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CatStronauts #2
CatStronauts: Race to Mars
In the sequel to Mission Moon, your favorite elite group of cat astronauts are thrust into the space-race of the century! Fresh off of their heroic mission to save the world, the CatStronauts--Major Meowser, Pom Pom, Blanket and Waffles--are taking a well deserved victory lap. Parades and fancy awards dinners are the new norm! But around the world, other cat space programs are watching--in particular the CosmoCats, the first cats to go to space! With national pride and scientific research on the line, the world's space programs rush to be the first cats to Mars, and the CatStronauts are starting months behind! Can they catch up and prove their first mission was no fluke? In this graphic novel, debut author/illustrator Drew Brockington takes the CatStronauts further than they've every gone, adding in mounds of jokes, charm, science, and enough yarn and scratching posts for everyone!
184 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2017
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586 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
July 25, 2017
Catstronauts, Cosmocats, MEOW, and COOKIE
With all these different cat space programs to keep track of, this one was a little annoying. I found it hard to remember who was who. Also, they all seemed so angry all the time. I didn't find a lot to redeem this story. In the end, they all realize that cooperation is the best way to succeed, but meh. I know it's for kids, but I've seen a lot better.
With all these different cat space programs to keep track of, this one was a little annoying. I found it hard to remember who was who. Also, they all seemed so angry all the time. I didn't find a lot to redeem this story. In the end, they all realize that cooperation is the best way to succeed, but meh. I know it's for kids, but I've seen a lot better.
October 11, 2022
Much better than the first book! The mars race is exciting. I still wish it was smarter about nearly everything it does.
May 27, 2017
Adorable with lots of little jokes scattered throughout the dialogue and the backgrounds.
March 21, 2017
gah. I'm in love with this new series.
June 26, 2017
The CatStronauts are back and...they're kind of bored. And not really doing much besides accepting awards and going to free lunches and dinners held in their honor. But then the CatStronauts are called back into action. It turns out that several other space programs around the world are planning Mars missions, and the CatStronauts are the last ones to get involved. Will they lose to the CosmoCats or one of the other two groups, or will they triumph and be the first cats to land on Mars?
In some ways, this volume felt a little more solid than CatStronauts: Mission Moon. For example, the internal logic was much better. However, it also had less of the first volume’s silly fun, and the competition between the various space programs made things a little more tense overall. Sometimes the cats had to prioritize between their “race to Mars” timeline and the scientific experiments they wanted to do once they got to Mars, because there wasn’t enough time to get everything done. Brockington included some nice visual jokes and random references in the background (I noticed Star Wars, Star Trek, and maybe Teletubbies), but overall this volume didn’t seem quite as light as the first one, even though there was less at stake.
Each space program seemed to be analogous to a real-life space program, although I wasn’t 100% certain about one of them. The CosmoCats were definitely Russian, and the COOKIE mission (quick and inexpensive) appeared to be Indian. I wasn’t sure about the MEOW mission. Maybe German? I came across another reviewer who seemed to think it was a stand-in for Luxembourg.
Much of the volume was devoted to showing the various space programs preparing to go to Mars. Anytime someone decided to remove something from their Mars mission “To Do” list in the interest of saving time, or pushed their employees too hard, I wondered if and when it would come back to bite them. The CosmoCats were presented as villains,. One of the top CosmoCats was especially willing to do whatever he had to in order to be the first to get to Mars, setting a grueling pace for their workers and creating terrible working conditions.
In the end, though, this turned out to be a story about learning to work together.I loved seeing Pom Pom and Gemelli bonding over their shared love of science, and it was kind of nice to see that even the oh-so-serious Major Meowser wasn’t infallible. I was also glad that Cat-Stro-Bot got to have a role in this story too, although its part in the story became a little chaotic and confusing near the end.
All in all, the first volume was a little more fun than this one, but this one seemed to be a bit more solid and well-thought-out.
