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Binky #4

Basile et Gordy le génie

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Binky the space cat has been promoted to lieutenant. He's now in charge of training the next generation of space cadets. But then he meets the new space kitten -- who isn't a kitten at all! Is someone trying to pull the fur over his eyes? Binky and Captain Gracie need to figure out the new cadet before the next alien attack!

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

38 people are currently reading
274 people want to read

About the author

Ashley Spires

48 books217 followers
Ashley has written and illustrated many books, most notably the bestselling The Most Magnificent Thing, which is now a short animated film. She creates books that remind kids that making mistakes is integral to learning. She lives in British Columbia with her dog and a growing army of felines.

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5 stars
532 (45%)
4 stars
338 (29%)
3 stars
213 (18%)
2 stars
44 (3%)
1 star
37 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
5,213 reviews2,341 followers
September 8, 2017
Binky gets a new cadet to train

Binky expected a cat to arrive, he was to train the next Space Cats. But it was not a cat that came to live with them. He has to train something else. Clever and cute.
Profile Image for Vanessa Wolf.
Author 22 books2 followers
January 16, 2013
A NetGalley first reads
The author of this review received an advance copy for an honest review


A clever story for children, "Binky Takes Charge," follows the continuing adventures of Binky the Space cat (though I haven't read the others and apparently you don't need to have read the others to understand the story).

Binky is excited to train the next generation of space cadets, kind of the way I was excited to get a little sister, but the "next generation" is not what Binky was hoping for, but a surprise assignment. So I'd recommend it particularly for parents expecting a second kid and not sure how to prepare their current child for the event.

But it is more than that, its a hilarious story about accepting others for their differences instead of 'in-spite-of' and a cute story for those in a multi-pet household. Its a wonderfully illustrated story, the artwork tells much of the story in expressive design.

I recommend it for older fans of Skippy Jon Jones, Pete the Cat, and grown-ups who liked Calvin and Hobbs.
Profile Image for Suzanne.
2,246 reviews45 followers
July 19, 2013
I decided I was in the mood for a little pet humor, so I read Binky Takes Charge. For those of you that have not yet encountered Binky and his adventures, he is a space cat. As a member of F.U.R.S.T. he lives in a space station (a human house) and prepares to defend it against aliens (insects). F.U.R.S.T. stands for Felines of the Universe Ready for Space Travel. It is an organization made up entirely of cats, until this adventure. Suddenly F.U.R.S.T. has become P.U.R.S.T. and includes any pets who show the ability to fight aliens.

Poor Binky! He has been planning how to train a new kitten in his home, but the humans bring a puppy named Gordon. Binky can't believe it. Gordon doesn't even know how to use a litter box. How can someone that has accidents on the carpet fight aliens? He begins to suspect that Gordon is actually an alien spy.

The illustrations are very funny. They show Binky writing up his training plan, waiting to greet the new recruit, and the very disgusted look on his face when he sees the puppy. Then we watch as Binky tries to train him to be a space cat, the activities that make Binky think Gordon is a spy, and the final solution. The colors are not the super bright tones used in comic books, but that does not make the pictures dull. The expressions on the faces of Gordon, Binky, and his friend Gracie will make you laugh out loud - and so will the idea that Gordon is leaving secret messages for the aliens in his puppy poo.

As you know, my house has dogs - not cats. But Binky goes on my list of cool cats along with Skippyjon Jones and Pete the Cat.

I read an e-book copy provided by Kids Can Press through NetGalley.
Profile Image for Dolly.
Author 1 book671 followers
October 5, 2012
I must say that our girls love, love, love Binky. I like the stories, but they love them and laugh uproariously at the funny little cat and his adventures. Our girls will run around the house saying "poot!" for days after reading one of these tales. The illustrations are hilarious and the stories are fun, quick reads.

I thought the new addition to Binky's household was an interesting twist, and our girls loved taking turns reading the dialogue. I didn't find this book quite as entertaining as Binky to the Rescue, but our girls thought it was great and they are really getting into reading more and more graphic novels. They really hope that there will be more books published in this series.

