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I was first attracted to this Canadian title by the cover, which hinted to me the possibility of a comic style within and it turned out I was right! There are plenty of nonfiction books about invasive species, but this one stands out for several reasons.
First, it's a combination of a typical nonfiction layout, with pictures, words, inset paragraphs, facts, graphs, etc. and comic panels, both fiction and nonfiction, but mostly adding a fun twist by putting in imagined dialogue or events. Second, it's the first children's book about invasive species that's brave enough to name feral cats. It handles a touchy subject in a neutral fashion, and this is, in fact, the approach taken throughout, explaining why the animal is destructive, how it came to invade, listing some ways scientists have tried to stop it, and then leaving the question open-ended for readers to discuss.
The third reason this title is attractive is because of the length and layout. It's 10x8 inches, not a full picture book, but hitting a nice note between those who won't consider nonfiction because it looks like a picture book and those who can't or won't read anything longer and complex. The text and panels are nicely broken up but the narrative runs smoothly, so kids can focus on each section, bookended by brief panel sequence of the introduction and conclusion. The animals are generally focused around North America, with a few mentions of Europe and Australia, but as a call to action most readers are likely to be in these areas and encounter these animals. Nicholls' cartoon-style illustrations and panels are a nice accompaniment to Kaner's humorous text and this is likely to appeal to a wide range of readers.
Verdict: A strong addition to most nonfiction sections, this will intrigue readers and spark some good discussions in book clubs and classrooms. Recommended.
ISBN: 9781525304460; Published 2022 by Kids Can Press; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library
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