Binky Under Pressure

(A Binky Adventure)

by
Ashley Spires

Kids Can Press, September 2011, 64 pp.
ISBN: 978-1-55453-504-0

Genre: Early Chapter
Subgenres: Graphic Novel / Cat
Reviewed: 10/9/2011

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Graphic Novel Page

Binky Under Pressure page

 

Synopsis

Binky is a Space Cat and is a member of Felines of the Universe Ready for Space Travel (F.U.R.S.T.). Binky, on previous adventures, built a rocket ship, went into space, and now protects the space station (house) he lives in with his humans. His life is pretty routine. He naps, eats, cuddles, and protects his house from aliens (flies).

One day, one of his humans brings home a girl cat named Gracie, and she is a foster cat. She will be visiting until a permanent home can be found for her. Binky isn't happy with having another cat in his space station. When he discovers Gracie eating out of his food dish and using his kitty litter, Binky is upset. But when she walks by with his best friend, a small, stuffed animal mouse, he realizes that he must get rid of this intruder cat.

Binky asks Gracie to leave. She doesn't. Binky begins to study this sneaky girl cat so he can figure out how to get her out of his space station. Binky suspects that she may be an alien, but when Gracie kills a fly, he knows that she is not. Gracie whips out her F.U.R.S.T. identification card. She is Captain Gracie, her Code Name is Mim, and she has a license to Scratch. She is higher ranked than Binky is and she is his boss!

Oh, no! What is Binky going to do now?

Binky Under Pressure is the third book in the Binky the Space Cat series and is written and drawn by Ashley Spires. This book is intended for early chapter readers ages 7 to 10.

 

Review

Binky Under Pressure is a fun graphic novel that I was totally entertained by. Binky is a funny, fat cat that has his easy life disrupted by another cat. He tries everything to get rid this female cat, Gracie, that has invaded his territory. But when Binky finds out that Gracie is actually his boss, he has to alter his plans.

Ashley Spires is quite an artist. I love the way she illustrates and I find the images she creates to be very well done. The only thing I could wish for is a greater variety of color on the pages. The coloring in the book is very bland as only a few colors are used. Still, this is not enough to make me not want to read this book. In fact, young readers may not even notice this.

The storyline by Ashley Spires moves along at a good pace and Early Chapter readers will instantly fall in love with this feisty cat. This is a stand-alone book and you don't have to have read the first two book in this series to understand what is going on in this book.

Overall, Binky Under Pressure is an excellent book that Early Chapter readers will read over and over again. The book is very easy to read and the artwork is very engaging. I highly recommend this graphic novel. So, if you are looking for a book for your Early Chapter reader, pick up any of the Binky the Space Cat books today. Your child will absolutely love them.

I rated this book a 9 out of 10.

This site was created and is maintained by Conan Tigard
2011