jobs only robots can do, how nanobots could battle bugs inside the human body and why self-driving cars save lives.

About the Author

Paul Virr lives in Rome and writes children's books on all kinds of topics, including science and technology. As a STEM ambassador he learnt a lot about science and engineering from children, who always asked very smart (and difficult) questions at hands-on science workshops. Paul has edited official children's guides for the Science Museum, Science and Industry Museum and the National Railway Museum and as a children's author he has written non-fiction books ranging over subjects such as cars, computers, dinosaurs, space, plants, Albert Einstein and engineering.

About the Illustrator

Harriet Russell's illustrations have appeared in several periodicals and projects, including Jamie Oliver's School Dinners scheme. She has designed covers for numerous novels, and has written and illustrated a series of her own books. She lives and works in London.

Review

"Offer[s] younger readers basic understandings of how mechanical motion is generated, algorithmic programming, and present and future possibilities while keeping the tone light with jolly interjections and talking heads exchanging robot jokes throughout" —Kirkus Reviews

Dimensions: 21.5 x 27.5 cm