Double Booking: The Tail of the Mummy Cat

Book Review of Double Booking: The Tail of the Mummy Cat
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The Children’s Book Review

Written by Chas! Pangburn and Kim Shearer

Illustrated by Nic Touris

Ages: 7-12 | 128 Pages

Publisher: Papercutz  (2024) | ISBN-13: 978-1545809280

What to Expect: Friendship, Egypt, adventure, sibling differences, magic, and cats.

In Double Booking: The Tail of the Mummy Cat, readers embark on a unique graphic novel adventure. They can physically turn the book upside down to read the story from a different perspective, adding an interactive twist to the reading experience!

An unexpected work assignment means Otto and Nan will spend the summer visiting Egypt. Nan is super excited; she wants to be a travel blogger when she grows up, just like her mom—and this is the perfect opportunity for her to practice her writing. Otto is not super excited—he’s having to miss art camp to go to Egypt, and this is NOT the perfect opportunity to practice his comic drawing. Or… is it? While Nan makes new friends and revels in discovering more about Egypt’s fascinating history, Otto gets up and personal with that history as he attempts to free the soul of a trapped ghost kitten from the clutches of an overbearing mummy. This thrilling adventure forms the heart of the story, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. However, they won’t be able to share their separate Egyptian adventures without a bit of help from Maat, the goddess of truth.

Otto and Nan, like most siblings, see the world in very different ways, and this two-in-one story helps readers literally see what each sibling misses when they stay blind to the other’s perspective. The comic book format is perfect for this doubled perspective, as it allows the reader to see each scene both from outside and within the narrating character’s mind and provides fascinating snapshot views of some of Egypt’s most iconic sights. The clever use of color, perspective, and line in the illustrations convey not just expressions and scenery but personalities and perspectives, from Nan’s rigid way of seeing the world to Otto’s slight awe of his big sister. This portrayal of sibling dynamics is sure to resonate with readers, making them feel connected and empathetic. Interspersed throughout the adventure(s) is a treasure trove of facts about ancient and modern Egyptian language, culture, and religion. 

Double Booking: The Tail of the Mummy Cat offers a unique opportunity to learn about ancient and modern Egyptian language, culture, and religion. Both fun and informative, readers will enjoy this invitation to see Egypt—and maybe their siblings will, too—through eyes other than their own.

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About the Authors

Be it as a writer, editor, and/or letterer, Chas! Pangburn puts words in balloons for a variety of publishers across the industry. He’s been fortunate to have known Kim Shearer, his co-writer and big sister, since birth, so the highs and lows of sibling life are second nature to him. Which, speaking of, their mom says it’s now his turn to play on the Nintendo.

Kim Shearer has been a public educator for twenty years, serving students as an English teacher and librarian. She was named the 2012 Kentucky Teacher of the Year. She resides in Kentucky with her husband, her two daughters, and her two rescue dogs, Elmer and Gordie. She’s also a pretty amazing big sister to her co-writer, Chas! Pangburn.

About the Illustrator

Nic Touris is a dork who likes comics so much that he’s illustrated enough to fill a bookshelf. His art is full of bright colors and silly characters. When he’s not drawing, he plays DnD and cooks fancy food, but not at the same time. Nic is a cat person but also a dog person.

Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of Double Booking: The Tail of the Mummy Cat. Learn more about getting a book review …