I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A cute picture book about friendship. A nice story with vivid pictures.

Alycat and the Friendship Friday is such a cute book with characters and situations that are easy for children to relate to. Alycat always has a unique way of dealing with her situation. Wait till you see what she comes up with to make everyone feel included on the ride to the school field trip!

This is a cute story about Alycat and her friends. I did not realize this was a series, but apparently there are three books about this young cat. It is a cute story with a couple of positive messages in it.

Alycat gets up and is excited about her day. The class is going on a fieldtrip to the local Health Clinic. When Alycat asks for a rather unhealthy breakfast, her mom offers her something better. Message #1 - eat healthy. Once at school, they are introduced to a new student and her friend Luna offers to sit with her on the bus. Alycat is feeling lonely and left out at this point, not sure what to do. She has feelings of jealousy and betrayal. She decides to include this new student and make friends with her. Message #2 - welcome others, be inclusive. An inspiring book about friendship and how to accept change in the everyday life as well as acceptance and tolerance, being kind and getting the best of any any life encounter.

I really liked the illustrations, they were well done showing expression on the faces of the characters. I also liked that there was an activity at the end of the book that could be done with parent and child, or even a class of students. This would be a perfect read for kids just starting a new school year or when they are expecting a new student in their classroom. A great story as well for when those cliques of girls are having issues and those love/hate relationships that spring up regularly in the primary grades. I definitely recommend this one for primary or early junior classrooms. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

Alycat and the Friendship Friday written by Alysson Foti Bourque, and illustrated by Chiara Civati follows Alycat as she's off to school for a field trip. Aly hopes to be able to sit with one of her favorite friends. Big surprise! There's a new student in Aly’s class, and this leaves her to sit alone on the bus. At first she's jealous, and feels a bit betrayed. Then she gets to thinking, and figures a way to feel included, and make a new friend to boot! Besides the lessons about jealousy and friendship, a health lesson is slipped in at the beginning. Aly wants a very unhealthy breakfast, and her mum counters with a healthy option. I read this book with my younger cubs.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Mascot Books for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Such a cute book for kids. This book talks to kids about how its okay to have more than one best friend. It teaches you how to make a friendship bracelet too. It also teaches about health in the beginning when Alycat ask for an unhealthy breakfast and her mom offers a better one. The school then takes a trip to the doctor. Over all its a great book I'd say prek-3rd grade .

Lovely little book. Cute and friendly and had lovely characters for the children to adore. It was perfect and easy to read and my wee ones loved it

An inspiring book about friendship and how to accept change in the everyday life. Especially when change means that your best friend will not seat with you during a school trip. It might learn about acceptance and tolerance, being kind and getting the best of any any life encounter. Simply non-apologetically written and with colourful, basic pictures, Alycat and the Friendship Friday makes it into a good read for pre-teens, usually prey to jealousy outbursts when someone might be almost betraying the faithfulness of an exclusive friendship.

*thank you to Netgalley and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

3.5 stars.

A cute little book being mainly based on friendship but also a bit of daily life as a little kid. The colours in the illustrations were nicely chosen and the story was a feel good one.

This book is bubbly and sweet, the illustrations are bright and engaging.

I love that this book shows that it is okay to not have someone to sit with, it is okay to be on your own. There are so many children today who rely on having others to tell them what to do or how to act. This book shows that being you is perfectly okay.

Alycat's class will visit a doctor's office. A new student arrives. When Alycat's friend offers to let the new student sit with her on the bus, Alycat feels left out until she comes up with a way to include all three of them. Illustrations and text are mediocre. The book does provide instructions for making the friendship bracelets Alycat designed. I received an electronic copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for this copy.
I found this book lovely. The story about friendship and optimism, a great way to explain our children that you can have more than one best friend. And the trip to the health clinic is an opportunity to learn about doctors work. As a parents I love the story which helped me see things from children's view.

Review by 7 year old, Serenity.

Allycat and the Friendship Friday
by Alyson Foti Bourque

Question: What did you like about the book?
Answer: I liked that they were cats. Also, it told me how to make a friendship bracelet.

Q: Is there anything you didn't like about the book?
A: I didn't like how the other kitties made her feel left out.

Q: Did you learn anything?
A: You can always recover from your sadness. Like even if you’re sad, you can find a way to make it better.

Q: Did this book remind you of anything you’ve read?
S: The Three Little Kittens
(why? Because it has cats?)
Because they’re cats, but they’re also kids like me.

Q: What makes this book different than other books?
A: It helps you learn how to make friends and not just be sad that you don’t have any.

I genuinely enjoyed reading this book. It was very happy and upbeat and had positive messages throughout. It starts with Alycat waking up and excited to start her day. When she asks for something unhealthy for breakfast, her mom offers a healthier substitute, and I think this is something so many parents will appreciate.

Alycat is heading to the health clinic on a field trip with her school, but not before a new student shows up. Her friend Luna offers to sit with this new kid on the bus, which leaves Alycat feeling lonely. She learns to deal with these feelings and make the best of the situation by trying and being more inclusive herself. I loved the message this book sent.

Also, not only were the illustrations beautiful, but at the end of the book, there is an activity provided that kids can do to tie in with the book. I really liked that touch and feel like that will really help bring this book alive for kids.

This would be a perfect read for kids just starting to school or even older.

This book is a good one for a nursery or pre-k library. In this story, Alycat is looking forward to a school field trip. When she does not get to sit with her best friend on the bus, she at first is sad. However, Alycat figures out a way to have two good friends! In addition, this book has some health information because the field trip involves meeting with Dr. Katz. A bonus is that this book has instructions for making a simple friendship bracelet at the end.

This was such a sweet story and a great way to explain how children can have more than one best friend. It is a field trip day at school and Alycat is excited until the new girl arrives and her best friend Luna sits with her on the way to the field trip. They go to the health clinic and Alycat is sad. Then she gets an idea and the story continues. This is a great bedtime story and beginner reader story. The illustrations are bright and cheery. I like the fact they included directions for the Friday Friendship Bracelet in the end.
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.