• Age: 7 to 10
• Grade: 2 to 5
• Reading age: 7 to 10

Binky is a space cat - at least in his own mind. He's really a house cat who has never left the family “space station.” Unlike other house cats, Binky has a mission: to blast off into outer space (outside), explore unknown places (the backyard) and battle aliens (bugs). Binky must undergo rigorous training so he can repel the alien attacks that threaten his humans. As he builds his spaceship, he must be extremely careful with his blueprints - the enemy is always watching.

Soon Binky is ready to voyage into outer space. His humans go out there every day and he's sure they need a certified space cat to protect them. But just as he's about to blast off with his co-pilot, Ted (stuffed mousie), Binky realizes that he's left something very important behind ... and it's not the zero-gravity kitty litter. In the first book in the Binky Adventure series, graphic-novel readers will delight in watching where this lovable and quirky cat's imagination takes him.

 

Ashley Spires est diplômé de l'Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design. Artiste touche à tout, elle a créé des sites Internet, des livres et des marionnettes. Elle est auteure et illustratrice de plusieurs livres dont Quel génie!, la série Basile le chat de l'espace,Petit Paul, Chien recherche garçon et André est débordé. Ashley a également illustré Le Labo des malins par Shar Levine et Leslie Johnstone. Elle vit à Delta, en Colombie-Britannique.

 

Ashley Spires earned her BFA at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and went on to earn a graduate diploma in illustration from Sheridan College. She is also the illustrator of Binky the Space Cat. Ashley lives in British Columbia, but you can find her at www.ashleyspires.com.

Ashley Spires' profile page

• Winner, Silver Birch Express, Ontario Library Association
• Winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Starred Selection, Canadian Children's Book Centre
• Winner, Hackmatack Award
• Short-listed, Comics for Kids Award, Joe Shuster Awards

The humor in this graphic novel hits every note ...

School Library Journal, Starred Review

Spires's mix of sly, dry and slapstick humor in her first graphic novel is perfect.

Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

... Binky's misadventures are a delight.

Quill & Quire

With plenty of visual gags and a cute hero, this book is perfect for kids who are transitioning from easy readers to early chapter books, while the dry humor will also keep stronger readers engaged.

Booklist

Binky the Space Cat

Binky is not your average house cat. While he enjoys getting cuddles and playing with his toy mousie, he’s a certified Space Cat who has aspirations of exploring outer space (the backyard). After undergoing a rigorous training program and building his own rocket ship out of stuff he found around the house (things he stole from his humans), he’s ready to protect the world from aliens (bugs).

This graphic novel takes readers on a hilarious, action-packed journey through the life of one of the most exceptional cats they’ll ever encounter. Author-illustrator Ashley Spires’s quirky watercolour and ink illustrations will capture the attention of boys and girls alike and the fun storyline will keep them giggling.

Binky is Spires’s first graphic novel and she does some interesting things with the form. Instead of using dialogue and speech bubbles to tell the bulk of Binky’s story (as is typical in comics), she uses captions. The result is a successful blend of the picture book and comic genres. This picture book/comic format makes Binky great for read alouds and the perfect gateway for introducing young readers to comics.

Binky is the first in the Binky Adventure series and readers will surely look forward to his next attempt to get to outer space!

Binky the Space Cat (Binky Adventure)

Binky, a housecat, wants to visit outer space (outside), explore unknown spots (the backyard) and battle aliens (bugs). He crafts a rocket ship and prepares for galactic adventure. As he’s about to blast off, he realizes he’s left behind a crucial item. This is a delightful and humorous tale about a feline with vision and a huge imagination.