You've probably seen the movie trailers or caught the buzz on social media. Maybe you just finished the first book and your kid—or your own inner child—is begging for the next one. It's a fair question: how many Wild Robot books are there right now? Honestly, the answer is a little more layered than just a single digit because Peter Brown hasn't just written a trilogy; he’s building out a whole mechanical universe.
As of early 2026, there are three main novels in the core series.
But wait. If you go searching on Amazon or at your local indie bookstore, you might see four or five different covers staring back at you. It gets confusing. You’ve got the original middle-grade novels that everyone fell in love with, and then you’ve got newer adaptations designed for younger readers. Let’s break down exactly what’s on the shelf so you don't accidentally buy the same story twice in a different format.
The Core Trilogy: Roz’s Main Journey
For most people, the "real" series consists of the three primary novels. These are the meaty, illustrated chapter books that follow Roz from her first moments of consciousness on the island to her global adventures.
- The Wild Robot (2016): This is where it all starts. Roz (ROZZUM unit 7134) crashes on an island, adopts an orphaned gosling named Brightbill, and learns to speak "animal." It's basically a survival story that turns into a beautiful meditation on motherhood and community.
- The Wild Robot Escapes (2018): If the first book is about finding home, this one is about trying to get back to it. Roz is taken away to work on a high-tech farm, and she has to use all her wit—and some help from her animal friends—to flee back to her island.
- The Wild Robot Protects (2023): This is the newest full-length novel. A "poison tide" (a huge toxic cloud in the ocean) threatens the island’s ecosystem. Roz has to go on an undersea mission to find the source. It’s a bit darker and more environmentally focused than the earlier books, but it hits just as hard emotionally.
The Newest Addition: The Wild Robot on the Island
Here’s where people get tripped up. In June 2025, Peter Brown released something called The Wild Robot on the Island.
Is it a sequel? No.
Is it book four? Not exactly.
Basically, it's a picture book adaptation of the very first novel. Brown realized that while 8-year-olds love the novels, younger siblings wanted in on the action too. He took the core story of Roz’s arrival and turned it into a lush, fully illustrated picture book. If you already own the first novel, you know the story, but the art in this version is stunning and occupies a lot more real estate on the page. It's a "bridge" book for the tiny fans who aren't quite ready for a 300-page chapter book yet.
Is There a Fourth Wild Robot Book Coming?
You’re probably wondering if the story ends with The Wild Robot Protects.
In recent interviews, Peter Brown has been pretty open about the fact that he’s not quite done with Roz. He’s mentioned that he has at least one more novel idea that he’s "pretty excited about." While a fourth novel hasn't officially hit the shelves as of this second, the word in the publishing world is that we should expect The Wild Robot Book 4 to land sometime around late 2026 or early 2027.
The success of the DreamWorks movie certainly hasn't hurt the chances of more books. When a movie makes hundreds of millions of dollars, publishers usually start knocking on the author's door with very large checks. But knowing Brown, he won’t rush it. He took five years between the second and third books because he wanted the story to feel right.
Why the Order Matters
If you're planning to dive in, don't skip around.
The character growth in these books is actually quite complex for "kids' literature." Roz starts as a blank slate—a literal machine—and slowly develops what looks a lot like a soul. By the time you get to The Wild Robot Protects, she’s dealing with global environmental crises and deep personal sacrifices. If you start with the third book, you’ll miss the groundwork of her relationship with Brightbill, which is the heartbeat of the whole series.
Also, keep an eye out for the "Boxed Set." You can usually find the first three books bundled together now, which is often cheaper than buying them one by one.
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Your Wild Robot Reading Checklist
If you want to be sure you've covered all your bases, here is the definitive list of what to look for:
- The Original Novel: The Wild Robot (Must-read)
- The Sequel: The Wild Robot Escapes (Must-read)
- The Third Entry: The Wild Robot Protects (Must-read)
- The Picture Book: The Wild Robot on the Island (Optional, best for ages 4-7)
- The Movie Tie-in: Look for editions with movie art on the cover, but the text inside is the same as the 2016 original.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you’ve already blazed through the three novels, check out Peter Brown’s other work like The Curious Garden. It has a similar "nature vs. civilization" vibe. Otherwise, keep your eyes peeled for official announcements regarding the fourth novel later this year, and maybe revisit the first book in its new picture book format if you want to see the island in full, vibrant color.