She’s conquered dog camp; outer space must be next! (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 7-12)
Bad Kitty goes to dog camp? How did that happen?
All Bad Kitty was trying to do was get in her usual 22 hours of sleep. First Puppy wants to play and barks her awake. Then Baby burbles and startles her. Then the doorbell rings—but it’s a present for Bad Kitty. A collar with a nametag…but it’s misspelled! Her disgruntlement is assuaged by a dish full of Chinese takeaway. However, she doesn’t get to eat it: Puppy and Baby knock it over. In a fit of pique, Kitty kicks her bowl, which bounces back and bonks her on the noggin—and she comes to think she’s a dog. Her doggy behavior (unnoticed by her clueless, unseen human) so frazzles Puppy that their human sends him to Uncle Murray’s Camp for Stressed-out Dogs for the weekend—and Bad Kitty stows away. Goofy adventures ensue, dotted with occasional breaks for Uncle Murray’s Fun Facts on such topics as why dogs are better at fetch than cats and why cats hate water more than dogs do. A catnip-induced visit from Bastet, Egyptian goddess of cats, reminds Bad Kitty of who she is in time to save the day. Bruel’s 11th Bad Kitty chapter book (not including the recent how-to-draw-comics tome) will satisfy her millions of fans with plenty of cat-titude and feline foolishness.
She’s conquered dog camp; outer space must be next! (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 7-12)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-62672-885-1
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Neal Porter/Roaring Brook
Review Posted Online: Sept. 30, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
Utterly believable, this bittersweet story, complete with an author’s note identifying the real Ivan, will inspire a new...
How Ivan confronts his harrowing past yet stays true to his nature exemplifies everything youngsters need to know about courage.
Living in a "domain" of glass, metal and cement at the Big Top Mall, Ivan sometimes forgets whether to act like a gorilla or a human—except Ivan does not think much of humans. He describes their behavior as frantic, whereas he is a peaceful artist. Fittingly, Ivan narrates his tale in short, image-rich sentences and acute, sometimes humorous, observations that are all the more heartbreaking for their simple delivery. His sorrow is palpable, but he stoically endures the cruelty of humans until Ruby the baby elephant is abused. In a pivotal scene, Ivan finally admits his domain is a cage, and rather than let Ruby live and die in grim circumstances, he promises to save her. In order to express his plea in a painting, Ivan must bravely face buried memories of the lush jungle, his family and their brutal murder, which is recounted in a brief, powerful chapter sure to arouse readers’ passions. In a compelling ending, the more challenging question Applegate poses is whether or not Ivan will remember what it was like to be a gorilla. Spot art captures poignant moments throughout.
Utterly believable, this bittersweet story, complete with an author’s note identifying the real Ivan, will inspire a new generation of advocates. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Jan. 17, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-06-199225-4
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2011
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
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