cbr17bingo B (for Batcat)
When you find yourself reading a series, there are only two options. The first, only read one and hope that you can live with any open ending or continuation to the story unanswered, or two, be like me with the series Batcat and try and read them all! Volume 3 of Batcat is Batcat V03 Cooking Contest! by Meggie Ramm. This time there is more fun and cuteness from Batcat (who is a nonbinary, part bat and part cat creature) and their ghost pal Al (who is part ghost and part well…they are a full ghost).
There are no surprises to how things go or at the end (with maybe one small thing), but there is a heavy leaning towards acknowledging the fourth wall. Or at least Batcat does this obvious nod. Al is just clueless. What he is not clueless about is cooking. What he is also clueless about is what to actually cook. Of course, the usual issues happen (worry, anxiety, listening to everyone’s advice) and then Al realizes what they must do to win the contest at the local carnival. And Batcat’s job is to eat all the food in a food eating contest that they enter (it is not your usual food eating contest as it does take the cake for creativity).
The ending is simple, win or lose it is the love of the food and friendship. This all comes together with medium text and brightly colored illustrations. Things are kept on an easier note, without being too overly simple. The ages the book is aimed at is at least a strong five and up to be read too and at least 7 to 10 (though a younger up to 12 or 13) to solo read. I am hooked on this series as it is just odd and quirky. There are moments where I am not loving everything, but I do appreciate things. The humor and take on things is modern, but the buddy story is pure classic.