How to Train Your Evil Robot - by Joy McCullough (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A hilarious and thought-provoking picture book that uses a tiny would-be villain to explore the promise and pitfalls of artificial intelligence, blending comic book-style fun with big questions about technology, empathy, and what it means to be human.

Part laugh-out-loud picture book, part AI primer, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR EVIL ROBOT introduces a palm-sized bot with very big plans. When a maker-minded kid and their dog Jellybean test his boasts, readers get a fast, funny tour of artificial intelligence in daily life--recommendation engines and smart maps, hospital diagnostics and traffic systems--alongside kid-friendly talk about limits: imagination, emotion, context, and (oops) fun. The story also invites critical thinking about real-world tradeoffs, from job changes to the electricity and water powering data centers. Dynamic, comics-style spreads, speech bubbles, and on-screen "protocols" make complex ideas approachable; back matter sparks discussion and responsible tech habits. This timely title helps families and educators guide kids toward using AI wisely--focusing people and machines on what each does best.