Fluffy Strikes Back

February 29, 2016
Spires returns to the world of her Binky series in a spin-off graphic novel that gleefully toys with action/spy movie conventions. Sgt. Fluffy Vandermere, a gruff Persian cat, oversees the subterranean headquarters of Pets of the Universe Ready for Space Travel (PURST), keeping Earth safe from alien insects. Deadpan narration mixes with pet-centric comedy as Fluffy fights back after the headquarters is breached: “They’ve taken hostages! And they’re torturing them!” writes Spires as invading flies spritz PURST operatives with water from a spray bottle. Crisp cartooning, a sharp sense of humor, and the lovably brusque sarge should make this a hit with Spires’s fans. Ages 7–10.

January 1, 2016
Pets of the Universe Ready for Space Travel saves unsuspecting humans from aliens daily. How do they do it? Large white puss Sgt. Fluffy Vandermere is in charge of P.U.R.S.T., the secret organization of pets whose purpose it is to keep their humans safe from alien (i.e. insect) attack. Click is Fluffy's "right-hand cat." She relays all the pertinent information to him and oversees the operations of their secret base (far beneath the sandbox). Fluffy used to be a crack operative, smooshing bugs and saving humans; but years behind a desk have made him a bit flabby. When an urgent message arrives warning of imminent attack, Fluffy springs into action. But the evil insects take over the base. Retreating to his secret bunker with only Click and guinea pig engineer Darryl, can Sgt. Fluffy retake his base of operations and oust the insectile incursion? Spires expands her Binky the Space Cat series with this gift to fans (and all lovers of funny comics). The silly and sly spy jinks unfold entirely in narration blocks laid out between her graphic panels; dialogue consists of animal vocalizations ("Murp?!"; "Mee mew") that are surprisingly expressive. Muted colors show digitally stylized, serious felines (now accompanied by other species of pets) saving the world one bug--er, alien at a time. This spinoff series opener is a must for Binky's legions of faithful feline fans. (Graphic fantasy. 7-12)

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February 1, 2016

Gr 2-5-From the creator of "Binky the Space Cat" comes this laugh-out-loud new series. Sergeant Fluffy Vandermere is the main cat in charge of P.U.R.S.T., or Pets of the Universe Ready for Space Travel. He is in charge of all space pets and must make sure they succeed in protecting their humans from alien insect attacks. He reminisces about the excitement of being in the field but knows that someone has to be in charge, and he excels at his job. However, when the alien insects attack, the Sergeant is thrown headfirst into a world that he thought he had left behind. The artwork has a neat, clean look with a fitting use of deep, bold grays. The panels are organized with minimal yet effective words on the page. Though the animals are somewhat anthropomorphized they maintain their animal language, making for a comical dynamic. Their actions are conveyed through detailed illustrations that focus on facial expressions and physical reactions. VERDICT An appealing and fun introduction for emerging graphic novel fans.-Kristyn Dorfman, The Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn, NY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2016
Grades 2-4 Fans of Binky and newcomers alike will gravitate towards Spires' newest pet-versus-alien adventure series. Here, the animals of Pets of the Universe Ready for Space Travel (P.U.R.S.T.) tirelessly train to defend Earth from attacks by aliens, namely, bugs. Their fearless leader, Sergeant Fluffy Vandermere, never leaves his desk, from which he oversees all P.U.R.S.T. operations. But when aliens infiltrate the pets' secret headquarters, it's up to Fluffy to save them all. Humor, action, and sound effects (Kapow!, Sploosh!, Ploop!) permeate the pages of this graphic novel for young readers, which throws a wink to classic espionage tales. Readers will be drawn in by the opening panels, in which a cat uses an elevator hidden in a sandbox to reach the underground P.U.R.S.T. office. Spires' muted Photoshop illustrations clearly and adorably depict the story's action, while the arrangement of panels, which include security footage, schematics, and subterranean cross sections, ramps up the suspense and comedy. Fluffy's stern-faced heroics will have no trouble garnering new recruits.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2016
After years of desk work, Sergeant Fluffy Vandermere, a grumpy-faced cat, finds himself back on the battlefield when alien combatants, a.k.a. insects, mount an attack. In this offshoot of Spires's Binky series, the somber-colored corporate setting and deadpan narration is juxtaposed with the characters' animal natures to great effect. Clean illustrations, block text, and litter-box jokes make this graphic novel accessible for readers new to the format.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)