cats

Review: Binky under Pressure by Ashley Spires

| Tasha

binky under pressure

Binky under Pressure by Ashley Spires

Released September 1, 2011.

Binky is still a space cat and still protecting his humans from the alien invaders.  His life has become rather dull.  Then one morning, Gracie arrives.  She’s a new kitty his humans have adopted.  Binky tries to explain that this is HIS space station and these are HIS humans.  But Gracie doesn’t seem interested in giving up her new home or even Binky’s favorite toys.  It’s not until Binky spots Gracie defeat an alien with incredible finesse that he starts to wonder if maybe she isn’t what she seems to be.  This new Binky book will thrill fans of the series as Binky faces his biggest challenge yet.

Spires has created a series of books that have a strong sense of humor and great storylines.  She writes with dexterity and ease that readers will enjoy.   The illustrations in this graphic novel use many interesting perspectives and incorporate plenty of humor visually as well.  The palette for the books is subdued, giving it a signature look.

Highly recommended for fans of the series.  If you haven’t enjoyed the Binky series yet, start at the beginning.   I envy those lucky enough to read all three of the books in quick succession.  They are such fun!  Appropriate for ages 8-12.

Reviewed from copy received from Kids Can Press.

Book Review: Goyangi Means Cat by Christine McDonnell

| Tasha

goyangi means cat

Goyangi Means Cat by Christine McDonnell, illustrated by Steve Johnson & Lou Fancher

When Soo Min joins her new American family from Korea, she doesn’t know any English at all.  Everything was strange and new, except for Goyangi, the cat.  Soo Min and Goyangi were friends from the start, with Goyangi curling up on her bed and comforting her in the middle of the night.  One morning, Goyangi escaped out the door.  Soo Min noticed at breakfast that Goyangi was gone.  She and her new mother called and called for the cat, but he did not return.  Back home after their search, Soo Min burst into tears.  She cried for losing Goyangi and also for her lost homeland.  Eventually, Soo Min fell asleep.  And when she awoke, her new father had come home along with someone else…

McDonnell, who is herself the mother of two Korean-born children, has captured the first days of international adoption with a gentleness and a deep understanding.  The focus of the book is Soo Min rather than the techniques her parents use to reach her.  Soo Min is given the space in the book to explore her new family and land without expectations.  The use of the cat as a bridge between cultures is a natural one, as is the deep connection that Soo Min finds with her feline friend.  The entire book has a sense of reality and lack of excess drama, which is very welcome here.

The illustrations are remarkable.  They are an appealing mix of collage, patterns, and softness.  At the same time, they play with line and language.  The cat’s fur is done in swirls, as you can see in the cover image above.  Lines are used throughout the illustrations, tying them visually together in a very subtle way.  Language is brought in with Korean words worked into the illustrations, again a bridge is formed in a visual way.

Highly recommended, this is one of the best books about international adoption I’ve seen.  The focus on the child’s point of view and its quality make it exceptional.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from copy received from Viking.

Also reviewed by Kiss the Book.

Book Review: The Day Tiger Rose Said Goodbye by Jane Yolen

| Tasha

day tiger rose

The Day Tiger Rose Said Goodbye by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Jim LaMarche

A quiet, thoughtful book about the death of a pet, this is a beautiful way to explain death to a child.  Through poetry that paints pictures of Tiger Rose’s days and her life as well, the story is told in special moments and connections.  Tiger Rose is an old cat and she knows her time is drawing near.  As she heads off, she takes the time to see her people family once again, time to bid farewell to the sleeping dog, and time to visit her favorite places to nap.  At the end, she cleans herself from head to tail and stretches in the sun before curling up under the rosebushes.  Then she rises into the sky, never once looking back. 

Yolen takes time to really have this cat connect with her life, so readers can envision what she was like as a younger, more spry cat.  The time is also important as children will need it to come to terms with what is happening.  This book does not spring the cat’s death on readers, rather the book is all about the death and what leads up to it.  It is about saying goodbye to a good life.  Yolen’s writing is beautiful, aching and gentle.  She whispers in this poem, sharing sweet moments, softly.

LaMarche’s art echoes that gentle softness with his delicate lines and glowing lighting.  He celebrates Tiger Rose in her last day, allowing readers to celebrate too in her beauty and grace.  His style is perfectly married to the subject here.

While this is another picture book on the already crowded death of a pet shelf, it takes a different approach to the subject and really honors what is happening in a beautiful and touching way.  Appropriate for ages 4-8.

Reviewed from copy received from Random House.

Also reviewed by

Book Review: Those Darn Squirrels and the Cat Next Door by Adam Rubin

| Tasha

Those_Darn_Squirrels_and_the_Cat_Next_Door

Those Darn Squirrels and the Cat Next Door by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

This sequel to Those Darn Squirrels continues the story of the squirrels and Old Man Fookwire.  Old Man Fookwire has been waiting for spring when his beloved birds would return.  The winter has been long with only the squirrels for company (and trouble).  After a pleasant spring morning spent painting birds, Fookwire is shocked to hear kabooms coming from the house next door.  Little Old Lady Hu was moving in along with her evil cat, Muffins.  She had moved to the country so that Muffins could make some new friends, but Muffins was not a friendly cat at all, as the squirrels were about to find out.  This time the squirrels craftiness just might help out Old Man Fookwire too!

Rubin plays with words to great effect here.  Not only with the names of Fookwire and Little Old Lady Hu, but with the birds’ names: baba birds, yaba birds and the floogle bird too.  Throughout the book, the language is silly and rich, making for a great read aloud.  Rubin also has a great feel for pacing, allowing the humor really stand strong and the story to roll along merrily.  There is plenty of humor here, including the attacks of Muffins being wedgies, noogies and wet willies.

Salmieri joins in the humor with his illustrations as well.  The fine-lined illustrations have a natural silliness to them.  Old Man Fookwire has a great red nose, huge glasses, and a body that manages to be skinny and paunchy at once.  The squirrels look crafty, bright and foolish all at once. 

If you haven’t read the first book, you should, but you will be able to enjoy the second all on its own.  Get this into the hands of any kids who enjoy a brains vs. brawns match where the brains win, but you get to giggle at wedgies along the way.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from library copy.

Book Review: Woof Meow Tweet-Tweet by Cecile Boyer

| Tasha

woofmeowtweet

Woof Meow Tweet-Tweet by Cecile Boyer

Released June 1, 2011.

This inventive picture book begins by asking if readers can tell the difference between a dog, a cat and a bird.  The book goes on to explain the differences, such as a the dog lives outside during the day and the bird hates its cage.  But instead of an illustration of the animals, Boyer has replaced them with the word for the noise they make: woof, meow, and tweet-tweet.  The book continues showing the differences between the animals and eventually explores what happens when they meet each other, with great effect, lots of fighting and pouncing.  A word-filled elegant picture book that will have readers looking at the world in a new way.

Boyer’s text is brief, and matter-of-fact, allowing the attention to rest mainly on the illustrations themselves.  The art is filled with strong lines, graphic elements, and lots of color.  Even the choice of fonts for the three different animals says something about them.  Woof is done in a deep brown, thick font.  Meow is elegant and even slinky.  Tweet-tweet is narrow and light.  The words play beautifully against the background that is elegantly minimalist. 

Boyer has created a book filled with wordplay that both children and adults will enjoy.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from ARC received from Seven Footer Press.

Book Review–Three by the Sea by Mini Grey

| Tasha

threebythesea

Three by the Sea by Mini Grey

Dog, Cat and Mouse all live happily together by the sea with their household chores neatly divided.  But when a Fox comes ashore, he causes all sorts of trouble.  He brings tempting items from The Winds of Change company that will change their lives.  Dog’s gardening is criticized for only being buried bones, so the stranger offers Mouse herb seeds and new cookbooks.  Dog is encouraged to wear a new collar and is upset at Cat’s laziness.  Cat is shown how dull and repetitive Mouse’s cheesy recipes are by the Fox offering some canned fish.  Soon all of them are at odds with one another.  In the end, Mouse heads away along the shore, but is picked up by a wave and carried out to sea.  When Cat tries to help, she has trouble floating.  So finally Dog, rescues them both.  Now the lives of the three look very different, so was the Fox actually helpful or harmful?

