Summer Reading 2013 Binky Takes Charge

I decided I was in the mood for a little pet humor, so I read Binky Takes Charge. For those of you that have not yet encountered Binky and his adventures, he is a space cat. As a member of F.U.R.S.T. he lives in a space station (a human house) and prepares to defend it against aliens (insects). F.U.R.S.T. stands for Felines of the Universe Ready for Space Travel. It is an organization made up entirely of cats, until this adventure. Suddenly F.U.R.S.T. has become P.U.R.S.T. and includes any pets who show the ability to fight aliens.

Poor Binky! He has been planning how to train a new kitten in his home, but the humans bring a puppy named Gordon. Binky can't believe it. Gordon doesn't even know how to use a litter box. How can someone that has accidents on the carpet fight aliens? He begins to suspect that Gordon is actually an alien spy.

The illustrations are very funny. They show Binky writing up his training plan, waiting to greet the new recruit, and the very disgusted look on his face when he sees the puppy.  Then we watch as Binky tries to train him to be a space cat, the activities that make Binky think Gordon is a spy, and the final solution. The colors are not the super bright tones used in comic books, but that does not make the pictures dull. The expressions on the faces of Gordon, Binky, and his friend Gracie will make you laugh out loud - and so will the idea that Gordon is leaving secret messages for the aliens in his puppy poo.

As you know, my house has dogs - not cats. But Binky goes on my list of cool cats along with Skippyjon Jones and Pete the Cat.

For more information about this book and other Binky adventures, check out the publisher's website. Click here to visit the website of the author.