A side note: this volume made me realize that I’d made some character design assumptions that weren’t necessarily true. For example, cats whose eyes were drawn so that they had eyelashes were female, while cats whose eyes were just dots were male, meaning that all the CatStronauts were male. Or so I thought. I don’t know if pronouns were used in the first volume and I just missed them, but the second volume definitely referred to Pom Pom using she/her pronouns.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
In some ways, this volume felt a little more solid than CatStronauts: Mission Moon. For example, the internal logic was much better. However, it also had less of the first volume’s silly fun, and the competition between the various space programs made things a little more tense overall. Sometimes the cats had to prioritize between their “race to Mars” timeline and the scientific experiments they wanted to do once they got to Mars, because there wasn’t enough time to get everything done. Brockington included some nice visual jokes and random references in the background (I noticed Star Wars, Star Trek, and maybe Teletubbies), but overall this volume didn’t seem quite as light as the first one, even though there was less at stake.
Each space program seemed to be analogous to a real-life space program, although I wasn’t 100% certain about one of them. The CosmoCats were definitely Russian, and the COOKIE mission (quick and inexpensive) appeared to be Indian. I wasn’t sure about the MEOW mission. Maybe German? I came across another reviewer who seemed to think it was a stand-in for Luxembourg.
Much of the volume was devoted to showing the various space programs preparing to go to Mars. Anytime someone decided to remove something from their Mars mission “To Do” list in the interest of saving time, or pushed their employees too hard, I wondered if and when it would come back to bite them. The CosmoCats were presented as villains,. One of the top CosmoCats was especially willing to do whatever he had to in order to be the first to get to Mars, setting a grueling pace for their workers and creating terrible working conditions.
In the end, though, this turned out to be a story about learning to work together.I loved seeing Pom Pom and Gemelli bonding over their shared love of science, and it was kind of nice to see that even the oh-so-serious Major Meowser wasn’t infallible. I was also glad that Cat-Stro-Bot got to have a role in this story too, although its part in the story became a little chaotic and confusing near the end.
All in all, the first volume was a little more fun than this one, but this one seemed to be a bit more solid and well-thought-out.
A side note: this volume made me realize that I’d made some character design assumptions that weren’t necessarily true. For example, cats whose eyes were drawn so that they had eyelashes were female, while cats whose eyes were just dots were male, meaning that all the CatStronauts were male. Or so I thought. I don’t know if pronouns were used in the first volume and I just missed them, but the second volume definitely referred to Pom Pom using she/her pronouns.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
February 28, 2023
A fun book in the series, loved meeting new cats, and see the race to Mars!
I was so excited when one of my libraries added books 2 and 6 to the shelves. Yes, don’t ask why book 6, I haven’t seen the other books, but hey, I guess someone wanted this one and they didn’t care to check if maybe they should add the rest. XD Edit in January (wrote the review in December), books 3 and 4 are added~ Whoo!
IN this book we continue the story of the last book, we see how our Catstronauts are having all the parties, all the foods, all the awards, and more. And that people, sorry cats, are jealous of that! Oh yes. And so a fight to Mars comes to the idea and I loved it! OK, I didn’t love those two cats that much (attitude and mean) but I did love the idea of going to Mars. Those award ceremonies got pretty dang boring ya know (and apparently not just for me but for our cats as well).
What follows is a fun chaotic race to be the first and I loved that we met more couples/more space agencies. I loved their names, they made me laugh (and some made me hungry). I did think it was a bit weird how fast everything happened. I mean, time didn’t seem to go that fast, so for my feeling it was just days. But it is probably months because haha, you just cannot make a good spaceship in a day or so. Plus, of course you also have to wait for the right time. Because Mars/Earth need to be on one line and blabla bla.
I loved following the race in space and I loved seeing what all the cats did. From science experiments (dancing fish which we also got to see between the chapters) and figuring out how everything works.
And then exciting things happen and I was just on the edge of my seat! Will everything be fine? Will the cats reconcile and at least do something together? How will they get back? It was just so much fun!
The illustrations were still 100% fun and I love love their style.
All in all, I am happy they added this book and the sixth. I am a bit worried about reading the 6th book without the rest, but I also cannot wait. XD I would recommend this book and I think everyone will enjoy the race!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I was so excited when one of my libraries added books 2 and 6 to the shelves. Yes, don’t ask why book 6, I haven’t seen the other books, but hey, I guess someone wanted this one and they didn’t care to check if maybe they should add the rest. XD Edit in January (wrote the review in December), books 3 and 4 are added~ Whoo!
IN this book we continue the story of the last book, we see how our Catstronauts are having all the parties, all the foods, all the awards, and more. And that people, sorry cats, are jealous of that! Oh yes. And so a fight to Mars comes to the idea and I loved it! OK, I didn’t love those two cats that much (attitude and mean) but I did love the idea of going to Mars. Those award ceremonies got pretty dang boring ya know (and apparently not just for me but for our cats as well).
