Stunt Cat to the Stars (Mr. Puffball #1)

by Constance Lombardo (Author) Constance Lombardo (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Series: Mr. Puffball
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!
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School Library Journal

Gr 4-6--Mr. Puffball is a medium-sized feline who knew he was different even when he was a mere kitten. After watching the old movie Cow-Cat & Aliens, which stars the world's greatest movie star, El Gato, he realizes his destiny--to be a Movie Star Actor. Readers follow Mr. Puffball on his cross-country trip to Hollywood where he ends up at Purramount Studios. Here he "catapults" himself into the next best thing to being a famous movie star: stunt cat to his movie star hero, El Gato, who turns out to be different from what Mr. Puffball expected. The text is accompanied by humorous black-and-white line drawings. Though the story line and design hint at a younger audience, the narrative is too long for the chapter book crowd. There are places where the pacing slows and many readers will lose interest. The scenes where El Gato pranks Mr. Puffball or loses his temper drag on a bit too long. Although the book ends with a good message, "it's not the whiskers that make the cat, it's what we do with them," it takes a committed reader to reach the end. VERDICT This title is best suited for middle grade readers who appreciate animal fantasies, stories about Hollywood trials and triumphs, and humorous cat drawings.--Paula Huddy, The Blake School-Highcroft Campus, Wayzata, MN

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

Mr. Puffball, a determined and optimistic cat from New Jersey, has his eyes set on stardom in this quirky, humorous debut. Although Mr. Puffball doesn't know much about showbiz, he is certain that his theatrical talent will land him a dream job in Hollywood. He journeys across the country, sending postcards to his mother and eventually settling in with a crew of friendly feline has-beens, whose coaching helps him land his first role ("I play a character named Extra," he explains excitedly). When Mr. Puffball meets his movie-star hero, El Gato, his life really begins to change. Cat-themed pop culture puns (The Sound of Meowsic, The Great Catsby, Catsablanca) permeate--or is that purrmeate?--the story, as do Lombardo's scraggly b&w cartoons, which are a big part of its unflagging energy and humor (Mr. Puffball looks a bit like a fame-seeking cousin to Nicole Rubel's Rotten Ralph). Emotions run high and dramatic moments are many, but Mr. Puffball's positive attitude and growing understanding that good friends are what matter most light up the pages. Ages 8-12. Agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (Sept.)

Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"I couldn't resist buying this insane book!"—Tom Angleburger, New York Times Bestselling author of the Origami Yoda series and Crankee Doodle
Constance Lombardo
Constance Lombardo began drawing when she was 10 years old, inspired in part by the Illustrators Annuals her dad brought home from the advertising agency where he worked, and in part by her sister doing a drawing and getting lots of attention. She's the author/illustrator of the middle grade Mr. Puffball series (HarperCollins) the picture book, Everybody Says Meow, and Hippo Park's hilarious Tiny Spoon vs. Little Fork. She lives in Asheville, NC with her family. @conlombardowrites

Micah Player began his illustration career desiging and illustrating for Paul Frank Industries. He is the author/illustrator of the picture books Chloe, Instead and the Lately Lily series (Chronicle Books). He is the illustrator more recently of two books by Lucky Diaz: Palatero Man and La Guitarrista (Harper). He lives in a little house beneath a giant tree in the Utah mountains, with a lovely schoolteacher (and wife) named Stephanie. They are the parents of two kids, one Yorkshire terrier, and several Casio keyboards. Micah's Instagram, where he shares his own illustrations and words express his feelings about the current state of the world, and is a terrific place to get to know him. @micahplayer
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780062320650
Lexile Measure
660
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
HarperCollins
Publication date
September 29, 2015
Series
Mr. Puffball
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV002050 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Cats
JUV031030 - Juvenile Fiction | Performing Arts | Film
Library of Congress categories
Cats
Self-confidence
Conduct of life
Motion pictures
Production and direction
Actors and actresses
Stunt performers
Actor and actresses
Stunt performance

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