Wow, a Robot Club

By Janice Gunstone

A small group of children and their parents form The Robot Club. No one realised what impact this would have on their lives and what adventures they would have. Finn and the other clever children build robots and program them. The technology extends to drones, artificial intelligence and other new ideas.
This is the first book in a series of adventures for this robot club.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jul 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781528962346

Janice Gunstone

Janice has been a primary school teacher, then she moved to lecturing in children’s literature and child development at Swinburne University. She has written many books for young children and told lots of stories to groups of children. Janice spent time teaching teachers in China and also worked with Aboriginal teachers, supporting them to get their qualifications. Janice is interested in better ways of learning and has completed a masters in innovation in education to increase her knowledge in early literacy and stories.

Book preview

About the Author

Janice has four children and always wanted them to have an exciting childhood. They attended clubs of interest plus cubs, scouts and brownies. During her working life, she has spent time as a primary school teacher in kindergartens in China, worked in aboriginal communities and taught in a university. She completed her masters in innovation in education because her passion was always to engage and excite children with their education, especially reading interesting stories.

Dedication

For my grandchildren, may they enjoy technology and keep teaching me.

Copyright Information ©

Janice Gunstone (2021)

The right of Janice Gunstone to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781528918527 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781528962346 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2021)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5LQ

Acknowledgement

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of all the staff at the production team at Austin Macauley for turning this story into a book for children.

Characters

Mr John Ware – ex schoolteacher, keen gardener, in 60s, absent-minded professor type,

Nick Mullens – in 30s, great with children, good looking, enthusiastic, friendly and dedicated,

Bentley Family:

Finn, 12 years; Nigel, 10 years; Maree, 8 years

Mother Yvonne; Father Thomas

Grant Family:

Beau, 14 years; Taj, 10 years; Ramona, 7 years

Lui Family – Yen Chun, 10 years

Mother Helen

Grandmother – a physicist

Winston Family:

Levi, 9 years; Jacob, 13 years; Maddie, 9 years

Dog Sam

Artish, 12 years – from Indian background, Finn’s school friend.

Mr Arizi – doughnut shop owner, funny, generous

Wife Gloria and two small children

Gremlins – Sam

Sis

Seth

Mr Sean Hoiles – mean teacher

Local Golden Press Reporter Rod Forbes and Photographer Enzo

Chapter 1

It’s All Go!

The eyes followed all the children who flooded into the room. It’s the night for the Robot Club. The nosiest child was Maree, a petite eight-year-old who was trying hard to get Mr Ware’s and Nick’s attention.

Can I show you my…? she burst out loudly without finishing her sentence as she fumbled with a large box. She was always enthusiastic but liked to get attention.

Nick patiently listened to her as she excitedly told him about her toy robot.

He quietly reassured her, Just a minute, Maree, until Mr Ware is free to see you.

Mr Ware was talking to a parent and seemed to be unaware that Maree was balancing this box near his knees.

The other children came in noisily. They moved about the room, finding a spot to sit with their projects. Finally, Mr Ware realised that fair-haired Maree, one of the younger children, is trying to get his attention. He squatted down, asking her, What is it that you want to show me?

He looked at her, listening carefully.

Can you help me put this together? she asked.

Then he showed her how to join up the sections she needed help with to build her robot.

Instead of finding their own seat, twins Levi and Maddie were arguing. I need to sit next to Nick, demanded Levi. They continued tussling about who was going to ask Nick about his coding program, both wanted to sit next to him, but seven-year-old Ramona was already on one stool beside him.

Nick tried to settle the situation. Perhaps Maddie can sit on the stool beside me, and Levi, you can go around the table to the other side. Levi gave Maddie a push and reluctantly went to the other stool opposite.

I’m here, said Ramona, I want to sit near Nick as well.

The Berwick Robot Club rooms were found down the Crystal walkway off Elizabeth Street. These rooms could be entered by opening a wrought-iron gate that squeaked loudly, really needing some oil. Then everyone proceeded down some steep steps to an old, solid-wooden, shabby green door which needed a large key to unlock it. The door must have been there for ages because