Charlotte has a talent for anything technological, so when she receives a doll as a present, she upgrades it with a few spare parts and some code to create a new and improved friend. - (Baker & Taylor)

When tech-savvy Charlotte is given a doll as a gift, she does not really know what to do with it, but with a little tinkering she just might make something special. - (Baker & Taylor)

A technologically talented youngster who tirelessly tinkers, codes, clicks and downloads alongside her canine best friend receives the puzzling gift of a doll and discovers a new world of opportunities when she discovers the doll's hidden battery pack, causing her dog to worry that he has been supplanted in her affections. A first children's book. 50,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook. - (Baker & Taylor)

A STEM-friendly tale of a girl and the doll she upgrades to be her new friend, for fans of The Most Magnificent Thing and Rosie Revere, Engineer.

Charlotte's world is fully charged! With her dog at her side, she's always tinkering, coding, clicking, and downloading. She's got a knack for anything technological--especially gadgets that her parents don't know how to fix! Then, she receives a new toy that is quite a puzzle: a doll! What's she supposed to do with that? Once she discovers the doll's hidden battery pack, things start to get interesting...while her faithful canine sidekick wonders if he'll be overshadowed by the new and improved Doll-E 1.0! With a little ingenuity and an open mind, everyone can be friends in this endearing, modern tribute to the creative spirit of play. - (Grand Central Pub)

Shanda McCloskey was inspired to develop the determined, creative character of Charlotte by the entrepreneurial spirit of her family members and by watching her inventive daughters play with their toys. She studied art in Atlanta and New York City, and Doll-E 1.0 is her first book for children. Shanda lives near Atlanta, Georgia, and invites you to visit her at shandamc.com.
- (Grand Central Pub)

Booklist Reviews

Young Charlotte always has her head in the cloud. Not a cloud, the cloud—­coding, tinkering, and manipulating all things electronic. One day, Mom gives her a doll: a strange human-shaped pillow that doesn't do anything except sit there and stare. Perplexed, Charlotte tries getting Dolly to help build something or play video games, but no luck. Finally something does happen: Dolly says, "Ma-ma." Realizing she must have a power source, Charlotte opens Dolly up and initiates vocabulary database improvements. Everything goes smoothly until the jealous dog grabs Dolly and rips her to shreds. Upset, Charlotte makes repairs, creating Doll-E 1.0. This new version is vastly improved, especially after Charlotte restores her cute little bright eyes. The final scene shows Doll-E 1.0 going for a remote-controlled stroller ride—­courtesy of Mama Charlotte. The primary-color cartoon illustrations pop off of the pages, and the black-outlined characters (wonderfully expressive, spectacle-wearing Charlotte; benign Dolly) practically tell the story themselves. An enjoyable romp for readers, whether they're plugged in or not. Copyright 2018 Booklist Reviews.

Horn Book Guide Reviews

Charlotte's parents appreciate her ever-useful tech-savviness but worry about screen time, so they give their daughter a doll to encourage imaginative play. Nonplussed, Charlotte updates the "human-shaped pillow" into "Doll-E 1.0." McCloskey's appealing illustrations, in pencil and watercolor and edited in Photoshop, fuse old and new technologies, echoing the story line of bringing classic play into the gadget-focused present day. Copyright 2019 Horn Book Guide Reviews.

Kirkus Reviews

A young girl receives a puzzling gift.Young Charlotte has always been the most tech-savvy member of her family, helping her mother with a tablet and her father with the smart TV. After Charlotte's parents observe a news report cautioning against letting kids get "too techy," the couple presents Charlotte with a doll. The doll doesn't move or think—it simply sits and utters the word "Ma-ma." Charlotte reasons that for a doll to talk it must have a power supply, and with a few modifications and a little imagination, Charlotte's doll becomes Doll-E 1.0. The STEM-friendly narrative is brought to life with charming pencil-and-watercolor illustrations, edited in Photoshop. The scratchy lines are reminiscent of the pictures children like Charlotte sketch at their drawing boards, and the dynamic compositions burst with energy. Charlotte is an engaging character, expressive and thoughtful in equal measure. Charlotte's doll is adorably rendered, looking mostly like any other comm on doll but just unique enough that little ones may want one of their own. Charlotte and her family present white; little dog Bluetooth is a scruffy, white terrier. An engaging story arguing for the marriage of technology with creativity and play. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus 2018 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.

Publishers Weekly Reviews

Charlotte is a little tech whiz (her "head was always in the cloud"), but while her parents appreciate having the personal IT support ("Easy fix, Mom. Just press this, this, and this") it's clear they're worried, too; readers see them watching an alarmist news report, "Are Your Kids Too Techy?" They surprise Charlotte with the lowest-tech doll possible, which, to her mind, is like giving her a "human shaped pillow." Then Charlotte learns that the doll has a battery-driven voice box—even if the doll only says "Mama." This discovery, coupled with an unfortunate doll dismemberment by Charlotte's terrier, enables the heroine to discover the fun to be had in the middle ground between analog and digital. Debut author McCloskey overcrowds her book with a few too many tech-themed nudges and winks (even Charlotte's dog is named Blutooth). But her pencil and watercolor cartoons have a fetching exuberance, and the bespectacled, brainy Charlotte, who never doubts her talents, is an admirable whirlwind of energy and ideas. Ages 4–7. Agent: Erica Rand Silverman, Stimola Literary Studio. (May)

School Library Journal Reviews

PreS-Gr 2—Parents and children will enjoy this original take on the wired generation. Bespectacled Charlotte always has her head "in the cloud" as she tinkers with coding and downloading, teaches her parents how to use technology, and frolics with virtual reality, along with her faithful terrier, Blutooth. Concerned with her obsession, Charlotte's parents gift her an old-fashioned "mama" doll. When the "human shaped pillow" only sits and says one word, Charlotte takes it apart, discovers a power supply, and begins planning upgrades. Gradually getting more and more frustrated with lack of Charlotte's attention, Blutooth shreds the doll. Persistent Charlotte dons goggles and gloves, uses her spare parts collection, and creates Doll-E 1.0. Once the doll is more interactive, Charlotte enjoys her modified toy and Blutooth is happy it can take him for a run and offer biscuits. McCloskey's watercolor cartoons were edited in Photoshop. The pages are loaded with elements of Charlotte's zany collections. Her long electric blue hair, plaid dress, and yellow pearls are eye-catching. VERDICT McCloskey's picture book debut is not one to miss. A fun addition.—Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA