Binky Takes Charge

Starred review from August 1, 2012
Space cat Lt. Binky has been tapped for a new assignment: recruit trainer! Felines of the Universe Ready for Space Travel (F.U.R.S.T.) and Captain Gracie are pleased to announce that Lt. Binky is about to get his first recruit to train. Since Binky had to train himself, he knows the importance of a mentor and a well-thought-out training plan. Those aliens (read: flies) won't fight themselves! But when the recruit arrives... Horrors! There's a new diversity program at F.U.R.S.T., and Gordon, a dog, has been assigned to Binky. Binky decides to give it his all. As expected, Gordon falls short. Then Binky discovers the unthinkable: Gordon seems to be leaving coded messages in outer space (that's outside, to humans) for the aliens in his... well, what flies like. He's also disabling alien-zappers and stealing human technology. If they are to prove Gordon is a double agent, Gracie and Binky will need incontrovertible proof! Spires' fourth Binky graphic adventure is as fresh and hysterical as the first. The watercolor graphic panels are as visually appealing as the narration is clever, offering up a little potty humor, a bit of over-the-top adventure-tale parody and a few nifty surprises. Great entertainment for readers big and little whether they are fans already or not. A purrrfect mix of slapstick, deadpan and catpan. (Graphic novel. 8-12)

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July 1, 2013
Binky the flatulent space cat is now lieutenant in charge of training new recruits. His first cadet is Gordon--a dog. While Binky suspects he might be a double agent in the fight against aliens (insects), it turns out Gordie is actually a technological genius. This fourth Binky adventure is silly, deadpan, and perfectly pitched to very young graphic novel readers.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)