Binky to the Rescue (A Binky Adventure) - Hardcover

Ashley Spires grew up in the Pacific Northwest, the supposed stomping grounds of Bigfoot. She is the author and illustrator of a number of books for children, including Small Saul and the Adventures of Binky the Space Cat. She was the recipient of the 2011 Silver Birch Express Award and the 2011 Hackmatack Award for Binky the Space Cat and was shortlisted for a Joe Shuster Comics for Kids Award and an Eisner Award for Binky Under Pressure. Ashley currently lives in British Columbia.

Gr 1-4–When Binky the space cat and Ted, his stuffed mouse, fall out of the window and find themselves adrift in outer space (the backyard), the cat has to rely on his training to combat the aliens (bees and spiders) and to get himself home again. Although the feline returns safely, his trusty cohort has been left behind and Binky must brave the unexpected again. The text is cleverly written, and the jokes are appealing to young readers. From Binky's inner monologue about the motives of his humans to his excessive habit of munching on cat crunchies and releasing a discreet “pooot,” he is funny. As with Binky the Space Cat (Kids Can, 2009), the graphic-novel layout is simple and easy to follow. Spires changes the number of panels and frames per page and includes full-page layouts. The watercolor illustrations are a perfect medium to capture Binky's changing expressions, allowing readers to understand his emotions even without reading the text. A great choice for beginning chapter-book readers or an introduction to graphic novels, this one's a winner in both quality and appeal.–Catherine Brenner, Bethlehem Public Library, Delmar, NYα(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.