Reviews

Alycat and the Sunday Scaries by Alysson Foti Bourque

mehsi's review

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4.0

I received this book from The Children’s Book Review + Alysson Foti Bourque in exchange of an honest review.

In this newest book in the Alycat series we conquer fear! Have great friendships! And more! I really enjoyed reading this one and I could definitely understand Alycat’s feelings on URGH Monday and not feeling happy that you have to go to school! I loved that her parents just motivated her to go outside and do something fun to distract herself. To just not think about the Monday upcoming! I just loved how Alycat felt already much better when she met her friends and then was totally distracted when she and her friends helped other kitties (other friends) when they were afraid/didn’t dare to do something. Like riding a bike, which can indeed be scary if it is a bigger bike. Or how Eleonor wanted to earn money but didn’t dare to talk to kitties so her lemonade stand wasn’t doing well. I loved how the friends helped out each other and tried to make everyone happy!

And of course, in the end we do get to the Sunday Scaries and I loved how each of Alycat’s friends said something fun about the week so that Alycat didn’t feel so bad and even she saw fun things in the future. I really love how it all came full circle in the end.

Oh, but I was a bit confused at one of the kitties use of cattywampus. I knew the word but wasn’t sure what it meant, but according to Google it means askew/going badly, maybe fierce (which is even weirder given the game)? So she actually doesn’t like hopscotch then? Or does it mean something different in their universe?

The illustrations are, just like in the previous book in the series, a delight! I like the style and I love how each of the kitties is different. You got a white kitty (Alycat), a brown cat (Eleonor), Kit who is a grey striped kitty, and there are others as well. There is even one with different ears. So fun!

All in all, this was a fun book full of heart, friendship, conquering fears, and more! I would recommend it and I cannot wait for the next Alycat book~

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

bookzonereviews's review

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adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

This book made me think of, "That's What Friends Are For" a song written to raise awareness and funds for AIDs research and prevention.

Alycat and the Sunday Scaries is a heartwarming book about addressing fears with the help of friends. It is the second book I have read and reviewed by Alysson Foti Bourque, the first being Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday.

Alycat is afraid of Monday and all the woes it will bring. Thankfully her mom is not about to hear that and diverts her attention to something positive–time outside with her friends. During that time several fears come to light and all the friends dive in to help solve each problem.


What I Liked

- The close friendships displayed--there was no kitten left behind.
- Counting backward is used as a technique to refocus the mind.
- The collaborative spirit of the book.

What Gave Me Pause

- Not a thing!

My Key Takeaways

- In the same way that the song, "That's What Friends Are For" raised awareness and funds for Research and prevention of AIDS/HIV this book raises awareness that children can suffer from anxiety the same as adults.
- A fear unmentioned is a fear that will be left unaddressed. I wish I had realized earlier on in life that by voicing my fears aloud, I would either realize that some of them were silly, and others could be solved with the help of friends or family. God has placed us all here on this earth to love and help one another. He uses us as His arms, feet, hands, ears, eyes, mouth, and heart so that we can experience His love.

My Recommendation

- This book is good for everyone, especially for parents and teachers. It is written by a former teacher who knows about social and emotional growth issues.

Disclosure

I received a complimentary copy of Alycat and the Sunday Scaries from the author via The Children’s Book Review. This review was written voluntarily.

amicarlton's review

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5.0

The beautiful illustrations in this book carry a great message for you and your little ones.

Who hasn’t had a case of the “Sunday scaries” – that dread before the start of the week? Very few people, even if they love what they do with their time, want to do it one hundred percent of the time.

The author and illustrator have worked together to create a beautiful story to help your child overcome the Sunday scaries by reminding them that there are good things to look forward to. To me, this is akin to the practice of “three things” or gratitude journaling, where you consider something good that happened in your day. The concept is that you can always find something. This is kind of like you can probably find something to look forward to in the week.

I’ll admit, even when asked by others on Instagram or similar, I’ve had a hard time answering the question of what are you looking forward to this week. So I definitely needed this reminder! Even worse I feel like my answers always have to do with other people like I’m looking forward to this thing about my daughter or husband. It really helps me evaluate where I am in life when I try to answer these questions. Sometimes, something as simple as a great kids’ book with a great message can open your eyes!

If you know a kid – or a kid at heart – who could use some help with the Sunday scaries or loves cats (like my kid) they’ll probably love this book.

Who’s It For?
This is an adorable book for kids, with a great message that can help people of all ages. The publishers have labeled it as appropriate for ages 4-8, and that seems correct. My 6 year enjoyed it, because she loves cats. She doesn’t totally get the Sunday scaries thing yet – she hasn’t fully got the days of the week thing down – but once she does I think this book will make total sense! The younger ones will love the cats and friendships, the older ones will love the rest of the message.

kaz_loves_books's review

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informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

5.0

Here is my review for Alycat And The Sunday Scaries by Alysson Foti Bourque

This was a fascinating read with well drawn pictures of Alycat with her friends and family on each page. The story starts off with Alycat and her dad. She likes Sunday as it’s a day of fun and games with her friends but in the back of her mind she is anxious about Monday. Alycat reckoned it was going to rain all day, on Monday. She couldn’t find her school shoes and she bet there would be a pop quiz. Her mum told her to enjoy today with her friends outside. Every page shows Alycat and someone or Alycat doing something. There’s a story to be read and followed. There’s tips for a lemonade stall. Thought has gone into each page to promote friendship and kindness and how this helps us work together for a better life for everyone. A very enjoyable read and story, I enjoyed this very much and really enjoyed the pictures. The pictures of the cats are great.

Blurb : 

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 People are talking... 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 . 

nelli_lakatos's review against another edition

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inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

5.0

This was such a sweet story of friendship. 
An amazing and important read for children on how to face their fears. 

I loved all the colorful and adorable illustrations, but most of all the message of the story.

Highly recommend this one to younger readers!
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