ALYSSON FOTI BOURQUE

Teaches Real-Life Lessons Kids Can Relate to with Her Alycat Series

by Melissa Fales

Through her award-winning Alycat series, former teacher and former attorney-turned children’s author Alysson Foti Bourque gently teaches her young readers valuable life lessons about ingenuity, self-confidence, and friendship. In her latest book, Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday, Bourque explains that everyone has a bad day once in a while, and that sometimes all we can do in response to a topsy-turvy day is to take things one step at a time. “The character Alycat represents all of us: the dreamers, the doers, and even the vulnerable,” says Bourque. “Everyone can relate to her at one point or another. She’s happy when she succeeds, sad when dessert runs out, and can feel left out or misguided at times. But all in all, she realizes that no matter the circumstances, she can fix any problem with her imagination, creativity, and the support of her friends and family.”

Books were a vital part of Bourque’s childhood, but she claims she was more of an avid listener than an avid reader. “My favorite activity was to sit and listen to my mother and grandmother read books like Happy Birthday, Moon by Frank Asch and Best Word Book Ever by Richard Scarry,” she says. “I even remember as a seventh-grader gathered around my Whole Language teacher’s chair listening to her read books like The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank.” Even then, Bourque recognized that books held a certain magical power. “Reading wasn’t just about the words and pictures,” she says. “It was about sharing a special moment with someone as we embarked on an imaginary tale or true story.”

Bourque was inspired to become a lawyer after watching the film Legally Blonde. “I felt empowered to overcome society’s perception of lawyers and show that you don’t have to change who you are to be successful in your career,” she says. “I may be a 5-foot woman who is underestimated at times, but I know how to stand up for what I believe in, and I know my self-worth.”

Bourque earned an elementary education degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. “I knew I wanted to become an attorney after undergrad school but realized I could go to law school with any undergraduate degree,” she says. “This opened a whole world of possibilities.” She dabbled in meteorology and biology before settling on elementary education. “I figured that the student teaching, writing, and rigorous planning would get me ready for law school, and I could always teach if I didn’t end up practicing law,” she explains. 

While Bourque only worked as a teacher for one year, long enough to earn tuition money to attend law school at the Southern University Law Center, she considers the classroom experience priceless. “That one year of teaching first graders how to read and write gave me so much joy and I wouldn’t trade that year for the world,” she says. Her teaching background has also made her a better writer. “I know the importance of connecting the reader with the story emotionally and physically,” she says. “As an author, doing something simple like adding a craft or activity at the end, lets readers continue the journey with the character after finishing the book and foster a greater love for reading.” Thus, each of the books in the Alycat series includes a bonus, such as a recipe or a song at the end. “Connecting crafts and activities to stories promotes reading comprehension and a love for literature,” says Bourque.  

After graduating, Bourque practiced as Assistant Attorney General for the state of Louisiana. “After nearly eight years of practicing, I decided to take a temporary retirement to spend more time with my family as my children were young,” she says. One fateful evening, after exhausting their extensive book collection, Bourque’s children asked for more books for story time. Instead, Bourque promised that she’d write them a story. “They jumped for joy and thought it was a great idea,” she recalls. “Because they believed in me, I believed in myself. As I started to write, the story just unfolded as I channeled my childhood, my own children’s day-to-day ordeals, and my experiences as a teacher.”

Bourque named the protagonist Alycat, a nickname an elementary school teacher would call Bourque when she caught her daydreaming during class. That simple bedtime story Bourque wrote off the cuff for her own children has blossomed into five Alycat books. The first, Alycat and the Thursday Dessert Day, was released in 2016. Since then, Bourque has written Alycat and the Monday Blues, Alycat and the Friendship Friday, Alycat and the Tournament Tuesday, and her latest, Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday. 

Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday was written during the pandemic. “The world seemed strange, odd, and a bit skewed,” Bourque recalls. “Not knowing when the world would feel ‘normal’ again, I began to wonder how children must feel. They were suddenly pulled from classrooms and their friends with no end in sight.” In Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday, from the moment she wakes up one Wednesday, everything that happens to her is unusual. “However, no matter how backward Alycat’s day gets, friends and family are still there for her, and she can rely on them,” says Bourque.

Bourque has created a lively set of feline friends for Alycat, each with their own unique set of character traits. Readers meet Spotty, whom Bourque describes as a devoted friend, always eager to pick someone up when they’re down, and Roux, an excellent storyteller who loves to draw. “As I write the stories in the series, I want readers to connect with a diverse set of characters and see themselves as one of them,” Bourque explains. The Alycat series features illustrations by Chiara Civati. “She and I work so well together, and we use our creative strengths to truly capture the storyline, mood, and feel of the story,” says Bourque. “I often sketch what I would like scenes to look like and she makes them remarkable!”

Look for the sixth Alycat book, due to be released in the spring of 2023. Bourque says she’s currently writing the seventh book in the series which will complete the books for each day of the week. Fans need not worry, there will be more Alycat books to come. “I plan to continue the series with holidays and more adventures,” says Bourque. “I will also be touring the U.S. on a book tour signing books at stores, libraries, and schools.” 

One of Bourque’s favorite parts about being a children’s book author is doing school visits. These days, she’s always accompanied by a larger-than-life-sized Alycat who likes to get hugs from her fans and take pictures with the students. Bourque also appreciates that through her job, she can give back to the community through various charities and organizations she partners with, such as Foster the Love Louisiana, the Lafayette Walk to Defeat ALS and Operation Shower, which hosts baby showers for military families. “I have been fortunate enough to donate hundreds of books to families through this work,” she says.  

Alycat books were among the items in the 2020 Oscars celebrity swag bags and in the 2021 Grammys gift bags. Alycat and the Friendship Friday was selected from thousands of books submitted for the chance to be read aloud by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York on Storytime with Fergie and Friends. Bourque is pleasantly surprised at how popular the Alycat series has become. “I did not expect the series to take off as it did,” she admits. “Word-of-mouth recommendations by readers, teachers, librarians, and parents have allowed this series to continue and grow, and I am extremely grateful for them.”

Bourque says she created the series as a resource for children to help them gain the skills that they’ll need throughout their lives. “I believe that parents and teachers want to teach children that they can fix any problem using skills that they already have within and can ask for help if they struggle,” she says. “I just hope that I can continue sharing stories for years to come.”

For more information about Alysson Foti Bourque and her books, visit alycatseries.com.