What follows is a fun chaotic race to be the first and I loved that we met more couples/more space agencies. I loved their names, they made me laugh (and some made me hungry). I did think it was a bit weird how fast everything happened. I mean, time didn’t seem to go that fast, so for my feeling it was just days. But it is probably months because haha, you just cannot make a good spaceship in a day or so. Plus, of course you also have to wait for the right time. Because Mars/Earth need to be on one line and blabla bla.
I loved following the race in space and I loved seeing what all the cats did. From science experiments (dancing fish which we also got to see between the chapters) and figuring out how everything works.
And then exciting things happen and I was just on the edge of my seat! Will everything be fine? Will the cats reconcile and at least do something together? How will they get back? It was just so much fun!
The illustrations were still 100% fun and I love love their style.
All in all, I am happy they added this book and the sixth. I am a bit worried about reading the 6th book without the rest, but I also cannot wait. XD I would recommend this book and I think everyone will enjoy the race!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
February 28, 2022
Read with my 2-year old son. Rough start, but strong finish! He's asked to read the third one, so we'll see how that goes!
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I dunno guys, I loved this one even more than the first one! I'm pretty sure it's because I'm a total sap, and when , I was all, "uh-huuuuuu" *sob* *sob* *tears of joy*. Plus, Uma and Yogi of Cookie? So adorbs!!!
Toooootally excited about book 3, ha!
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I dunno guys, I loved this one even more than the first one! I'm pretty sure it's because I'm a total sap, and when , I was all, "uh-huuuuuu" *sob* *sob* *tears of joy*. Plus, Uma and Yogi of Cookie? So adorbs!!!
Toooootally excited about book 3, ha!
May 22, 2020
Another witty and adorable installment in the CatStronauts series. This middle grade graphic novel features - you guessed it - cats in space. In their newest adventure other teams of space cats decide they all want to be the first to Mars. The CatStronauts are blindsided and hurry to catch up. They can't let the CosmoCats beat them! Witty, punny, and too cute. Kids and adults will love these adorable illustrations!
May 8, 2017
Also very cute. I liked this one better than Mission Moon, probably because the plot was a little more complex and involved other teams of cat astronauts -- who, of course, learn the value of teamwork by the book's end. Aww.
April 29, 2025
Julianna read this book in 2 day. she finished it tonight for homework. It Looks cute. she gives it 5 stars. I found out that this is book 2. she wants book 1 to read it. It's a book she gets in a book bin that each child gets in class. so sometimes the books are given but not always in order.
I haven't had a chance to keep up with all of Julianna's reading lately but she is doing Great! and her reading level is at 3rd grade level so books are harder but fun for her as lately she is into graphic novels for kids :-) sp.she is finding new authors she likes.
I haven't had a chance to keep up with all of Julianna's reading lately but she is doing Great! and her reading level is at 3rd grade level so books are harder but fun for her as lately she is into graphic novels for kids :-) sp.she is finding new authors she likes.
July 9, 2017
Emerson wanted me to read this because he wanted me to get his jokes. I like the story of this one better than the Moon book - there's more of a sense of tension and overall plot.
Side note: I've seen this classified as a "middle grades" book, but to me it's more an early elementary book. The humor definitely resonates well with a 7yo.
Side note: I've seen this classified as a "middle grades" book, but to me it's more an early elementary book. The humor definitely resonates well with a 7yo.
August 20, 2017
I didn't like this one as much as the first one. It's still cute, but a great deal less humorous. This one just felt dramatic, though having all the different space stations come together was an interesting direction to take.
September 1, 2019
This second graphic novel in the series is essentially the race to space, particularly against the Soviet. They don’t mention the Soviets but you can tell by the cat names and such. Four rival teams are racing their way to Mars, years after landing on the moon was accomplished. It’s a cute graphic novel and given the way it’s written and even the plot, it is aimed for kids.
May 30, 2017
Yep. Still cute. :)
July 28, 2018
Aw, teamwork for the win! Another cute installment in a great feline series.
May 22, 2019
Cats and outer space. Need I say more? A very fun read for everyone!
June 30, 2019
Quick & fun read!
