Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot (series) facts for kids

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Unpleasant Penguins from Pluto book cover

The Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot series tells exciting stories about a brave mouse named Ricky Ricotta and his giant robot friend. Together, they save the world from evil villains! These books are graphic novels, which means they have lots of cool pictures along with the words.

The series was written by Dav Pilkey, who also created the Captain Underpants books. The first seven books were illustrated by Martin Ontiveros, and later, all nine books were illustrated by Dan Santat. In each adventure, Ricky and his robot face a new bad guy from a different planet in our solar system. You'll even see some familiar villains from earlier books locked up in jail!

How the Books Were Made

The first three books in the series were originally called Ricky Ricotta's Giant Robot. But in 2002, Dav Pilkey changed the name. Why? Because many young readers pointed out that the robot wasn't really a giant! He's only about two and a half feet tall, which is 12 times taller than a mouse. Kids suggested the word "Mighty" instead, and Pilkey agreed. So, all the books got a new, "Mighty" title!

Later, in 2014, Dan Santat became the new illustrator. A fan from Canada asked Dav Pilkey for more Ricky Ricotta books. This led to a big decision: not only would new books be made, but the first seven books would also be re-illustrated with modern colors and new mini-comics! Dav Pilkey chose Dan Santat for this big job, and luckily, Santat said yes. Books 1 through 5 with Santat's new art came out in 2014, followed by books 6 and 7 in 2015. The two brand-new adventures, books 8 and 9, were released in 2016.

Meet the Mighty Robot Adventures

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot

The first book, Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot (2000), introduces us to Ricky Ricotta. Ricky is a lonely mouse who lives in Squeakyville. He often feels sad because bullies pick on him at school. Ricky wishes for something exciting to happen in his life.

Meanwhile, a crazy rat scientist named Dr. Stinky McNasty builds a huge robot to destroy Earth. But the robot doesn't want to be evil! Dr. McNasty zaps the robot as punishment. Ricky sees this and bravely kicks a ball at the doctor, breaking his ray gun. Dr. McNasty runs away. The robot is grateful, and Ricky and the robot become best friends! Ricky shows everyone how helpful his robot is, but since the robot is too big for the house, he stays in the garage.

Dr. McNasty plans his revenge. He uses a special potion to make the classroom lizard attack. Ricky's robot defeats the lizard, turning it back to normal. Angry, Dr. McNasty tries to destroy the robot himself. But Ricky jumps at him, making the rocket land on Dr. McNasty's secret cave and destroy it. Ricky and his robot then capture the scientist. Ricky is happy to have his Mighty Robot by his side, knowing that "That's what friends are for."

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mutant Mosquitoes from Mercury

In Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mutant Mosquitoes from Mercury (2000), Ricky and his robot are having fun. Ricky uses the robot's special eye to see all the way to Mercury. But on Mercury, Mr. Mosquito is very unhappy with the extreme hot and cold weather. He decides to move to Earth!

Mr. Mosquito creates an army of 'Mutant Mosquitoes' to take over our world. Ricky spots them and wants to help, but he has to finish a math test first. Thanks to his robot, Ricky finishes his test super fast! The Mighty Robot uses a spray to defeat the mosquitoes, sending them back to Mercury. Mr. Mosquito is furious! He turns his ship into a giant Robotic Mecha-Mosquito and battles Ricky's robot.

The robot doesn't want to fight back, fearing Ricky might get hurt. So, Ricky cleverly distracts Mr. Mosquito by asking to use the restroom and then climbing out a window. This allows his robot to fight and win the battle! Mr. Mosquito is then locked away. Ricky and his robot go home, happy to have saved the day.

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Voodoo Vultures from Venus

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Voodoo Vultures from Venus (2001) starts with Ricky and his robot being late for supper. Ricky's mom tells them they can't watch TV until they learn about "responsibility." Ricky explains that responsibility means doing the right things at the right time. They are good at doing the right things, but not always at the right time!

Meanwhile, on Venus, the Voodoo Vultures want good food. They shoot a laser beam at all the TVs in Squeakyville. The TVs then hypnotize the mice watching them! The next morning, Ricky and his robot realize the mice are hypnotized and are taking food to the Voodoo Vultures. Ricky comes up with a plan: he makes chocolate chip cookies filled with hot chili peppers. He pretends to be hypnotized and takes the spicy cookies to the vultures.

The Voodoo Vultures eat the cookies and start dancing in pain! This gives the Mighty Robot time to break their remote control. The Squeakyville mice are freed from hypnosis and run home. Ricky's Mighty Robot then battles the Voodoo Vultures and wins! Most of the vultures fly back to Venus, but their leader, Victor Von Vulture, is caught. Ricky and his robot put him in jail, reminding him to learn responsibility. Ricky and his robot get home on time, making Ricky's parents proud. They end the day watching Rocket Rodent on TV.

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mecha Monkeys from Mars

In Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mecha-Monkeys from Mars (2002), Ricky and his robot are bored with hide-and-seek. They decide to go skateboarding, but the robot is too big. So, Ricky uses his parents' minivan, which they accidentally destroy! Ricky's parents are not happy.

On Mars, Major Monkey feels lonely even with all his machines. He decides to take over Earth and enslave the mice, but first, he needs to get rid of the Mighty Robot. A space mouse floats down to Earth, and Ricky's robot follows it, but it's a trap! The robot is captured. Major Monkey and his Mecha-Monkeys then attack Squeakyville.

Ricky feels bad about his friend. Suddenly, a general from SASA (like NASA) arrives to help save the robot from Mars. Ricky goes to the lab, which turns out to be an Orangu-Tron! Ricky sneaks in, frees his robot, and sets the mech to self-destruct. The Mighty Robot flies back to Earth, fights the remaining machines, and Major Monkey is put in jail. When asked how they can be repaid, Ricky asks for a new minivan. Ricky's parents drive them home in a new rocket-powered minivan, and everyone enjoys cheese pizza and soda.

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Jurassic Jackrabbits from Jupiter

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Jurassic Jackrabbits from Jupiter (2002) is about Ricky's birthday. His parents plan to take him to the dinosaur museum with his annoying cousin, Lucy. On Jupiter, General Jackrabbit plans to take over Earth. His rocket lands at the dinosaur museum, and he steals the dinosaur skulls!

Ricky and his Mighty Robot go to the museum rooftop and find the spaceship. General Jackrabbit uses his tail hairs and the dinosaur skulls in a DNA machine to create three dinosaur-like rabbits: a Rabbidactyl, a Trihareatops, and a Bunnysaurus Rex. He then uses his "Meany Machiney" to make them huge! The Mighty Robot fights them, but the General zaps them again, making them even stronger, and they defeat the robot.

Ricky wants to save his robot. He rings the doorbell of General Jackrabbit's ship, but two Robo-Rabbits say only Jackrabbits are allowed. Lucy helps Ricky by disguising herself as a Jackrabbit. The Robo-Rabbits fall in love with Lucy and bake her food. While they're busy, Ricky sneaks upstairs and finds General Jackrabbit with the Meany Machiney. When the General goes downstairs for carrot cake, Ricky changes the machine's settings from "Big, Ugly 'N' Evil" to "Little, Cute 'N' Sweet" and zaps the Jurassic Jackrabbits. Lucy hits the General with a pie. The Mighty Robot throws the rabbits back to Jupiter, and General Jackrabbit is jailed. Lucy keeps the cute, little Jurassic Jackrabbits as pets. Ricky celebrates his birthday with pizza and cake.

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Stupid Stinkbugs from Saturn

In Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Stupid Stinkbugs from Saturn (2003), Ricky and his robot are playing cops and robbers. Ricky wants to be the robber, and the robot wants to be the cop, but Ricky says using X-ray vision is cheating! Ricky and his robot visit his Uncle Freddie, Aunt Ethel, and annoying cousin Lucy, who always wants to play princess.

Meanwhile, on smelly Saturn, Sergeant Stinkbug is tired of his polluted planet. He decides to find a new world to dump junk and plans to kidnap Earth's leader. He spies on Earth and sees Lucy. Sergeant Stinkbug swoops down and kidnaps Lucy while Ricky, his robot, and the three Jurassic Jackrabbits (Cupcake, Fudgie, and Waffles) are snacking.

Sergeant Stinkbug tries to question Lucy, but her Jurassic Jackrabbits come to the rescue. Sergeant Stinkbug calls his warriors and gives them "Grow-Big Gumballs," making them huge. The Mighty Robot fights well, but the Stinkbugs get more Gumballs and grow even bigger. Fudgie and Cupcake grab the Gumballs, and Ricky eats them, growing as big as the stinkbugs! He battles and wins.

Ricky realizes he still needs to get rid of the stinkbugs. He sees Lucy has eaten the rest of the Gumballs and is now even bigger than him! She grabs the remaining stinkbugs, stuffs them into their spaceship, and hurls them back to Saturn. Fudgie and Cupcake find "Super-Shrinking Saltwater Taffy" and give it to Ricky and Lucy, making them normal size again. They throw Sergeant Stinkbug in jail. When they tell everyone what happened, their family thinks it was just part of their game. Ricky's dad is happy Ricky played nicely with Lucy. The heroes celebrate their victory.

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Uranium Unicorns from Uranus

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Uranium Unicorns from Uranus (2005) begins with Ricky feeling embarrassed by his robot. Ricky wishes his robot had someone else to play with. This wish turns into a plan by the evil Uncle Unicorn, who has ruined Uranus by having villains dump waste there. He creates a Ladybot, hoping to finally succeed in his evil plans.

The Ladybot hypnotizes Ricky's robot, making him fall in love and get kidnapped! Ricky regrets his wish and feels sad. He decides to find his robot and discovers him chained to a rocket ship in the woods, guarded by Uncle Unicorn's Uranium Unicorns and the Ladybot. Ricky, shocked, gets help from his cousin Lucy and her Jurassic Jackrabbit, Waffles. They enter the Ladybot's ship but are captured by Uncle Unicorn and tied up, hanging above a Generator.

