Kazumi Reads

Plot Summary:
Binky is officially a space cat. Not only does he have his official Felines of the Universe Read for Space Travel (F.U.R.S.T.) membership, he has plans to build a rocket ship to battle aliens, discover new worlds, and have adventures. However, Binky has never ever been outside his space station so how is he supposed to go on this adventure? Well, Binky trains. He boxes with his cat toys, he runs around the house chasing the aliens (aka. bugs), and he studies the books that are in the space station. Binky believes that the aliens are trying to take over the world and that is why he must protect his humans. As readers read on, they learn that Binky came to his home to be their guardian, cuddler, and helper. As Binky prepares for this awesome adventure, he realizes there are few things he forgets about, which might make his mission a lot harder then he thought.

Critical Evaluation:
SOOOO CUTE! I am a kitty momma of a super cute cat like Binky and I could literally see my cat doing the same exact things! The colored illustrations are very angular, which give Binky an almost bunny-like appearance. However, the shapes enhance his silliness since Binky acts like a wild bunny in most of the scenes and his head fits in a space helmet perfectly. The text is simple and the funny moments are just spot on! I love the illustrations where Binky farts because cats are notorious for farting when no one is watching  (or so they think) and the very idea of cats wearing clothes is just as hilarious. This is definitely a quick read so readers will have no problem starting one and reading the rest in the series in one sitting. This series is lots of fun and I can't wait to read the rest of Binky's adventures!

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

Ashley was born and raised in British Columbia where she resides still with her cats Gracie and Charlotte. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design and a Graduate Diploma in Illustration from Sheridan College. In addition to her illustration, she founded Chicken Tika Creations (which she named after her dog, not the food) and is selling her hand felted items across Canada.

Genre:
Tween Graphic Novels, Tween Fiction
 

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 3-6


Books Similar to Binky the Space Cat:

• The Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarret J. Krosoczka
• Babymouse: The Queen of the World by Jennifer Holm
  

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:

Spires’s mix of sly, dry and slapstick humor in her first graphic novel is perfect.

With plenty of visual gags and a cute hero, this book is perfect for kids who are transitioning from easy readers to early chapter books, while the dry humor will also keep stronger readers engaged. 

Plot Summary:
Cupcake loves to bake and he loves to play his drums. In fact, Cupcake owns his own bakery and he is part of a band that is performing in the upcoming parade. When Cupcake learns that his best friend, Eggplant, is going to Turkey to visit his uncle, he is beyond ecstatic to hear that his uncle is good friends with the legendary pastry chef: Turkish Delight. Not only is Turkish Delight a legend, he is Cupcake's idol and he would give anything to meet him. Knowing how Cupcake feels about Turkish Delight, Eggplant invited his best friend to travel with him. Although Cupcake is excited, he needs to save money in order to pay for his flight, which means that Cupcake needs to make sacrifices; instead of attending band practice, Cupcake needs to extend his business hours and ask Eggplant for extra help with upcoming bake sales, running the bakery, and other events. As time goes by, Cupcake continues to work and work and, unfortunately, his passion for baking is starting to fizzle. The more that Cupcake works, the more tired and frustrated he is because he can't seem to make anything extraordinary. However, this about to change when Eggplant delivers some bad news that will turn everything around.

Critical Evaluation:
Bake Sale is absolutely darling. Not only is it about one of my favorite hobbies, it has a well-balanced recipe filled with charm and love with a dash of humor. The artwork is just precious; it takes some serious talent to make a tomato, potato, eggplant, and celery look super cute. Furthermore, the bright and soft pastels really bring out the sweetness, which this book is filled with. Do I see a tween boy picking this up? It just depends on the boy. Despite the overall girly appearance, tweens learn a very valuable lesson about friendship. Furthermore, there this is also a tale about hard work and sacrifice where two vegetables give it their all to make one another happy. I was also super excited about the recipes the author has included and I cannot wait to try them. All in all, this is a quick read that will hook readers with its bright, glossy pages and the ending will leave you hanging, which means there could be another installment or it's up to the reader's imagination as to what happens.

Information about the Author:
According to her super cute website:

Sara Varon is a printmaker, illustrator, and children’s book author living in Brooklyn, New York.

Nice and sweet!

Genre:
Tween Graphic Novels

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 4-6

Books Similar to Bake Sale:

• Odd Duck by Cecil Castelluci
• Tua and the Elephant by R. P. Harris

Awards & Recognition:

•  Positive review from the Bulletin for the Center of Children's Book (10/01/11)
•  Positive review from Booklist (9/15/11)