In this hilarious illustrated adventure meet Mr. Puffball, a medium-size feline with a big dream! With amazing humor that appeals to both kids and adults as well as funny illustrations throughout the story, Mr. Stunt Cat to the Stars is perfect for dreamers, movie buffs, and fans of Timmy Failure and Stick Dog. He's a hero for today. Or possibly tomorrow. He's a cat. He's awesome. And . . . wait for it . . . he's going to Hollywood to become a famous movie star! Follow Mr. Puffball on his trip cross-country. (Look at all the postcards to Mom!) See him stumble upon Hobowood! (Not as glamorous as Hollywood, but full of beans.) Watch him land at last in Hollywood, where he meets a cast of thousands (or at least half a dozen) and catapults himself into the next best thing to being a famous movie working as a stunt cat to his movie star hero, El Gato!
I an the author/illustrator of the middle grade series starring Mr. Puffball. My first picture book, Everybody Says Meow, has cats AND a dog, a duck, and more (and I drew them!) My other two picture books are Tiny Spoon vs Little Fork (illustrated by Dan and Jason,) and Itty Bitty Betty Blob (illustrated by Micah Player.)
I like bookstores, museums non-scary movies, swimming holes, and taking walks with my old beagle, Louie.
Hands (or I should say paws) down, Constance Lombardo’s love for all things feline shine through her fun illustrations and text in Mr. Puffball: Stunt Cat to the Stars, an entertaining graphic novel for readers from grades 3-7. Constance admits that Mr. Puffball is a mix of all the cats she’s ever loved. “Cats have funny, pensive faces, come in so many different colors, stripes, patches, etc. I can't look at a cat without imagining a speech bubble. They've got lots of personality and like to do their own thing and most of them do want to be movie stars!”
Mr. Puffball’s egotistic-yet-adorable voice is communicated in the opening lines. “My name is Mr. Puffball, and this is my story. It all started in a little town called New Jersey, home to such famous American landmarks as my house.”
His life is changed forever when he sees the movie, Cow-Cats & Aliens starring El Gato. From that moment on, this precocious kitten decides he must become a movie star. Despite nay-sayers among his siblings, his mother fuels his dream by telling him about his great-grandmother Zelda, a star in Cleocatra meets The Mummy.
That’s all the inspiration Mr. Puffball needs. With his tiny replica of Mr. Gato tucked into a cloth waistband and a newspaper ad for a movie audition for The Great Catsby, Mr. Puffball leaves for Hollywood and sends postcards home to his mother.
Having just experienced a recent close run-in with Kansas tornadoes, I appreciated this illustration:
Unfortunately, fame and fortune don’t come as easily as expected. Metro-Olden Meower studios is closed and Mr. Puffball is twenty years late for the audition. His audition at Purramount Studios falls flat. But when Chester Grumpus (the producer of such great movies as The Sound of Meowsic and Attack of the 50 Foot She-Cat) takes him under his wing (err…his paw), Mr. Puffball meets three friends who help get his career off the ground.
Despite his excellent audition in Nine Lives to Live, Mr. Puffball only receives a part as an extra. Nine Lives is “a classic western with handsome heroes, sinister villains, and old-fashioned rattlesnakes… [the hero] El Gato is after Billy the Kitten, who square-danced with El Gato’s one true love, Veronica, even though she prefers ballroom...They steal Billy the Kitten’s ten-gallon hat, which turns out to only hold five gallons. Laughing about their misadventure, El Gato and Veronica ride into the sunset where they hope to open a hotel with a water slide.” (p. 96)
Determined to make El Gato notice him, Mr. Puffball lands himself a job as his stunt cat and becomes Bruiser’s prodigy: “Ride bad-temper horse now! Going backward! Faster! Don’t fall or you be trampled. See what I tell you?” (Hmm… Wonder whose dialogue Constance mimicked here?)
Hilarious scenes ensue that both children and adults will enjoy. Mr. Puffball rides in El Gato’s limousine equipped not only with cup holders and a mini fridge, but also a climbing wall and catnip. At a night out at the Brown Tabby, he eats fish tacos, plays with Wacky String, and meets Rosie, a (cute!) fellow Kung Fu Kitty.
Although the illustrations will draw readers in, the "a-hero-isn’t-always-who-he-appear-to-be" plot is clever and inspirational. Mr. Puffball’s adventure culminates at the opening night of Nine Lives.
Constance finishes the story with a flourish, a flash-mob, and a glossary that made me laugh out loud. I can't wait for the sequel--fortunately, she is already working on it. Constance writes, “In the next two books, Mr. Puffball will continue pursuing his biggest dream: to be a movie star! Wherever he may travel, whatever television, modeling, stunt or corporate work he takes on, he always keeps his eyes on the Oscar!”
I don’t want to spoil this book for you. Let me suggest you catapult this book onto your “to be read list” and discover a catacophony of puns and a memorable story about a remarkable tabby cat.
As a cat person, this little chapter book appealed to me at a spiritual level. I saw that it was about a cat and a stunt cat at that and I got all grabby handsy because I NEEDED IT. Was this book as cute as it sounded? The answer to that is YES YES AND YES. *throws confetti in the air*
This is such a cutesy little book about a young cat that wants to be a movie star. The kitten runs away from home and travels across the country to follow his dreams and along the way he makes a bunch of friends.
This is the kind of book you’d want to read aloud to kids because it is so fun but also it has so many important messages about believing in oneself and learning to accept that people are not perfect. Not even your idol. People (I MEANT CATS) are not perfect and you should not expect them to be, but you should also remember to value your friendships and appreciate those around you.
THE END.
Jk.
ARE YOU KITTEN ME RIGHT MEOW?
(I am sorry, I think I am funny).
Mr.Puffball was the perfect cat to lead this show and I just want to shake his paws for the marvelous job he has done in portraying the typical struggle of a cat. He is a kind hearted kitten who is so lovable and he grows up over the course of the book as he becomes more comfortable within his fur.
Basically, if you love cats you should read this, if you love cute books you should read this, if YOU ARE ACTUALLY A CAT, you should read this.
Note that I received an eARC of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Young readers drawn in by Constance Lombardo's dashing cover cat will find themselves cheering for Mr. Puffball as he leads them on a pun-filled heroic journey through early cinema. Charming, stylish, and full of heart, Mr. Puffball is a cat to watch. (In black-and-white, of course!)
2.5 on my blog only because the illustrations are wonderful. This story is definitely way too long for the target age group, and has some boring spots where many children would put the book down and not return. The scenes with blood and punching are not appropriate for the intended audience ages, which is too bad because it has great messages to impart. I wish I could pre-advise every new Children's author to get the opinion of several grade applicable teachers about appropriate content. l would not have let my son read this as an MG, and doubt he would have kept reading it through the rough patches anyway. I was approved for this eARC through Edelweiss in return for an honest review. I will not be reviewing this on my Children's book blog because it is less than four stars.
Another humorous installment in this series. (I read book 2 first! Whoopsie!) It is funny, has lots of funny/great references to stuff kids may or may not know about, but either way, I think having pictures that are cartoonish and similar to diary of a wimpy kid, plus less daunting text, this series will be a hit with my elementary students!
This was an adorable and amusing read. Mr. Puffball's journey to Hollywood and entering the world of acting came off as realistic. At times, certain representations of people came off as stereotypical. I enjoyed all of the feline twists and references to well-known films and actors/actresses (both classic and modern), and locations in Hollywood (and elsewhere). The drawings added to the story and was fun looking at the small details incorporated. Overall, if you are looking for a quick read to lighten up your day or help introduce children to the world of acting and the film industry, this is a good choice to go with.
In this hilarious illustrated adventure meet Mr. Puffball, a medium-size feline with a big dream! With amazing humor that appeals to both kids and adults as well as funny illustrations throughout the story, Mr. Puffball: Stunt Cat to the Stars is perfect for dreamers, movie buffs, and fans of Timmy Failure and Stick Dog.
He's a hero for today. Or possibly tomorrow. He's a cat. He's awesome. And . . . wait for it . . . he's going to Hollywood to become a famous movie star! Follow Mr. Puffball on his trip cross-country. (Look at all the postcards to Mom!) See him stumble upon Hobowood! (Not as glamorous as Hollywood, but full of beans.) Watch him land at last in Hollywood, where he meets a cast of thousands (or at least half a dozen) and catapults himself into the next best thing to being a famous movie star: working as a stunt cat to his movie star hero, El Gato!
I love this book! It's funny and has animals in it. It's a great book i would tell kids and my friends to read it. I read all the time! It's also short and easy so for people who don't like to read much will probably love this book to!
The author sent me a review copy to share with my #BookRelays group. This fun middle grade graphic novel tells the story of how Mr. Puffball became a Hollywood stunt cat. This book is filled with cat puns and clever, nostalgic movie jokes. For middle grade kids who like a funny rags to riches story, this would be a fun book to share with them.
When I saw this title was available on Edelweiss, I couldn’t help but download it. Mr. Puffball: Stunt Cat to the Stars sounded like such a cute read–and it was! The adorable story was complimented by illustrations, which helped to make the book even more hilarious than it already was. I’m not joking when I say that every other page I was either smiling or chuckling about cat-related humour. I devoured Lombardo’s book in one sitting because it was both short and a delight to read.
THE PUNS, you guys, THE PUNS. The Sound of Meowsic, The Great Catsby–this book was filled with ‘em. Movie titles, star names, film production companies...you name it I was a little confused to start with because I thought this was set in the human world, but nope, it’s Hollywood for cats. Well, there are some dogs present, but they don’t make too much of an appearance. I will say that even though I’m a dog person, I definitely enjoyed this one immensely.
The illustrations were a bit tricky to look at, because I was reading this one on my Kindle and some of them had little speech bubbles so I had to squint to read some of the little funny comments or to see what on earth was going on with these cats. It was super cute, but when you have to read this book interlaced with illustrations that describe the action that happens (replacing words), it can be a bit tedious. Obviously, I doubt this will be a problem with a physical book, but for an ebook on a Kindle, this made reading a bit tedious. Nonetheless, the illustrations were super cute!
A fantastic book for kids that is guaranteed to make readers of all ages laugh, Mr. Puffball: Stunt Cat to the Stars is the perfect story for cat-lovers, aspiring film stars and film buffs, and anyone in need of a good laugh. I can’t wait to read more adventures of Mr. Puffball in Hollywood!
Mr. Puffball I wish you were my cat, but then, I would have to give you up to follow your dreams, wait! You're already doing that...in Hollywood! This highly illustrated MG novel is truly uproariously hilarious, and I'm not someone who laughs out loud. I found myself snort-laughing at Mr. Puffball's numerous lists, his whacky but believable encounters with quite a cast of characters and his innocent sense of humor. What I love about this novel is that every one has a dream, even if they don't know it yet, so it's very relatable. Mr. Puffball follows all the right rules and breaks a few on his way to achieving his life-long dream .. even if what he thought he wanted changes!
While I was reading this novel, I kept thinking that if there had been more books like this when I was a reluctant reader, I would have had the courage and interest to keep reading and push myself to read "big" (as in pages) books. Instead I read picture books until it was too embarrassing to walk to the "kiddy" section. Enough about me. Even at my age, I'm thrilled to have read Mr.Puffball and thrilled that Constance Lombardo will be writing more in this series.
Summary: Ever since Mr. Puffball was a kitten he dreamed of starring in show business, and he is determined to make his dreams come true. He writes postcards to his Mom as he is on his way to Hollywood, and then is elated when he gets his first audition. However, Puffball soon sees making a living in Hollywood will not be easy, as he fails many auditions. However, he soon finds his calling as a stunt cat. Best of all he is the stunt cat for the most famous cat in Hollywood: El Gato. He gets a lot of bumps and bruises along the way, but he gets to hang out with the best Hollywood stars. He may even get to realize his dream of being a Hollywood Star after all.
Recommendation: This is a great book for kids who like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dork Diaries, and Big Nate. This book is dialogue along with a bunch of neat artwork; it is like a comic book but in novel format. Both boys and girls can relate to this novel because it is about a cat. It is just a funny book to read for pleasure.
Mr. Puffball is a cat with a dream. Following in the footsteps of his hero El Gato (a cat celebrity), Mr. Puffball strikes out on his own to become a star. Set in the cat version of Hollywood, the story is narrated by Mr. Puffball, and readers experience the ups and downs of stardom, as Mr. Puffball becomes a stunt cat instead, but continues to pursue his goal of becoming a movie star. Written in the format of an illustrated novel (similar to MY LIFE AS BOOK or STICK DOG), this book will appeal to cat lovers (the story puts a cat "twist" on names and references). Mr Puffball meets many characters along the way, adding to the adventure and plot. The text is lengthier than the aforementioned books, and illustrations are reminiscent of graphic novel panels. The author/illustrator has included a glossary at the end of the book explaining the movie references she uses in the book. Humorous story with a message about idolizing celebrities.
In Mr. Puffball: Stunt Cat to the Stars, aspiring actor-cat, Mr. Puffball, heads over to the Hollywood Hills to make his dreams come true, as he was throughly inspired by El Gato and the legacy of his great-grandma Zelda. Along the way, Mr. Puffball encounters the rejection and challenges of show business, but ultimately finds his way happily and never turns off his cat-tastic attitude. This middle grade graphic novel was cute and very anthropomorphized! There are many play on words that turn ordinary movies into their cat alternation. Overall, this book was enjoyable, but I lost interest towards the end because the story just became somewhat corny. But I would recommend this book to middle grade readers who like cats.
Books can be funny, but make my stomach hurt from laughing? Not too many do that. But, I just found one. Mr.Puffball, even as a kitten, knows his destiny is to be a Hollywood Star. He makes his way to Hollywood and suffers disappointment and despair. But, with the help from Hollywood veterans he makes his way first as an extra, then as a stunt cat and then as an understudy. Will Mr. P “break a leg?” Not yet. More ridiculously funny mishaps await him. It’s aimed at the kids’ market, but the sly humor tickles grownups, too. The line drawings add extra giggles as you read. A great pick for reluctant readers.
You must meet Mr. Puffball. He deserves to be in the pantheon of those part of the esteemed club of clutching your golden form.
He is the ultimate triple threat - actor, singer and dancer.
He has tweaked his whiskers, dealt with difficult Hollywood stars (and even met El Gato), threw himself into harms way as a stunt cat, hopped between studios from MGM and Purramount, gulped down fish tacos, and dined and danced at the Brown Tabby.
You will not find a better feline to respresent Hollywood with his extensive skill and knowledge.
His talent manager, Constance Lombardo, deserves an award too - from the WGA.
This book was really cute, and I absolutely loved the illustrations. The story itself was funny, but adding in the silly illustrations just made it that much better. Despite all of the silliness of the book the story was told beautifully, the boring parts were cut from being in prose and a picture or two (or several) outlined what had happened. All in all I give this book a 9/10. This book was great, everything you could want out of a kids book, humor, good lessons, and a lovable cast.
Mr. Puffball has dreamed of becoming a movie star like his hero, El Gato, ever since he was a small kitten. But, when he finally arrives in Hollywood, it is nothing like what he expected—and neither is El Gato. Luckily, Mr. Puffball befriends some Old Hollywood cats who teach him everything they know about show business, and he rises up the ranks to Stunt Cat—and beyond! Older elementary readers will enjoy Mr. Puffball and the fun comic-style illustrations throughout the book. While some of the references may go over their heads, there is a glossary with more information in the back.
This is funny and delightful story for young readers (8-12 years old). Mr. Puffball adventure to become a movie star. A lot of laugh, funny illustrations and a lesson for a reader. There are parts in the book that I personally don't think they fit this group age , but it is a book that kids will love.
This is an adorable book for children. When I received a copy from a Goodreads giveaway, I gave the book to my cousin, who is in second grade. The book is a little challenging for her, but she tells me she is enjoying it.
Mr Puffball the cat has dreams of becoming a movie star just like his hero, Mr Gato. But when he runs away to Hollywood, is Mr Gato as heroic as Mr Puffball thinks? Give this to animal lovers and 1-4th graders with big dreams. Regular child-like pen and ink drawings enhance the story.