Review by Ian Keogh

Bentley’s on a school trip to the museum, and is more interested in the hieroglyphics than Cat Ninja in action outside. That’s because they seem to picture him, yet date from ancient times in Egypt. The solution to that is revealed with the arrival of Hoot, an owlet from the future who in her own way is as lonely as Bentley.

There’s no need for anyone to know this spins off from Cat Ninja, produced by two of the five creators as Matthew Cody and newcomer Colleen AF Venable plot a completely standalone adventure, although Cat Ninja does get a cameo. Bentley is a cautious, studious kid, and Hoot an impulsive live wire, so it’s a combination that clashes, and Bentley has exactly the type of analytical brain needed to solve a puzzling problem once the pair arrive in ancient Egypt.

Chad Thomas goes with simple, expressive cartooning, the best way to communicate with young readers, but his characters are appealing throughout. He’s also able to incorporate the wacky and out of place, no matter the location.

That’s needed because ancient Egypt is just one stopover as Bentley shifts a little more toward home and the flash cards he needs for the maths test the following day. Never mind feeding Leondardo da Fishy. It’s Marcie Colleen who actually writes most of the book, picking up on Cody’s out there sense of humour as Bentley and Hoot also head back to a cowboy town and meet Leonardo da Vinci as you’ve never seen him before. On several occasions.

Time Buddies is good natured fun, and just in case parents worry about the creators playing fast and loose with history, they fess up at the end and point out what didn’t really exist.