Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Have you ever had a day that seemed upside down and topsy turvy? How about totally backward? That’s what happened to Alycat. It all began with a breakfast of seafood gumbo (usually what she ate for supper) instead of the eggs she usually ate for breakfast. Then the bus was packed when she boarded, which was also strange since she was usually the first one on the bus. At her school, the classes were all in reverse order, words were spelled backward and everything was out of sync. You get the general idea: it was what Alycat called a cattywampus Wednesday. The only thing is, when she woke up the next day, it wasn’t Thursday. Guess what day it was?

Alysson Foti Bourque’s picture book story, Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday, is a fun read. Full of multiple backward scenarios, the plot leads the reader through Alycat’s strange day, which, when it finally ends, she had to admit, “This day has made me tired.” The cat characters are well developed and charming and the colorful illustrations are as entertaining and funny as the story itself. Alycat manages to maintain a positive attitude, in spite of her very confusing day. And, she relies on her friends to navigate through the unsettling reversed chain of events. Nothing is ever what you might expect, but if, like Alycat, you use your imagination and your creativity, you can solve just about anything. A simple, funny story with a powerful message about positivity and friendship. Loved it!