Lucas the Spy Cat (Jake the Growling Dog) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Jamie Burns

Lucas the Spy Cat by Samantha Shannon and illustrated by Lei Yang is a captivating children’s book with vivid illustrations and an adventurous storyline. In this story, the biggest question is what does Lucas, The Spy Cat do under the cover of darkness the night provides? His family hopes to discover exactly that when they strap a camera to his collar. However, will Lucas find a way to disarm the camera before he begins his nightly mission? The reader is taken through various possibilities of what Lucas might do with other animals helping him plot missions. Each mission includes different ways to help animals. The illustrations and speech bubbles draw readers to details that might be missed about the mission. The author-illustrator duo seems to challenge the reader to find all the animals that need Lucas’s help. The back of the book includes engaging activities for children to complete. Overall, this book is bound to be a new favorite for any child who loves animals or ninjas.