top of page

What others are saying...

NEW Puppy Cat Cover - JPG for eBook 2024OCT19_edited.jpg

"My Cat Thinks He's a Puppy by Patricia Allieri is very short in length, making it perfect for Amazon's recommended audience of 3 to 7-year-olds. Your child or class will be eager to share all the fun things their cat does. Maybe you'll get some children to run off to teach their cat how to act like a dog. I would start with "stay" first. All my cats mastered that one on the first try. Novel Varius did a fantastic job on the illustrations. They are worthy of 5 stars! The whole book deserves 5 stars!" -Reedsy Discovery

​

"My Cat Thinks He's a Puppy by Patricia Allieri is a perfect fit for children learning to read lyrics while enjoying the colorful cat antics that fill the pages." -Readers' Favorite

NEW 1-15-24 aquapaws_cover_2024.jpg

"Patricia Allieri and Stella Maris’s Aqua Paws is a beautiful picture book with some powerful themes. Aqua Paws the cat loves playing at the beach with his sea turtle friend, Purple Beak. However, Aqua Paws is terrified of being pinched by a crab. Purple Beak convinces Aqua Paws to give the water a try to do the important work of cleaning up litter and to admire the beauty of the ocean. Some passing crustaceans make him wary, but he presses on to fight pollution. However, when Aqua Paws finds himself in a scary situation, he learns that his preconceived fear of crabs may have been mistaken. There is so much to love in Aqua Paws! The illustrations by Stella Maris are simply stunning - they capture the real beauty and majesty of the ocean along with a magical splash of color and expression to bring the story alive. Patricia Allieri addresses the importance of respecting the world around us skillfully by challenging our biases and stewarding nature in a way that children can comprehend. What I appreciated most is the gentleness given to Aqua Paws and the crabs as the sweet cat learns that his fear had been misplaced.

​

I love that the book ends with age-appropriate information on how to treat the ocean biosphere with respect and an adorable and simple recycled craft. What a great way to bring together the young reader and the grown-ups. I highly recommend this story to those looking to help their beloved little ones grasp the importance of respecting the world around them. For young readers who will be enjoying the book on their own, I believe it best fits a 5-7-year-old reading level." -Readers' Favorite, 5 Stars

​

AQUA PAWS -  Kirkus Review

A BOOK ABOUT FRIENDSHIP, COURAGE, AND THE OCEAN

BY PATRICIA ALLIERI ILLUSTRATED BY STELLA MARIS 

 

RELEASE DATE: APRIL 4, 2023

​

A delightful kids’ book with dual themes of ocean conservation and overcoming bias.

A cat conquers his fear of crabs while indulging his love of the ocean in Allieri’s illustrated children’s book.

Aqua Paws is a ginger feline who, unlike most other cats, absolutely adores the water. He only has one issue with his beloved ocean, and it’s the fact that crabs live in it: “Their tiny claws scared him, and he was always afraid one was going to pinch him.” Aqua Paws is so afraid of them that he even jumps when his turtle friend, Purple Beak, surprises him, believing he’s a crab. The two embark on a boating trip to look for undersea treasures to keep, as well as litter to collect (and dispose of). Aqua Paws loves all the sea life he finds, locating pearls and encountering puffer fish. He’s having a blast when he suddenly happens upon a giant crab. He’s scared at first, but the crustacean doesn’t seem to care much about him at all. Purple Beak swims off to find a shiny object in deep water, and Aqua Paws is left alone, looking for treasure closer to the surface. He spots litter that he’s determined to clean up, but he gets stuck inside its plastic rings instead. Purple Beak is nowhere to be found—and who should approach but the giant crab who frightened Aqua Paws earlier? Allieri’s picture book, following My Cat Thinks He’s a Puppy (2022), is a cleanly structured tale that addresses prejudice and the importance of keeping the ocean clean; readers may find it reminiscent of Kelly DiPucchio’s Oona and the Shark(2022). The two main concepts tie together nicely in Aqua Paws’ scenes with the crab, allowing the story to be fun and educational without coming off as dry. Aftermatter includes tips on the ocean and for making crab-themed crafts. Maris’ beautiful full-color illustrations are rendered in a variety of media that appropriately includes watercolor for the undersea scenes. Her use of light and shadow make the crab seem ominous and the ocean appear glorious while maintaining a bright, varied color palette.

​

A delightful kids’ book with dual themes of ocean conservation and overcoming bias.

Read Reviews from Aqua Paws Book Tour

In April 2023 we ran a Book Tour and could not be happier or more thankful for the reviews we received. Click on a link to read the review!

bottom of page