Binky the Space Cat

By Ashley Spires

Binky's blast-off into outer space (outside) to battle aliens (bugs) is delayed when he realizes he's left something behind - and it's not the anti-gravity kitty litter.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kids Can Press
• Release date: Dec 4, 2013
• ISBN: 9781771380690

Ashley Spires

Author and illustrator Ashley Spires is the creator of the Binky The Space Cat series of junior graphic novels, which have earned her numerous awards, including the Silver Birch Express and the Hackmatack. Her picture books, including Larf, Small Saul, and The Most Magnificent Thing, are known for providing readers, young and old, with a good laugh. When not drawing, she is often jogging with her dog Gordon or wrangling her three cats, Penny, Fran and Gracie. She lives in British Columbia.

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Reviews for Binky the Space Cat

[reader1009-863136 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

children's graphics. adorable kitty has adventures and non-adventures whilst keeping his humans safe from aliens (bugs).

[linyarai · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this for the "A Comic Book" part of my 2020 reading challenge. I loved it, Binky is adorable and hilarious and I love his sense of adventure.

[eilonwy_anne · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cute little picture book/comic book. Binky's fantasies about his space-cat duties and the 'reality' of certain fantastic elements in the narrative will amuse children as they get older and more inquisitive. The great drawings -- I particularly love Binky's ears and the "Right Stuff" shot of him with his mousey on the cover -- will appeal to every age.

[katelyndraper · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Binky is convinced he is a space cat. He is always saving his humans from bugs (aliens) and he has always dreamed of going into outer space. He decides it's time to build a rocket ship! Right before take off he realizes that he can't leave without him humans. No one will protect them from the aliens. He decides if he makes another rocket ship it has to be bigger so he can take his humans with him.

[ramfam5 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Binky The Space Cat was a fun read. The book is written and illustrated by Ashley Spires. I gave it 3 stars because I would not normally choose to read a graphic novel. But Binky was an easy fun read about a cat who kind of reminds me of MAX from the MAX and Ruby television show. Like Max, Binky has an active imagination that gets him into a lot of trouble. I have a few student sin my class who are reading Binky books as well. It's always nice to know what my students are reading.

[nataliaanishchenko · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is so funny how the space dreamer Binky protects his humans from "Alien invaders". He knows that it is his obligation to serve and protect his humans, so he offers his services for food and cuddling.

[molbhall · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The humor in this graphic novel is apparent early on when the reader sees the world from the titular cat’s unique perspective; he dreams of going to “outer space”, which is the world outside his house, and he wants to protect his family from “aliens,” also known as insects. Cat lovers especially will laugh at the ways in which Binky tries to help his owner, because it’s exactly what cats do (like when he tries to “give them massages” but he is really just clawing them). Some comedic elements have a wider appeal, like the bodily humor found in the text. However, the funniest parts are when Binky uses his imagination as he prepares for his interstellar travels. This book is good for transitional readers. Though it has fewer pages and larger fonts, it looks a lot like a graphic novel for older readers. There aren’t too many panels per page, but they are arranged in interesting ways, using different shapes and sometimes overlapping each other. Like other comics for this age group, it’s a good primer for more advanced illustrated texts. Binky is broadening his physical horizons as his readers are beginning to expand their literary ones.

[ebt1002 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cute. Very cute.

[camelama_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cute youth book about a cat who wants to do more in the protecting-humans area, by going to space. I could have done with a bit more facial expression (and ears / whiskers / eyes etc) changes in the pages, but it was an amusing read.

[lorren3jackson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Summary:This graphic novel is about a cat who has never left his home. Binky isn't just your normal cat. He as a great imagination and thinks about how he wants to fly to outer space and fight the aliens. His imagine goes wild but each time he tries to go into space he realizes he forgets something.Personal Reaction:I think this is a really good graphic novel because it illustrates a great amount of imagination. This illustrations are kid friendly and overall I would recommend it to everyone.Classroom Extension:1. In the classroom, the teacher could have their students make a list of what they would bring to outer space.2. In the classroom, the teacher could have their students create their out journey and explain where they would go.

