Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. The Voodoo Vultures from Venus by Dav Pilkey

Ill. by Dan Santat. Scholastic, 2014. ISBN 9780545630115.
(Ages 7-10) Recommended. Aficionados of the Captain Underpants books will lap up this full coloured graphic novel featuring the inimitable mouse Ricky Ricotta and his amazing Mighty Robot.
Ricky and his Robot are banned from watching TV, having arrived late for dinner for the third time in a week. Fortunately they were honest and obeyed the ban as Victor Von Vulture and his Voodoo Vulture army, currently residing on Venus, decided to relocate to Earth, where the food was better, and chose that night to send a message to all TV screens hypnotising the town's residents.
Ricky and his Mighty Robot realized something was amiss when there was no food in the house, and later discover that all the mice at school were carrying food straight from the cafeteria to the middle of town muttering 'Obey the Voodoo Vultures.'
Ricky decides he must save the town and destroy the Voodoo Schmoodoo 2000, the remote control keeping everyone in Victor's power. With the help of his Mighty Robot, some hot peppers from Mexico and a feather Rick prevails the Voodoo Vultures return to Venus and Victor is sent to jail.
With a Flip-O-rama section, reminiscent of the Captain Underpants books, encouraging readers to animate the final fight sequence and add sound effects, I am sure this book will prove popular with our reluctant readers.
Sue Keane