May update: We read this one again because we thought it was new. But now we see that the next tale, Binky: License to Scratch is expected out in September 2013, Yay!
Profile Image for Ginny.
1,371 reviews17 followers
March 1, 2013
As always, the space station is a safer place with Binky around.
In this installment, Binky has a new cadet to teach...but is Binky cut out for being a teacher? Or is his new student just too much to handle.
But wait, what is this about his student being a possible alien spy?! Oh no! What will happen?!

Read to find out
Profile Image for Kathryn.
978 reviews3 followers
August 24, 2015
Summary: Basile et Gordy are weird extraterrestrials set to save the world.... but they look like pets. It's kind of fun.

Why I Read This: I'm trying to better my french. And these were in the French children's section at my Library.

Review: OK. This was kind of fun. I won't lie. It explains some things that pets do around the house, but gives it fun backstory. It's kind of awesome.
Profile Image for Christiane.
1,247 reviews19 followers
January 2, 2013
Further charming adventures of F.U.R.S.T. officer Binky the cat. Binky is excited about being given the responsibility of training a new agent, but does not expect that the new recruit will be a puppy! Fans of the earlier stories will enjoy this as well.
Profile Image for Charlie.
574 reviews32 followers
August 21, 2014
I really appreciate how the plot twists in this series always come as such a surprise for me, and they never seem gloating about it either. That's a rare and lovely quality in a book.
23 reviews
March 24, 2016
Title: Binky Takes Charge
Author: Ashley Spires
Illustrator:
Genre: Graphic Novel, Comic
Theme(s): Fiction, Imagination, Comic Book, Cats, Outer Space
Opening Line/Sentence: A whole new space cat or at least there will be when Binky is done training him.

Brief Book Summary:
This book is about a cat that is called lieutenant and supposes to train other cats to become cadets. When Binky was expecting his new recruit he was surprised to see a dog instead of a cat. Binky went about and tried to train the dog of his lesson plan for the cadet. When the cat became hopeless to think the dog would never be trained he assumed that Gordon the dog was a spy. Binky found out eventually that the dog was actually a expert in technology. The dog took all the pieces that he needed to build a fly zapper around the entire house.

Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Tricia Reese (Resource Links, December 2012 (Vol. 18, No. 2))
Binky is back and as clever as ever. Binky has been promoted to lieutenant in F.U.R.S.T. (Felines of the Universe Ready for Space Travel) and he has big responsibilities. He must train a new recruit. Binky, having had to train himself, understands the importance of this mission. He is ready to be the best teacher that he can be - until he finds out that the new cadet isn t even feline! It seems F.U.R.S.T. has become P.U.R.S.T. (PETS of the universe ready for travel). The cadet is Gordon, a dog, who pees on the floor and doesn t nap well. Binky enlists the help of Gracie, but even with the two of them it seems Gordon will never be ready to do battle with the aliens. Binky is ready to give up on Gordon when he begins to notice some unusual activities. The aliens seem to be particularly interested in Gordon s business - is Gordon really a double agent sending messages to the aliens in his poo? Accusing someone of being a traitor is serious business, Binky and Gracie will have to conduct surveillance to find out for sure. A fun, fantastical look at not judging a book by it s cover. The Binky series is a light and refreshing introduction to graphic novels. Binky is an inside cat who is responsible for protecting the world from aliens (insects) that come from outer space (outside). It is not necessary to read the previous three books in the series but they do provide some background and are as well done as this one. The story relies equally on the text and the ink and watercolor illustrations. Spire s illustrations are engaging; the comic strip style providing support for those new to graphic novels. Her humour is bang on for this age group, with the quintessential potty humour thrown in for big gaffaws. This book would appeal to graphic novel newbies, reluctant readers and anyone just looking for a giggling good time. Highly recommended. Also available in French. See p. (A Binky Adventure) Category: Fiction Grades 3-6. Thematic Links: Space; Cats; Humour; Graphic Novels. Resource Links Rating: E (Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!), Gr. 3-6. 2012, Kids Can Press, 64p., Hdbk. $16.95. Ages 8 to 12.

Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Alicia Cheng (CM Magazine, December 7, 2012 (Vol. XIX, No. 14))
And thus begins Binky's mission of training the next generation of space cadets - Gordon...the new family dog. Binky is understandably upset, especially since the new space kitten is not a kitten! Plus the Feline of the Universe Ready for Space Travel has become Pets of the Universe Ready for Space Travel, which now allows all animals to train and fight against aliens. Lieutenant Binky and Captain Gracie must figure out how to train this new cadet and discover his secrets before the aliens attack! Binky devises a plan to train Gordon, but things didn't go as planned. Gordon has "no coordination, no brains, and no self-control." He can't seem to learn anything that Binky tries to teach him. Binky begins to suspect that Gordon may be the enemy! Is he sending coded messages to the aliens? If Gordon is a double agent, Binky and Gracie will need evidence and proof. After a surprising alien attack, Binky discovers that Gordon is not who he seems to be. There is more to him that meets the eyes. Who is Gordon? Is he a spy, or will he be the first non-kitten space cadet? Ashley Spires again brings excellent humour into this new Binky Adventure. This fourth instalment in the series is a graphic novel with a simple design and clean line panels, visually appealing with the use of watercolour illustrations. A fresh idea is mixed in with potty humour boys old and young will love! A cat who's serious about his calling as a lieutenant trainer for PURST, who's also a bit of a snob against non-feline animals, a dog who may be a double agent, and laugh out loud hilarious moments in the story, all make Binky Takes Charge perfect for reluctant readers, young readers, and older readers who will know that there is a lesson to be learned in this latest adventure. Not to judge a book by a cover, but what's not to love about Ashley Spires' new graphic novel? Highly Recommended. Rating: **** /4. Grades 2-5. (A Binky Adventure series) 2012, Kids Can Press, 64 pp., pbk. & hc., $8.95 (pbk.) and $16.95 (hc.). Ages 7 to 10.

Response to Two Professional Reviews:
The first professional response is more of a description of the entire book. I did like how both professional reviews stated about the humor the author placed in this book for the young readers, which was present. I personally did not really like this book but I see how young children will like this book and the humor that the cat displays. I did like how the second professional review made the comment about the title that “Binky Takes Charge” but how there is a lesson in this book for the readers to see that happens to Binky.

Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The layout of this book takes on the comic strip style. The words to tell the story were much shorter than words seen in paragraph form on other books. The pictures in this book are very detailed for the reader to understand and make connections on what is happening in this story. I also like in the illustrations how there was noises wrote out and illustrations to portray the movement that was going on in the scene. This book did have a plot and and some children can take this book as "don't judge a book by its cover" with anything in their life because the cat judged the dog in the beginning. This could be the lesson that children learn from this book.

Consideration to Instructional Application:
In the end of this book the author touches on the idea of teamwork and even though the cat and dog are different they can still work together with each other. For literacy lesson in the classroom based off this book the teacher and students can have a discussion on what teamwork looks like on a chart. When the book is finished students can go back to their seats and create their own story using the comic book format about teamwork. The comic format can be fun and different for students and another way for the students to become familiar with different styles of writing stories.
Profile Image for Diane.
7,287 reviews
November 28, 2019
“It all starts today. A whole new mission. A whole new adventure.”

Being a lieutenant means that Binky is now expected to train other cats to follow in his alien-fighting footsteps. Because Binky had to train himself when he was a kitten (which didn’t always go so well), he understands just how important it is to help these new recruits. He is positive he is up to the challenge. And then the recruit arrives ...

How can a dog be a Space Cat? Binky works for F.U.R.S.T (Felines of the Universe Ready for Space Travel). A dog isn’t a feline after all. But when the recruit arrives, it comes with a letter. They are now P.U.R.S.T and any pet that shows the values and skills necessary to be a space cat will be considered, even if they are not feline. Diversity is important and “We are all united in the fight against aliens.”

