Juvenile Fiction

To the staccato of snare drums and the riffs of jazz bands, a Fat Tuesday ruckus ensues. Two bitter rivals take to Jackson Square to battle for control of the Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans. As the hair flies and the claws come out, the pups in the Krewe of Barkus and the felines of the Krewe of Meoux vie for supremacy of the streets. Amidst swishing tails and dangerous footwork, the cool cats and hot dogs battle in a winner-take-all dance-off! The festive animals compete to be top dog or top cat once and for all. In this “catcophony,” who has the right voodoo to claw their way to the top? Will it be the Persians and calicos or the bulldogs and pugs? In this bright, bold, and very hip story of two New Orleans rivals, author and illustrator Lindsay “Bones” Cordero” brings to life the colorful world of the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux.

"Original, beautifully illustrated, and . . . extraordinarily memorable from start to finish . . ." —Midwest Book Review

The Sherman family doesn't have very much, but they take good care of one another and are generous to others, making gingerbread cookies as holiday gifts and carefully decorating them to look like friends and neighbors. Then, one Christmas Eve, after the family returns home from delivering their gifts and everyone falls fast asleep, something magical stirs, born in a star of snow, that will change their holiday—and their lives—forever. Inspired by a real rural tradition from the foothills of the Green Mountains, Enchanted Night Before Christmas is a timeless fantasy that reminds us the most powerful gifts are the ones we give away. (Includes a scrumptious gingerbread spice cookie recipe from King Arthur Baking Company.)

A tale familiar to 1,000s of New Hampshire school children told and illustrated by locals Eric Pinder & T.B.R. Walsh.

Stray cat Nin drifts from house to house until he meets a meteorologist named Mark. Then Nin begins his greatest journey yet—to the top of Mount Washington. Follow Nin to a land where the wind howls, snow swirls and wild bears roam. At the Mount Washington Observatory, Nin learns that the best friends—and a wonderful home—can be found anywhere, even high above the clouds.

When Alycat's daydreaming causes her to miss out on Dessert Day at school, she will need to rely on her imagination to satisfy her sweet tooth! With the help of her best friend Spotty, she discovers that trying new things can lead to fun adventures and tasty inventions. A recipe is included at the end of the story to assist young readers in creating their own dessert.

The themes of the books in the Alycat Series all reflect a reliance on friendships, imagination, and creativity towards problem solving. The character traits of Alycat and her friends inspire and encourage young readers to find their own special gifts.

An original and entertaining delight from cover to cover, Alycat and the Thursday Dessert Day is especially recommended for family, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections. —Midwest Book Review

Alycat and the Thursday Dessert Day provides colorful, enticing illustrations to keep the young reader engaged throughout the book! —Independent Book Publishers Association

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The Alycat Series features: Alycat and the Thursday Dessert Day, Alycat and the Monday Blues, Alycat and the Friendship Friday, Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday, Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday, Alycat and the Sleepover Saturday, and Alycat and the Sunday Scaries. The books in this series have won more than 17 awards, including the NYC Big Book Award, the Mom's Choice Awards, and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards; have been featured in Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly; and have appeared in the Oscars celebrity swag bag and the Grammy Awards gift bag. Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, featured Bourque and her life-size mascot, Alycat, on her popular YouTube channel Little Red News.

Alycat wakes up on Monday with the dreaded Monday Blues, certain that nothing will go right. But when a mishap sends her astray, she discovers that helping a friend will lead her to discover her own hidden talent and cure her Monday Blues! Find the original song, Monday Blues, on iTunes, YouTube, and Apple Music!  The themes of the books in the Alycat Series all reflect a reliance on friendships, imagination, and creativity towards problem solving. The character traits of Alycat and her friends inspire and encourage young readers to find their own special gifts.  “[A] charmingly illustrated [and] deftly written picture book for children ages 4 to 7, Alycat and the Monday Blues will prove to be a unique and extraordinarily entertaining addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections.” —Midwest Book Review  Alycat and the Monday Blues has been named among the best in family-friendly media, products, and services by the Mom’s Choice Awards.

Alycat’s teacher has something special planned for Friday: a field trip! But when a new student joins the class, someone feels left out. Can Alycat use her creativity and imagination to help everyone feel included?  The themes of the books in the Alycat Series all reflect a reliance on friendships, imagination, and creativity towards problem solving. The character traits of Alycat and her friends inspire and encourage young readers to find their own special gifts.  “A thoroughly charming and entertaining read for children that also holds an important social lesson about inclusion, Alycat and the Friendship Friday is very highly recommended for family, elementary school, and community library picture book collections.” —Midwest Book Review  Alycat and the Friendship Friday has been named among the best in family-friendly media, products, and services by the Mom’s Choice Awards.

Join Cecilia on a heartwarming New Orleans adventure to find her lost best friend, Kitty!

After Cecilia catches “Kitty” at a Mardi Gras parade, the two become inseparable. Cecilia takes Kitty with her everywhere—City Park, the mall, Grandma’s house—until one day Cecilia wakes up and Kitty is gone. Teaming up with her parents, Cecilia then retraces her steps, looking high and low for her little best friend.

Based on a true story, this playful tale shows that the love in a kid’s heart can extend to the ends of the earth—or at least to the ends of the New Orleans metro area. Don’t miss your chance to join the search party and follow Cecilia to some of the city’s most iconic spots!

Happy Halloween! Come join parent and child cats for Halloween fun in best-selling author-illustrator Martha Day Zschock's Hello! rhyming board book series for children.

In Hello, Halloween!, join the cats for a day filled with autumn treats, costume parties, trick or treating, and spooky, silly fun.

"Science doesn't freak meowt!"