[krau0098 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this cute book about a cat who is determined to go to space and fight aliens. The illustration is very cute and well done and it is enjoyable across a large range of age groups.Binky wants to go into space and is determined to build his own rocket to do so. He wants to fight the evil aliens (bugs) that annoy his humans and wipe them out once and for all. But what happens when the space ship isn't big enough and Binky has to choose between his people and space?This book was very funny and very cute. I read it with my 5 year old son and he got a huge kick out of it. The drawings are humorous and very well done and match the story perfectly. This is done in more of a graphic novel format than a picture book format. Lots of great messages to about protecting those you love, the importance of family, imaginative play and accomplishing your dreams...all delivered in a humorous and cute package that should appeal to a broad age group. I can see everyone from small kids to adults getting a good amount of entertainment from this book...especially if you love cats.Overall just an absolutely wonderful little graphic novel that should appeal to both kids and adults. This made me and my son both want to go back and pick up the other Binky Adventures books. Recommended for fans of cats and adventure.

[smiler69 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This little graphic novel was recommended by another LT member, and when she said it would probably be a treat to cat lovers, I got my hands on it as fast as I could. Binky lives with a boy and his mother and is dedicated to protecting his humans from 'the aliens'. He's studied the matter carefully and come to the conclusion that bugs are aliens since they can fly, and so he valiantly catches all the flies that threaten to invade the house. As he's a house cat, everything outside the house is 'outer space' to him, and as a member of F.U.R.S.T. (Felines of the Universe Ready for Space Travel) he meticulously follows instructions to build himself a space ship. But can he leave his humans behind at the mercy of the aliens? An adorable little book which made me smile throughout with it's illustrations filled with amusing details.

[kayceel_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A funny, tongue-in-cheek story of Binky, a space cat who has taken on the important job of keeping his family safe from aliens (bugs). The humor is older than the images might suggest and I'd give this to 2nd to 4th graders. Includes a great page of Binky in a Kung Fu training sequences, complete with red headband across the forehead.Recommended.

[asomers_8 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Binky has a very definite cat "attitude" that all cat loves can identify with. This was a cute story, but I think the vocabulary is too difficult for the intended audience. The language is too difficult for my 2nd and rd graders but the story is a little babyish for my 4th and 5h graders. It is difficult to pinpoint the intended audience for this book.

[kaledrina_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

How many of you have cats at home? Does your cat ever act weird? Probably not as weird as Binky. You see, Binky is a little… well, let’s say he’s a little confused. (It’s nicer to say it that way.) But let’s start from the beginning. Today, Binky FINALLY got a letter from the Felines of the Universe Ready for Space Travel ROCKET SHIP. (F.U.R.S.T. for short) The only problem with that is Binky has never ever been outside of the space station he calls home. Outer space just isn’t safe for ordinary cats – but Binky is not just an ordinary cat anymore. He is an officially certified Space Cat, sworn to protect his humans from alien invaders and travel the galaxy. Read about Binky’s preparations for space travel in Binky the Space Cat, a graphic novel by Ashley Spires.

[ejl_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Binky is a fun story about a cat who has a great imagination. He wants to be a space traveler so he can save his "people' from aliens (bugs). Second and/or third graders will like this book.

[callmecayce · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An absolutely adorable book about a space cat. Really.

[hoosgracie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Adorable story about a cat named Binky who dreams of being a space cat to protect his humans from aliens (bugs).

[kikione_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Binky, the space cat, is a delightful character with a unique outlook on the role he plays in life. He has a wonderful relationship with his humans and feels it is his job to protect them from bugs (aliens). He takes this job very seriously and at the same time entertains us with his silliness. This is a great book to kick start conversations about self-image and purpose in life.

[elizajane_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Binky came to live with his humans as a kitten. He is all grown up and he loves his humans. He has discovered many things about the world with the most important being aliens. Humans call them bugs but cats know better. He decides to leave his space station (house) so he can spend his life saving the universe from aliens but first he must build a rocket. While building his rocket he also spends his time saving his own humans from the aliens but when the rocket is finished he finds he has left something very important behind. This is a truly adorable book! I enjoyed every single frame of it. The story has an amazingly full plot for such a short number of pages. Binky will capture the heart of the intended audience right away. I also hazard a guess that Binky would be enjoyed by cat lovers of any age. The book is very funny, I caught myself giggling out loud more than once. The humour comes out in the illustrations which one wants to linger over as they are full of detail. The author's graphic style of drawing the characters: Binky and the humans (a single mom and her son) are unique and very eye catching. The whole book is done in shades of grey, with faint browns and blues and eye catching pops of red here and there. Gorgeous to look at. A great, fun read that kids are going to love. Recommended!

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Delightful, silly fun!