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Reviewed by Julia Schemmer for Readers' Favorite
As children grow up, they develop friendships with their peers, and knowing how to effectively resolve conflict and maintain relationships is a huge learning opportunity. While it is valuable to interpret your emotions, it is also crucial to realize how your feelings and perceptions of a situation can affect the people around you. In Alycat and the Copycat by author Alysson Foti Bourque, this concept is explored through the main character, Alycat, as she prepares for her school’s science fair. There’s only one problem: her peer, Lucy, is copying everything she does! From replicating her science experiment to wearing the same shirt, Lucy is copying her every move, and Alycat is not pleased with the behavior. Only an unexpected act of kindness during the science fair can restore their friendship, and prove that first impressions are not always what they seem to be.
I enjoyed Alycat and the Copycat by Alysson Foti Bourque because of the positive messaging around an unconventional topic. I grew up with five siblings, and we were always morphing into each other - borrowing each other’s clothes, hanging out with our mutual friends, and wanting to be involved with each other’s activities. Some could imagine that, as a copycat, it was a high form of flattery and admiration of our older siblings. I think this book does a great job of demonstrating that sometimes our preconceived notions don’t always tell the full story. It’s important to distinguish intent from impact - someone might not mean to be a copycat and has positive intentions. By making space for these clarifying questions, kids can become champions of conflict resolution and have positive, fulfilling relationships. The book is also filled with colorful, adorable drawings by Chiara Civati. The book even includes an activity guide for families to make a glitter volcano, just like the one in the story. Not only does this book promote STEM learning in a positive, fun way, but it also creates important conversations around our friendships. A great read, and highly recommended.
