Praise for Sparks:
Winner, Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize, 2019
Winner, Hackmatack Children's Choice Award (Atlantic Canada), 2019
Commended, Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Starred Selection, 2018
Commended, Resource Links, Best of the Year, 2018
Commended, OLA Best Bets, 2018
*"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
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01/01/2018
Gr 2–5—Two cats moonlight as a mechanical superhero dog named Sparks in this goofy sci-fi graphic novel. Charlie, the pilot, is a fearless outdoor cat. August, the inventor, is a cat who's terrified to go outside after a traumatic past in a laboratory. In the guise of Sparks, Charlie, and August accomplish such feats as rescuing a baby from a well and extinguishing a burning building with pee. But the intrepid canine always disappears afterward so that no one will know Sparks's true identity. When an alien named Princess—disguised as a human baby—arrives on Earth to test out a device that can control all the animals on the planet, Charlie and August (and Sparks, of course) have their heroic work cut out for them. But once they are separated by a tricky double agent, can August dare to step outside and save the day? Divided into 11 chapters, the art is full color, with large panels that are easy to follow. The bold, simple character design allows for exaggerated, hilarious facial expressions. The walking, talking litter box is a shining star of a character, providing occasional dance parties and limitless potty humor. Though most of the plot focuses on animal or alien characters, there is a welcome diversity of supporting human characters. Cat and dog lovers alike will laugh their way to the end of this offering. VERDICT Recommended for all children's comics collections.—Alec Chunn, Eugene Public Library, OR
