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Zig is a mischievous-looking little red alien; Wikki is his best friend, a sentient computer. Together, the two are always getting into trouble. Once again, Zig has forgotten to do his homework. So, on his way to grandma’s house, he figures he’ll complete his current assignment: to bring a pet for the class zoo. However, homework becomes an adventure when his buddy Wikki accidentally steers him to a strange planet called Earth. Armed with a shrink ray and a net, Zig and Wikki head out to capture a creature. But it seems that it is feeding time on planet Earth, as one creature becomes food for another, and another, and another. Will Zig and Wikki wind up part of the food chain? More importantly, will Zig get his homework done?

This is another attractive entry in the Toon Books line, for a slightly older audience than Benny and Penny or Little Mouse. While it is fun and educational, SOMETHING ATE MY HOMEWORK lacks some of the charm of other Toon Books. This is no fault of the tremendously appealing, cartoony, brightly colored artwork. Rather, it’s the slightly stale story that makes this book drag ever so slightly. The wacky hijinks of Zig and Wikki feel tacked on to a well-done but fairly standard illustration of the food chain. Ramping up the educational value are additional facts about the creatures Zig and Wikki encounter; they're interspersed throughout the text via Wikki’s forehead screen. Instead of detracting from the text, these factoids, gross and strange, will go a long way to endearing this book to young readers.

Despite not feeling particularly fresh, SOMETHING ATE MY HOMEWORK is a fun, educational read, and young comic fans definitely will want to see more of Zig and Wikki.

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