Book Review of Alycat and the Christmas Cookie Swap: A Festive Tale of Friendship and Problem-Solving
The Children’s Book Review
Alycat and the Christmas Cookie Swap: A Festive Tale of Friendship and Problem-Solving
Written by Alysson Foti Bourque
Illustrated by Chiara Civati
Ages: 4-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Pelican Publishing (2025) | ISBN-13: 9781455628216
What to Expect: Christmas, Cookie Swap, Friendship, Teamwork, Problem-Solving, Recipes, Holiday Traditions.
When Alycat’s Christmas cookie swap takes an unexpected turn, she and her kitten friends must work together to solve a delicious mystery left by Mrs. Claus.
Alycat is thrilled to host a Christmas Eve cookie swap with her nine best friends. Each kitten brings their favorite homemade cookies to share, along with recipe cards. But when one friend can’t attend, the group decides to give their extra cookies to Santa along with blank recipe cards, asking for his favorite cookie recipe in return. On Christmas morning, each kitten discovers Santa has left them a cookie and a note—but each note contains only a single ingredient. Alycat realizes they must piece together all the clues to unlock Mrs. Claus’s complete recipe for Santa’s favorite Christmas cookie, turning their cookie swap into an adventure in collaboration and friendship.
Alysson Foti Bourque crafts a warm, accessible story that celebrates the spirit of giving, cooperation, and holiday traditions. Clear dialogue and straightforward problem-solving invite children to think along with the characters. The concept of working together to solve a puzzle—each friend holding one piece of the whole—delivers a meaningful lesson about teamwork without feeling heavy-handed. The inclusion of two complete cookie recipes (Alycat’s cookies ‘n cream cookies and the mystery recipe the kittens discover) adds practical value, transforming the book into an interactive experience families can enjoy to deepen their storytime experience.
Chiara Civati’s illustrations bring the story to life with cheerful, expressive characters rendered in a vibrant holiday palette. Each kitten has distinct coloring, patterns, and personalities—which makes it easy for young readers to follow along and find a character they connect with. The festive details throughout, from twinkling lights to decorative cookies, create an immersive Christmas atmosphere. The visual depiction of each kitten receiving their clue helps reinforce the collaborative nature of the mystery, while the final recipe pages are clearly formatted and visually appealing.
Alycat and the Christmas Cookie Swap is a delightful holiday read-aloud that will appeal to children ages 4-8, especially those who love stories about friendship, problem-solving, and holiday baking. Families looking for new Christmas traditions will appreciate the recipes and the positive message about working together. This charming addition to the award-winning Alycat series delivers all the ingredients for a cozy seasonal story—sweet, satisfying, and perfect for sharing.
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About the Author
Award-winning author Alysson Foti Bourque began her career as a teacher after graduating from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, with a degree in Elementary Education. She earned a Juris Doctor law degree from the Southern University Law Center in 2007 and was honored to serve her state as Asst. Attorney General for 8 years. In 2016, Alysson began writing children’s books, including the Alycat Series and the Rhyme or Reason Travel Series. Alysson founded Expound Publicity to help authors market their books and was a news contributor for TV segments KidLit Picks and BookEnds.
For more information, check out alycatseries.com.