Ricky realizes the Generator is sensitive to water. He tries to sweat and spit, and asks Lucy to spit, but she refuses, saying princesses don't spit. Ricky then makes her cry by saying everything she loves will be destroyed (like ice cream, chocolate chip cookies, cotton candy, and grape lollipops). Lucy's tears fall on the Generator, causing it to short-circuit! The robot breaks free from the spell and battles the Unicorns.

Uncle Unicorn starts a backup generator, making the Ladybot grow into a huge, dangerous machine. But she trips on her shoelaces! It turns out Fudgie and Cupcake, the other two Jurassic Jackrabbits, caused it. Ricky's robot throws the Ladybot and the Uranium Unicorns into space and puts Uncle Unicorn in the now crowded prison. The book ends with Ricky brushing the robot's teeth, putting on his pajamas, and tucking him into bed. Ricky's parents are happy they are having fun again, and Ricky reads a bedtime story to his robot.

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Naughty Nightcrawlers from Neptune

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Naughty Nightcrawlers from Neptune (2016) is the eighth book. Ricky and his Mighty Robot are bored. While Ricky's parents go shopping, they tell him not to make a mess. Ricky's dad suggests building a fort. Ricky and his robot tear down an abandoned building for the mayor, saving him money.

With the building's debris, Ricky and his robot build a fort. The noise annoys Farmer Feta, Ricky's neighbor. When Ricky's parents return, his mom calls the fort a mess. Ricky's cousin Lucy, Uncle Freddie, and Auntie Ethel arrive. Lucy calls the fort a castle and wants it painted pink, which Ricky doesn't like.

Meanwhile, on Neptune, Nimrod Nightcrawler plans to take over Earth because his planet is cold and poisonous. He knows about Ricky's robot. Nimrod launches a rocket with an inflatable teleporter (a wormhole) to Earth, landing on Farmer Feta's property. Nimrod convinces the farmer he can stop Ricky and his robot by digging under his land, but the farmer doesn't want them harmed.

As the digging begins, the fort starts to tumble. The robot tries to keep it stable but falls into a deep pit dug by Nimrod and his Nightcrawler army. The fort crashes down, trapping the robot. Ricky, Lucy, and her pets Cupcake, Fudgie, and Waffles go through the teleporter to investigate. They arrive at an underground Nightcrawler home on Neptune. The Nightcrawlers catch them, but the heroes tickle them to escape.

They return to Earth through the teleporter, but the Nightcrawlers follow. Lucy, riding one of the Nightcrawlers' robo-suits, digs up the robot and frees him. The robot scares away the Nightcrawlers, sending them back to Neptune. The robot then defeats the other Nightcrawlers destroying Squeakyville, who also run back to Neptune. Ricky and his robot jail Nimrod Nightcrawler. Ricky, the robot, Lucy, and her pets clean up the mess by throwing the fort debris into the teleporter, destroying Nightcrawler technology on Neptune. Lucy fills the deep pit with water, creating an artificial pond. The story ends with Ricky, the robot, Lucy, and her pets happily swimming in the backyard pond.

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Unpleasant Penguins from Pluto

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Unpleasant Penguins from Pluto (2016) is the ninth book. Ricky and his robot are having fun in their backyard pond until Cousin Lucy adds pink bubble bath. Ricky gets upset and says mean things to Lucy, making her cry. Ricky's parents scold him.

Meanwhile, on Pluto, President Penguin is angry that scientists in Squeakyville no longer consider Pluto a planet. He sets off for Earth with his guards, Clancy and Nigel, and his captain and first mate. On Earth, Ricky and his robot decide to make amends to Lucy. Ricky explains that "making amends" means showing you're sorry. Since Lucy loves flowers, they fly to Hawaii to pick beautiful flowers. They plant Lucy's name with flowers on a mountain in Squeakyville.

Before Lucy sees the mountain, President Penguin's castle-shaped spaceship lands on it. Ricky calls Lucy, apologizes, and tells her to look out her window. Lucy, Cupcake, Fudgie, and Waffles see the castle-like spaceship and her name in flowers. They think Ricky and his robot built a real castle! They approach the guards, Clancy and Nigel, who obey Lucy as their princess and bake her treats.

Ricky and his robot see three Penguin-Mobiles (driven by President Penguin, the captain, and the first mate) invading Earth. Ricky and his robot are no match for them. Lucy and her pets rush to help, but President Penguin thinks he has won. However, Clancy and Nigel, loyal to Princess Lucy, fire missiles at the Penguin-Mobiles, destroying them! After jailing President Penguin, Lucy tells Clancy and Nigel they should be the next Presidents of Pluto. The two new Presidents fly back to Pluto with the captain and first mate. Since the jail is full, an expanded jailhouse is being built. At home, Ricky and his robot welcome Lucy and her pets to the pond, and they all have fun swimming together. Ricky's parents thank him for apologizing to Lucy.

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  Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Unpleasant Penguins from Pluto book cover