Gordon: Bark to the Future!

by Ashley Spires, Ashley Spires (Illustrator)

Overview

It's all up to Gordon now. His partner has been captured. His superior officer has been neutralized. And his distress calls to P.U.R.S.T. (Pets of the Universe Ready for Space Travel) have gone unanswered. That means he must fight the aliens alone! But Gordon's not a fighter — his deadliest weapon is his mind. So what's a genius dog to do? Time travel, of course! He'll use his new time machine to travel back in time, then he can stop the invasion before it happens. But there's a malfunction: instead of sending him back five days, the time machine sends him back five years! And now he's out of fuel! With only his wits to depend on, can Gordon get back to the future in time to save his friends and his humans?

This laugh-out-loud junior graphic novel is part of Ashley Spires's hugely popular P.U.R.S.T. Adventure series. Gordon the dog is a favorite character from Spires's companion series about Binky the cat. Not too text-heavy, these titles are perfect for emerging readers, though the nonstop action, melodrama and physical comedy make them popular with all children (and adults, too!). With lots of details to look for in the artwork — such as hilarious sound effects and animal facial expressions — these titles are terrific for developing visual literacy in beginning readers. This story showcases the character education attributes of responsibility, courage and perseverance.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771384100
Publisher:	Kids Can Press
Publication date:	05/01/2018
Series:	P.U.R.S.T. Adventure Series , #2
Pages:	72
Sales rank:	1,073,119
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Ashley Spires grew up in the Pacific Northwest, the supposed stomping grounds of Bigfoot. She is the author and illustrator of a number of books for children, including Small Saul and the Adventures of Binky the Space Cat. She was the recipient of the 2011 Silver Birch Express Award and the 2011 Hackmatack Award for Binky the Space Cat and was shortlisted for a Joe Shuster Comics for Kids Award and an Eisner Award for Binky Under Pressure. Ashley currently lives in British Columbia.

Ashley Spires grew up in the Pacific Northwest, the supposed stomping grounds of Bigfoot. She is the author and illustrator of a number of books for children, including Small Saul and the Adventures of Binky the Space Cat. She was the recipient of the 2011 Silver Birch Express Award and the 2011 Hackmatack Award for Binky the Space Cat and was shortlisted for a Joe Shuster Comics for Kids Award and an Eisner Award for Binky Under Pressure. Ashley currently lives in British Columbia.

Editorial Reviews

As Gordon would think: more fun than a game of ball.—Kirkus Reviews

... ridiculous in the best way and sure to be a crowd-pleaser.—Booklist

Spires once more offers strong writing, and her adorable and quirky cartoon illustrations are well composed.—School Library Journal

... fun and appealing for emerging readers and adults alike.—Quebec Library Association

This fun and quirky story is a great introduction to the graphic novel format for readers looking to move on from picture books.—Resource Links

... an easy, light read ...—CM Magazine

Children and teachers alike will find this fast-paced science fiction adventure engaging as they get to know its cast of personable characters.—School Library Connection

From the Publisher

04/01/2018
Gr 1–4—This latest spin-off from the "Binky" series, which centers on an imaginative cat who thinks he's an astronaut as he explores space (the backyard) and battles aliens (insects), focuses on Gordon the dog, Binky's companion and a fellow member of Pets of the Universe Ready for Space Travel (P.U.R.S.T.). In this installment, aliens have invaded, P.U.R.S.T. is incommunicado, and Binky and friends are incapacitated. Now it's up to Gordon to save the day. He decides to use his new invention to travel back in time to a few days ago and prevent the invasion. However, he ends up five years in the past, and his troubles only get more complicated. The tale has the same visual humor and funny narration that endeared readers to the "Binky" books, but Gordon is a strong hero in his own right. Initially he tries to solve his problems the way his friends would, but he learns that their strengths are not his. Spires once more offers strong writing, and her adorable and quirky cartoon illustrations are well composed. VERDICT Sure to please fans of the "Binky" graphic novels while drawing in new ones.—Rachel Forbes, Oakville Public Library, Ont.

School Library Journal

2018-02-19
Can a trip back in time save Pets of the Universe Ready for Space Travel and the humans they protect from being overrun?Agent Gordon is usually the pup on the spot when P.U.R.S.T. needs tech help—not combat—but it appears he is the only agent left. His partner, Binky the Space Cat, has been captured. The P.U.R.S.T. commander has been trapped…and the humans in Gordon's space station (depicted as an ordinary suburban house) have been chased away by aliens (dastardly flies). Gordon needs a technological fix, so he uses a prototype time machine to travel back five days to stop the invasion. However, a nefarious alien (a literal bug in the machinery) changes the setting, and Gordon goes back five years. He can't change anything, or the ramifications for the future could be catastrophic. He can't leap forward because he's out of fuel; he needs the help of P.U.R.S.T….but five years ago, dogs were the enemy. How's a dog gonna save the future? Spires' second post-Binky graphic tale in her ongoing series is wry, dry, and adorable. As always, the animal characters do not speak, but their expressions and body language (and the hilariously deadpan narration) tell the tale across the small panels drawn in muted tones. Newcomers to P.U.R.S.T.'s human fan club will want to start at the Binky-beginning when done.As Gordon would think: more fun than a game of ball. (Graphic fiction. 6-11)

Kirkus Reviews