• Age: 7 to 10
• Grade: 2 to 5

Charlie and August go on vacation, but trouble always finds them!

Charlie and August, the kitty duo who control the incredible Sparks costume, are exhausted. It's hard work saving people all the time! So what better way to relax than to get away to a beautiful tropical island? But when weird things start to happen and they discover that the island holds a surprising secret, they're blasted off on their craziest adventure ever. And this time they have to save themselves!

IAN BOOTHBY écrit des textes d'humour pour la télé et la radio depuis l'âge de treize ans, et a commencé à créer des bandes dessinées à seize ans. Il est l'un des principaux auteurs de Futurama, Les Simpson, Mars attaque, Scooby Doo, Les Super nanas et Le Flash. Ian a aussi remporté le prix Eisner pour la Meilleure histoire courte avec Nina Matsumoto. Il habite à Vancouver, en Colombie-Britannique.

IAN BOOTHBY has been writing comedy for TV and radio since he was 13 and making his own comics since he was 16. Ian has written comic books for The Simpsons, Futurama, Mars Attacks, Scooby-Doo, The Powerpuff Girls, and The Flash. Ian has also won an Eisner Award for Best Short Story along with the artist Nina Matsumoto. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Ian Boothby's profile page

NINA MATSUMOTO est une Canadienne d'origine japonaise qui a grandi en dessinant surtout des animaux, puis surtout des gens, avant de revenir aux animaux pour ce livre. Elle a créé sa propre série de mangas, Yokaiden, et illustré Le dernier maître de l'air : Zuko. En 2009, elle a remporté un prix Eisner avec Ian Boothby, et ils collaborent depuis ce jour. Elle vit à Vancouver, en Colombie-Britannique.

NINA MATSUMOTO is a Japanese Canadian who grew up drawing mostly animals, then mostly people, then back to animals again for this book. She pencils for Simpsons Comics and designs video game T-shirts for Fangamer. She created her own English manga series, Yokaiden, and drew The Last Airbender Prequel: Zuko's Story. In 2009, she won an Eisner Award with Ian Boothby, and they have been collaborating ever since. She lives with an aloof Shiba Inu that is most likely a cat in a dog suit. She resides in Vancouver, British Columbia. Visit her online at www.spacecoyote.com.

Nina Matsumoto's profile page

• Commended, Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre

Praise for Sparks!:

★ "Boothby's background as a comedy writer shows in the tight timing, clever banter, and over-the-top dialogue, while Matsumoto's archly funny cartoons -- buoyant, colorful artwork filled with speedy action, riotous sight gags, and animated character designs -- perfectly complement the script. Ideal for elementary-school readers, this is a natural choice for anyone who loved Dav Pilkey's Dog Man series or Drew Brockington's Catstronauts books." -- Booklist, starred review

"Tightly spaced panels and frenetic motion lines keep the tension high and the pace quick, and the plethora of onomatopoeia give a dramatic and amusing comic-book feel. Back off, Lassie and Rin Tin Tin; Sparks is on the scene and ready for action." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"It's an off-the-wall and very funny adventure with an entertaining odd-couple friendship at its core." -- Publishers Weekly

"Cat and dog lovers alike will laugh their way to the end of this offering... Recommended for all children's comics collections." -- School Library Journal