Alycat is excited that it’s Science Fair Day, but why is her classmate copying almost everything about her, from the shirt she’s wearing to the project she’s doing? Soon Alycat learns, through patience and kindness, that two similar things can be better when they work together. This latest addition to the kitten picture-book series includes STEM themes plus instructions for making your own glitter volcano!

Bourque's entertaining and captivating story brilliantly showcases the importance of having supportive friends who encourage and uplift each other through life's ups and downs. Their teamwork, kindness, and positive attitudes are not only admirable but also inspiring. -- The Children's Book Review

READERS' FAVORITE 5-STAR REVIEW!

It's Sunday, the day before the school week begins, and Alycat is nervous. She just knows that Monday is going to be the Mondayest Monday ever! On the playground, Alycat realizes she isn't the only one suffering from the Sunday Scaries. It's hard to ride a bike. What if Kit falls? The treehouse is so high. Will Spotty make it safely back down? The kittens band together to overcome their fears, but can they turn the Sunday Scaries into a Sunday Funday? The themes of the books in the Alycat Series all reflect a reliance on friendships, imagination, and creativity towards problem solving. Fans of Alycat and her friends will enjoy spotting references to the kittens' daily adventures within these pages. Tips for a successful lemonade stand are included

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The Alycat Series features: Alycat and the Thursday Dessert Day, Alycat and the Monday Blues, Alycat and the Friendship Friday, Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday, Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday, Alycat and the Sleepover Saturday, and Alycat and the Sunday Scaries. The books in this series have won more than 17 awards, including the NYC Big Book Award, the Mom's Choice Awards, and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards; have been featured in Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly; and have appeared in the Oscars celebrity swag bag and the Grammy Awards gift bag. Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, featured Bourque and her life-size mascot, Alycat, on her popular YouTube channel Little Red News.

Santy's arrival by johnboat is announced by a ruckus between his pet raccoon and Paw's coonhound. After a feast of ham biscuits, Maw and Paw open their musical gifts, and Santy joins in on the frollicatin'.

A rhythmic jazzy story in verse, Jazz Cats tells about the escapades of some real cool cats that know how to entertain. Their jazz combo plays together in the streets of New Orleans. From the blow of the clarinet and trumpet to the pluck of the fiddle base and beating the trash can drums, these Dixie, dancin’, jazz cats know how to have fun.

Vibrant illustrations highlight the details and bring these hip cats to life in such memorable surroundings as Preservation Hall, Café du Monde, and Jackson Square.

Experience the lively atmosphere, the easy-going people, and the rich heritage of the French Quarter, all from the perspective of a few swingin’ jazz cats. They are always ready for a party and are in the right town for just that.

Alycat wakes up to seafood gumbo for breakfast, and even though her house is the first stop for the school bus, the bus is already full when she boards. Alycat’s whole day is turning topsy-turvy. What is happening? Young readers will tag along on Alycat’s adventures during her very “cattywampus” Wednesday and learn that a little help from some friends and a good attitude can make your day!   The themes of the books in the Alycat Series all reflect a reliance on friendships, imagination, and creativity towards problem solving. The character traits of Alycat and her friends inspire and encourage young readers to find their own special gifts. People are talking . . . “When things aren’t purr-fect, what do you do to add a paws-itive spin to your day? Kids will fall in love with this topsy-turvy story of Alycat’s dreamy day going a bit cattywampus!” —Dion Leonard, New York Times bestselling author  “Change can be scary and difficult to cope with, but Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday helps readers to understand that positive thinking and the right mindset can help make new or uncertain circumstances feel exciting and fun instead. This entertaining and gentle story illustrates important strategies for coping with change, such as reaching out to friends and thinking creatively.” —The Children’s Book Review  The Alycat Series features five titles: Alycat and the Thursday Dessert Day, Alycat and the Monday Blues, Alycat and the Friendship Friday, Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday, and Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday. The books in this series have won more than 17 awards, including the NYC Big Book Award, the Mom’s Choice Awards, and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards; have been featured in Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly; and have appeared in the Oscars celebrity swag bag and the Grammy Awards gift bag. Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, featured Bourque and her life-size mascot, Alycat, on her popular YouTube channel Little Red News.

Alycat is planning a sleepover with her friends when Luna calls. Alycat has trouble hearing her friend over the crackling phone line, but it sounds as though she can’t come to the sleepover and that she has a very big secret to share. When the rest of the kittens arrive, they gather to play games and tell spooky stories. What if Luna’s news is as terrifying as the stories of alien dogs and giant mice the kittens tell around the campfire?   The themes of the books in the Alycat Series all reflect a reliance on friendships, imagination, and creativity towards problem solving. In this adventure, the characters of Alycat and her friends show young readers that things aren’t always as scary as they may seem.   A sleepover checklist is included!   Look for the rest of the books in the award-winning Alycat Series!    Alycat and the Monday Blues Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday Alycat and the Thursday Dessert Day Alycat and the Friendship Friday

Can Alycat's brother, Bugsy, win his golf tournament without his lucky ball? Find out how Alycat’s mistake turns into a valuable lesson for all.  The themes of the books in the Alycat Series all reflect a reliance on friendships, imagination, and creativity towards problem solving. The character traits of Alycat and her friends inspire and encourage young readers to find their own special gifts.  “This sweet and beautifully illustrated story will capture young cat fanciers and parents who want to teach their children about self-reliance. Great for fans of Stan and Jan Berenstain [and] Janette Sebring Lowrey.”  —BookLife Reviews  “Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday is very highly recommended and certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to family, elementary school, and community library collections for young readers.” —Midwest Book Review  Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday has been named among the best in family-friendly media, products, and services by the Mom’s Choice Awards.