Grey’s book is about cooperation, working together, and also outside influences which can be seen in different ways.  She has created a picture book that is not definitive about the Fox and his influence.  The nuanced conclusion offers room for discussion and speculation.  Grey’s illustrations continue to charm.  She incorporates photographs and cut paper art into them to great effect.  They have a whimsical charm that invite readers right into the world she creates.

Another winner from a great picture book author and illustrator, this book will be a great addition to any beachy story time.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from copy received from Alfred A. Knopf.

Also reviewed by:

Book Review–Cat Secrets by Jef Czekaj

| Tasha

catsecrets

Cat Secrets by Jef Czekaj

This book is for cats only, so if you want to read it you will have to prove that you are, in fact, a cat.  The cats in the book are hard to deceive.  If you keep turning the pages, they will be on to the fact that you are not a cat at all.  They will test you.  You will have to meow.  You will have to purr.  Can you stretch like a cat too? And then the final test.  Can you nap like a cat?  This is a book that happily breaks down the fourth wall, celebrating silliness through a very interactive story line. 

Czekaj follows the likes of Mo Willems and one of my childhood favorites, The Monster at the End of This Book, as he allows the audience into the book and to feel as if they have input into the storyline.  His very simple illustrations have a modern feel to them.  They let the humor stand on its own and don’t oversell it at all. 

This is a book that will read aloud extremely well.  It’s one that I would save for that final book of a story time because it will stop the wiggles immediately.  Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Also reviewed by 100 Scope Notes and Creative Literacy.

I Must Have Bobo!: Silliness to Share

| Tasha

imusthavebobo

I Must Have Bobo! by Eileen Rosenthal, illustrated by Marc Rosenthal

When Willy wakes up, he can’t find his beloved sock monkey, Bobo.  Willy needs Bobo to get through his day.  But Earl the cat likes Bobo too.  Willy takes Bobo away from Earl and heads off to breakfast.  But whenever Willy is distracted or busy, Earl sneaks in and grabs Bobo, carrying him off.  Willy searches high and low for Bobo, finally realizing that it must be either pirates or Earl who has taken the toy.  The book ends with a cuddle between the three of them, curled up and happy together.  Or are they?

This book is silly and great fun. The ending has a gentle twist to it, that will delight young listeners.  It will work well with a group, since it has plenty of emotion to portray, lots of laughs, and a sharing theme that children can relate to easily.  The illustrations work well with the simple text.  They have a great warmth to them, thanks to the creamy background and the rough edges.  Additionally, the book has a timeless appeal, but remains modern as well.

Recommended for cat or toy story times, this book is a pleasure to read and share.  Appropriate for ages 3-6.

Reviewed from copy received from Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Also reviewed by

Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku

| Tasha

wonton

Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin

This picture book is told in a series of haiku poems.  The poems form the only text in the book, charmingly telling the tale of Won Ton, a cat saved from the animal shelter by a boy and his family.  Once rescued, Won Ton demonstrates that he is pure cat.  His aloof yet cozy manner is captured to perfection here in the poems.  The book is in turns touching, beautiful, wistful and very funny.

Wardlaw’s haiku read as if they were effortlessly written.  In a few words and syllables, he captures the life of a cat and the humor of life.  It is a book that celebrates poetry, making it approachable and understandable for children.  At the same time, he speaks to the power and connection in animal adoption. 

Yelchin has illustrated the book with a playful flair.  The graphite and gouache illustrations are bright and large, making them well suited to sharing with a group.  Anyone with a cat in their lives will recognize the poses, the reactions and the attitude that Won Ton displays.

A perfect book to share in a poetry unit, this book is appropriate for ages 5-8.

Reviewed from copy received from Henry Holt and Company.

Also reviewed by Fuse #8 and Wild Geese Guides.