Ali the Great and the Robot Meltdown - by Saadia Faruqi

About the Book

"When Ali lets his emotions get the better of him during a school project, he realizes the only way to save the day--and his friendships--is with teamwork"--

Book Synopsis

Ali and his classmates build robots, but will competition lead to a meltdown? Ms. Alex brings out the makerspace cart, and the class is excited to build robots! But competitive Ali wants to make it a contest, and his fuse runs short when things fall apart. After his meltdown, can Ali save the day--and his friendships--with a teamwork solution? Ali the Great, by Yasmin author Saadia Faruqi, is a charming chapter book series about Pakistani American second grader Ali Tahir. Ali's big ideas will resonate with young readers who believe that every problem has a creative solution--you just have to find it!

Review Quotes

Ali and his family are back in this latest selection of illustrated early chapter books that finds them encountering a variety of everyday activities: Ali and his Dadi make pakoras together while Ali struggles to figure out what his little brother Fateh wants; Ali and his classmates (including Yasmin from Faruqi's other series) compete to make a robot; Ali tries and fails (at first) to show off his magic skills during Show and Tell; and Ali goes on a bug hunt with his mom in the park, learning about different kinds of bugs along the way. Each title has three chapters, large print, and full-color illustrations on every spread. Young readers will delight in Ali's earnest attempts to overcome whatever new challenge is thrown at him. An Urdu glossary is included at the start of each book, while additional supplemental information is ­appended. Examples include discussion questions, jokes, and more information about the book's topic, such as Ali's favorite foods and bug facts. VERDICT Recommended for purchase in most collections where kids' beginning chapter books circulate frequently.-- "School Library Journal"