But this new recruit, Gordon, can’t seem to do the simplest things. This has to be a mistake. Or is he really a double agent?
Profile Image for Lydia.
1,117 reviews49 followers
December 19, 2017
Space cat Binky is so pleased! After his last performance review, he's been promoted and will be allowed to start training cadets. Then his first trainee arrives and he is considerably less pleased, as it isn't a cat but a dog! Turns out the space cat program has decided to take all pets that show aptitude so Binky is stuck, unless he can prove the dog to be a wash-out or a traitor.

Usual Binky level of crazy story, but what annoyed me was the bathroom humor went overboard on this one. That'll drop you a star every time. Otherwise it was a pretty amusing story.

No issues other than the bathroom humor and if you enjoy pets peeing on carpets and investigating each others' bowel movements than you will love this.

Profile Image for Becky B.
9,333 reviews184 followers
January 19, 2018
Binky has made progress in the F.U.R.S.T. ranks and is now about to train his first recruit. He's both excited and nervous. But when the recruit shows up, Binky is sure there's been a horrible mistake.

Ah. Ok, I've read one of the P.U.R.S.T. adventures before and reading this I now understand how that organization fits in with Binky's. I know. It's my fault for reading them out of order. There's a twist in the ending I didn't necessarily see coming. These graphic novels are great for reluctant readers and animal lovers. They are short and feature lots of cute animals.

Notes on content: Only aliens (aka insects) are hurt. Some bathroom humor.
Profile Image for The Book Squirrel.
1,631 reviews15 followers
January 4, 2025
2 stars for me, 3 for the kids.

This is the first Binky book I've read, and I suppose that might have something to do with why I liked it ok but wasn't enthralled. Kids will certainly like it more than I did.
The cat thinks he's in a space academy and is about to train his first recruit, but the recruit is a dog! Surely a dog can't be a space cat! In the end, the cat sees that the dog is rather intelligent, having turned the whole house into a fly zapper (flies being the "alien" enemy).
Profile Image for Carol.
1,371 reviews
December 7, 2020
My brain has been in the mood for fun and light reading and Binky is providing exactly that. How I love this cute little cat. In this volume we see him training a new recruit, but he is not what he was expecting and things might be dangerous for Binky and Gracie as space cats. It was fun seeing this new player into the mix. The family keeps on growing.
Profile Image for Lindsay Ross.
446 reviews7 followers
July 9, 2018
"No carpets were peed on in the making of this book. There was a hairball on the stairs, a serious case of kitty-litter foot and one mysterious poo nugget in the bedroom, but all rugs remained dry and urine-free."
19 reviews
March 10, 2020
Binky is a cat. Gordon is a dog. Binky trained Gordon to get bugs, but Gordon is not a good learner and does not use the litter box to poop/pee. She steals human's things, so they think she's a spy. But she's not a spy and she has a lab to make a bug zapper. I think this book better than "Binky the Space Cat."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Theresa.
4,115 reviews16 followers
February 19, 2022
A graphic novel about a housecat named Binky. As a F.U.R.S.T. space cat, he protects his home and humans against ‘aliens’. He’s promoted to lieutenant and assigned to train the next generation space cat. But then new cat turns out to be a dog. Cute!

Profile Image for Amanda Sanders.
684 reviews2 followers
September 17, 2023
Binky is now ready to train new recruits on how to battle aliens and protect humans. He is excited to meet his new recruit and then shocked that the recruit isn’t a cat. Binky learns that diversity can be a good thing.
Profile Image for Suzann.
312 reviews
September 4, 2019
I was mildly entertained by this story of a space cat who is assigned to train a dog for the program. While I loved the concept, I just don't think Binky has the charm of the Catstronauts.
Profile Image for Emma.
4,964 reviews12 followers
July 29, 2020
Everyone has different strengths.
Profile Image for Diana Flores.
848 reviews4 followers
March 5, 2022
I didn't know this was #4 in the series, but I caught on rather quickly and really enjoyed this short graphic novel! I'll look for the others in the series as well.
Profile Image for R.
2,255 reviews6 followers
December 16, 2024
Cute and another new character arrives! Kinda gross...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews

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