Reading: CAT NINJA - Matthew Cody (author), Yehudi Mercado (illustator)

Prose (Story): Claude is an ordinary gray cat living a good life with his eleven-year-old boy owner and the kid's family in Metro City. But whenever danger strikes. Claude dons the costume of his alter ego - Cat Ninja! - and strikes out into the city against the forces of evil, using all the skills he learned as a kitten from his revered old ninja master. In volume one of a projected series, Cat Ninja takes on several foes - none so deadly as Master Hamster, who in his alter ego is "Mr. Squeaks", the pet of Claude's owner's young sister - before realizing a bigger enemy with much dire plans looms on the horizon; one he and Mr. Squeaks may have to work together to vanquish!

Don's (Review): Mind you, this is from a dog person: I love this book! Reading like part chapter book and part graphic novel, Cat Ninja's Cartoon Network-worthy artwork by Yehudi Mercado combines perfectly with the snarky, often very funny one-liners and jokes from the mind of writer Matthew Cody. Kids will love the story and characters, as well as the look of the book's colorful and lively palette, but adults reading it to them (or even for themselves) should also take equal pleasure from the characters and story being "in on the joke" even while taking things seriously - which of course makes things even funnier. I loved this one so much, soon as I was finished reading it I read it again; it's one of those books that, when you finish it, you'll wish you could run out and buy ten copies of, just to give each away to someone you love, who could use both a good story and a good laugh. 4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.