Review:The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Shawn Harris.
Quick Info:
Book Type: Graphic Novel
Target Age: 7-10 years old
Recommended Age: None to 10+ years old
Plot: After scientists discover that rats are eating the moon their solution is to send a cat to take care of the problem. With the help of the moon queen and toe-nail clipping robot the first cat in space starts his adventure.
Review:
This book was honestly a bit hilarious in ways I did not expect. The Rat King being reminiscent of an actual rat king entanglement got a genuine gasp out of me and the little “toe-nail clipping robot” trying to find its purpose in life throughout the story was a funny contrast to the silliness of the book. That being said there are a few pages where characters are either depicted shirtless or at the beach (3 pages tops) and I am not a big fan of gross=funny. There was a mild message of friendship and finding your place in the world but the main purpose was a silly and entertaining story.
Opinion:
I put none to 10+ years old because depending on the child and parent there are some who won’t be able to overlook the beach/shirtless scenes and others who will. If your child really wants to read a graphic novel, this isn’t the worst that is out there as many depict extreme unIslamic morals. This one is just a big weird/gross. The shirtless/beach scenes are shown below with the excerpts.
Content:
Cartoony shirtless men (once when moths eat the teacher’s shirt and a couple of beach scenes with a character in swim trunks)
Mythical creatures (ex: werewolf)
A cat has a brain “enhanced with microchips”
Weird cartoony drawing of an evil scientist’s toenails
Prophecy for “the one who will save the moon”
A drawing of a beach scene where one character is in swim trunks for 3 pages and there are women’s backs depicted (though they are very small and hard to see and nothing with the men or women is intended to be proactive )
Excerpts:
Excerpts from books are a glimpse of the content that is found and are not every instance of un-Islamic and/or “iffy” content.
Context:
Because the rats are eating the moon creatures are acting weird. Moths have decided to eat this teacher’s sweater, leaving him shirtless for this page and only this page.
Context:
A robot is created to clip this mad scientist’s toenails. Her foot is brought up maybe one or two other times. It’s just a little gross, although some children may find it humorous.
Context:
The characters asl a yeti for his fur to make clothes so they can venture off to “the dark side of the moon” leaving him nearly nude for only this page.
Context:
This is the beach scene where the army general decides to go on vacation.