This installment of CatStronauts features our heroes return to Earth & a Space Race to mars.
This installment of CatStronauts features our heroes return to Earth & a Space Race to mars.
July 29, 2019
Another cutesy graphic novel, love the story and the message behind it all. A really great graphic novel for kids to learn from!
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October 30, 2021Since this is just a book kitties were able to go to Mars, and what makes it really weird is that there are fish floating around in space. The kitties are scientists studying Mars. I like the drawings of cute kitties. Oh, and the white cat is really grumpy.
November 20, 2022
Love the fish floating through outer space on the chapter pages! Great series.
November 4, 2025
Amazing book! I’m very excited to see what adventure the Catstronauts will have in the next book!
April 4, 2019
This book was really good! I highly recommend this book!!!
November 16, 2021
Another fun entry in the series; my 9yo and I enjoyed reading it together, trading reading back and forth, page by page.
June 25, 2025
This masterpiece is even better than the first book
September 15, 2024
The space race to cats
July 19, 2017
The Catstronauts are back at it again but this time they are in a race to Mars with the space programs Socks, Meow, and Cookie. In this story there was a great message about teamwork to reach a goal and letting go of grudges-it was just as cute and fun as the first in the series.
September 30, 2019
What was the story about?
Cat astronauts exploring space. They were racing to Mars. Their ship broke and Cat-stro-bot came to Mars to save them.
Who were the characters?
Waffle, Pom Pom, Cat-stro-bot, Blanket, Gemelli, Major.
What did you like about the book?
The rocket.
When the cats were sleeping at the end.
Cat astronauts exploring space. They were racing to Mars. Their ship broke and Cat-stro-bot came to Mars to save them.
Who were the characters?
Waffle, Pom Pom, Cat-stro-bot, Blanket, Gemelli, Major.
What did you like about the book?
The rocket.
When the cats were sleeping at the end.
May 9, 2018
The Catstronauts have successfully saved the world from an energy crisis in the first book, and now they're about to be shown up by the Russian Cosmocats in the space race to Mars! Which begs the question, if the Russians (and the Germans and the Italians) have rockets ready to go, why was it up to the Catstronauts to build the solar powered moon base? I still have problems with the solar powered moon base, don't get me started.
Again, the science is ludicrous. I really want it to be better, because these books are cute and fun and there's no reason we also can't sneak a little credible science into them for younger readers. I also wish NASA had the budget these cats seem to-- "quick, assemble another rocket so we can go rescue the Catstronauts stranded just outside Mars' orbit!"
That's not how it works. That's not how any of this works.
3 stars though, because I like the creative problem solving at the end, and the coming together as scientists, despite the fact that they were cats from different countries. We need more of that, so high five for the warm fuzzies.
Again, the science is ludicrous. I really want it to be better, because these books are cute and fun and there's no reason we also can't sneak a little credible science into them for younger readers. I also wish NASA had the budget these cats seem to-- "quick, assemble another rocket so we can go rescue the Catstronauts stranded just outside Mars' orbit!"
That's not how it works. That's not how any of this works.
3 stars though, because I like the creative problem solving at the end, and the coming together as scientists, despite the fact that they were cats from different countries. We need more of that, so high five for the warm fuzzies.
August 16, 2020
5 stars - a stronger plot line, and clear message about teamwork and cooperation. Look for sight gags: the hula girl (er, kitty) on the dashboard of the rocket, and the tiny slug creature on Mars...
Description: Fresh off of their heroic mission to save the world, the CatStronauts--Major Meowser, Pom Pom, Blanket and Waffles--are taking a well deserved victory lap. Parades and fancy awards dinners are the new norm! But around the world, other cat space programs are watching--in particular the CosmoCats, the first cats to go to space! With national pride and scientific research on the line, the world's space programs rush to be the first cats to Mars, and the CatStronauts are starting months behind! Can they catch up and prove their first mission was no fluke?
Description: Fresh off of their heroic mission to save the world, the CatStronauts--Major Meowser, Pom Pom, Blanket and Waffles--are taking a well deserved victory lap. Parades and fancy awards dinners are the new norm! But around the world, other cat space programs are watching--in particular the CosmoCats, the first cats to go to space! With national pride and scientific research on the line, the world's space programs rush to be the first cats to Mars, and the CatStronauts are starting months behind! Can they catch up and prove their first mission was no fluke?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews