What I Loved:

Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday had so many elements to the story that are great for children! There was family, doing the right thing, trying to help, and being honest. I loved how all of these topics were woven into the story!

How I Felt:

The characters center around a brother and sister, Bugsy and Aly. Bugsy believes that he is only able to play golf well with his special golf ball. He doesn’t have the confidence in himself to be able to play well without it. Aly has a good heart with well-intended actions. I liked that her emotions showed a real love for her brother. She wanted him to do well but also wanted him to see that he could believe in himself.

The story starts with Bugsy and Aly getting ready for tournament day. Bugsy has a golf tournament that he’ll play with his dad, which I thought was adorable. In the car, Bugsy realizes he has forgotten his lucky ball and Aly is sent back to grab it. At the golf course, she realizes she has grabbed the wrong ball! She is so sad and wants her brother to be happy and play well. She uses a marker to make this ball look like his lucky ball. Just like many stories of this kind, the trick works until the final moments of the game. Aly is able to show her brother how wonderfully he played without his “special” golf ball.

Aly’s array of emotions and actions in Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday are perfect for a young reader. She gets a little jealous/mad early on, makes a mistake and even though her heart was in the right place, she tries to cover it up. She confesses and apologizes, and she tries to boost her brother’s confidence. I loved how this story took a child through so many events that can happen in their own lives. I think it is a book that can be read again and again, and the reader will continue to get something out of it.

The writing and illustrations are excellent. It’s a short enough story to hold a young child’s attention, but it’s descriptive enough to understand everything that is happening. The artwork is colorful and bright. The animals are adorable and were loved by my daughter!

To Read or Not To Read:

I would recommend Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday for any child. It’s perfect for pre-k through middle elementary. With good lessons and a fun story, this would be great for school and home libraries!

Where to Find This Book:

Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday by Alysson Foti Bourque is available at these sites.

Bookstore.org | Amazon | Goodreads | Mascot Books

A “Mom’s Choice Award Winner”!

Alycat’s brother, Bugsy, is playing in a golf tournament with some of his friends, and wants to use his lucky ball to win the game.

But when Alycat forgets his lucky ball at home, Bugsy learns what luck is really all about.

Can Bugsy win the tournament without his lucky ball? 

Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday is part of the Alycat Series: alycatseries.com.

Check out the Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday Book Trailer!

• Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday by Alysson Foti Bourque
• Series: Alycat
• Genre: Children’s
• Page Count: 32 pages
• Publisher:  Mascot Books
• Pub Date: March 17, 2020

Q: What is your next project?
A: I plan to take some time off this summer to write the 5th book in The Alycat Series. The Wednesday book will be next on the list to release but hasn’t been written yet.

Q: What is the last great book you’ve read?
A: The last great book I read was Finding Gobi by Dion Leonards. Gobi and Dion were actually on my KidLit Picks show right after I read the book, so I was thrilled to meet these two in person. Such an inspiring book that keeps you on the edge of your seat!

Q: How many books in The Alycat Series have you sold?
A: Since 2016, I have sold around 11,000 books.

Q: What are some of the awards and reviews you have received for the series?

A: Awards
• NY Big Book Award,
• 4x Mom’s Choice Award
• Benjamin Franklin Digital Award
• Best Book Award Finalist
• Readers Favorite Award

Reviews
• Kirkus Reviews
• Midwest Book Review
• Booklife Review by Publisher’s Weekly

Q: Your first book of the Alycat series was about dessert. What is your favorite dessert?
A: Tres Leches cake or Funfetti cake. Definitely cake—and cupcakes!

Q: If you were stuck on a deserted island, which 3 books would you want with you?
A: The Bible, Harry Potter box set (if that counts), and The Blue Day Book. All teach survival techniques and provide spiritual and emotional guidance.

Alysson Foti Bourque is the author of the award-winning Alycat series. Alysson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Juris Doctor degree from the Southern University Law Center.

After practicing law for six years, she traded in writing trial briefs for writing children’s books. Alysson enjoys public speaking opportunities at schools, conferences, and festivals nationwide. She hopes to inspire people of all ages to follow their dreams and believe in themselves wholeheartedly.

AWARDS & HONORS

The Alycat Series has won several prestigious awards including:
Three Mom’s Choice Awards®
Benjamin Franklin Digital Award, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)
Best Book Award Finalist
NY Big Book Award
Reviewed by Midwest Book Review
Southern Festival of Books Panelist
Louisiana Book Festival Featured Author

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I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

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