Pounce into Action With These CATTY CORNER Fun Facts

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a cat? It’s something that author (and cat lover) Julie Murphy has spent a lot of time thinking about while bringing Catty Corner, her new chapter book series, to life!

Catty is your average second grader, except, like her mother and her Granny Tabby, she’s half-cat, half-girl! In the first book, Catty Corner Lands on Her Feet, Catty navigates going to school for the first time. She’s always been homeschooled by her dad, who’s taught her everything from how to read to the art of string chasing. But when her mom gets a new job, Catty has to start third grade at Friendswood Elementary School – and manages to break all of her parents’ rules on the first day! (Who knew she wasn’t supposed to chase the teacher’s laser pointer?)

To make her feel better, Catty’s mom shares a diary that she and Granny Tabby both used to document their bad days and struggles balancing their cat-like tendencies with existing in the human world, which makes Catty feel less alone. Catty starts documenting all her own feline feels and big adventures in the Scratch Pad, and it might just be the thing she needs to turn things around and make school fun.

Book Cover for Catty Corner Lands on Her Feet by Julie Murphy

Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’, brings her signature warm positivity and message of empowerment to her chapter book debut: a series about a big-hearted girl who is half-human, half-cat.

Introducing Catty!

She’s a confident second grader who happens to be half-cat, like her mother and grandmother. In this series debut, Catty hits a few rough patches at her new school. So she turns to her fuzzy diary—AKA her “scratch pad”—where she shares her big feelings and documents her adventures. Before long, Catty is making friends and learning to love her new school.

Catty Corner is the natural next read for fans of character-driven chapter books like Junie B. Jones, Ivy & Bean, and Judy Moody.

Catty Corner Lands on Her Feet
AUTHOR: Julie Murphy
ILLUSTRATOR: Eve Farb
PUBLISHER: Union Square Kids
DATE: March 25, 2025

The ways Catty interacts with the world as a half-cat, half-girl are absolutely hilarious and super clever, and the story is adorably relatable. These feel-good reads are filled with charming illustrations by Eve Farb and are purr-fect for curling up like a cat for some reading time before bed.

The second book, Catty Corner Pounces into Action, is also out now and follows Catty and her besties Jo and Bebe as they track down a snack thief at their elementary school!

Want to get to know more about Catty? Author Julie Murphy was excited to share a few fun facts about this ameowzing new series with our readers!

Author Julie Murphy Shares 10 Fun Facts About Catty Corner Lands on Her Feet:

Illustration of Catty and her mother. Her mom is bending down to talk to Catty with her hand on her shoulder. Catty is looking up, listening. — *(Image via Union Square Kids, Illustration by Eve Farb)*

FACT #1

Catty is half-girl and half-cat! She inherited her cattiness from her mother’s side of the family, which has a long history of being part feline.

FACT #2

Catty’s feline instincts make her stand out among the crowd. Whether it’s super hearing or fast reflexes, the things that make Catty different can also be an advantage.

Illustration of Catty Corner petting a gray and white cat. She has curly orange hair and pointy cat ears, thin wire glasses, black boots, a teal cardigan over a white button down tucked into brown shorts with embroidered flowers on them. — *(Image via Union Square Kids, Illustration by Eve Farb)*

FACT #3

I loved working with Eve Farb on her fantastic illustrations of Catty. But I think my favorite part was figuring out Catty’s style, which is a little bit academic and a little bit cottage core.

FACT #4

While there are no other half-animals in the series (yet!), readers might notice that some of the side characters have some animal-like characteristics.

FACT #5

When I was a little girl, I was convinced that I was part cat. In fact, sometimes my mom would find me in the mornings with our family cat, eating out of his food bowl. (That didn’t last very long, because it turns out dry cat food wasn’t really my taste.)

FACT #6

Catty gets the best of both worlds! Have you ever seen a cat tree and a dog bed and thought they looked nice and cozy? Well, not only does Catty have a real bed, but she also has a cat tree that she can curl up in for afternoon cat naps or reading time.

Illustration of Catty stepping onto the school bus for the first time. Catty is pictured from behind, all you can see is her red hair and her ears. The other students are a mix of surprised and confused to see her. — *(Image via Union Square Kids, Illustration by Eve Farb)*

FACT #7

At the start of book one, Catty is starting school for the first time after being homeschooled. She’s nervous about making friends, which makes sense because her only friend in the beginning is a mouse toy named Waffles.

FACT #8

Catty doesn’t have any pet cats, but there is a very grumpy neighborhood cat named Opie who is always getting in her way.

FACT #9

When Catty gets the zoomies or when her catty side starts to take over, she calls it going cattywampus.

Illustration of Catty laying back in a wicker chair on her catio with her Scratch Pad in her lap — *(Image via Union Square Kids, Illustration by Eve Farb)*

FACT #10

Catty’s most prized possession is a fuzzy journal that she calls her scratch pad. The journal was passed down from her grandmother to her mother. If you want a glimpse of what Catty writes in her journal, you’ll just have to read the book and find out for yourself!

📚EXCLUSIVE MINICOMIC: Love funny characters with relatable struggles? Check out this minicomic by Maria Scrivan starring Nat from the Nat Enough series HERE!