Lupin Leaps In

Gr 4–7—Dunn presents a second volume in the series that started as a webcomic about her own quirky felines. "News cats" Lupin, Elvis, and Puck each have a unique perspective on everyday life with their humans—Elvis with his no-nonsense determination to get to the bottom of every story, Puck with his tenacious coverage of foodie news, and Lupin as their adventurous (and sometimes destructive) home base anchor. Together they report on household news including cat-tree towers, bird magnets, new babies, holiday costumes, delicious smells, and even the "Gatos de Noticias" (the Spanish-speaking felines who live upstairs). As in the first series entry, Dunn includes many humorous one-page glimpses into the cats' lives, but this time, she doesn't simply rely on brief comic strip laughs; instead, longer arcs draw readers in emotionally. Children will worry when Elvis gets lost in the snow and smile when he finally befriends the tubby, gregarious cat Tommy. Not only do the charming watercolors deftly capture each cat's expressions, but they also add personal touches that convey their personalities perfectly.