HIT CATEGORY! Girl driven middle grade graphic novels are HUGE and the market is nowhere near saturated. Katie is the perfect next read for fans of Roller Girl, Awkward, Be Prepared, Smile and Click!

TONS OF KID APPEAL-Brilliantly written and drawn, with spot on characters and humor, Katie combines the best of realistic contemporary middle grade fiction (relatable realistic feeling characters and middle school friendship angst) with…217 cats, summertime in the city (skateboarders! Subway musicians, Washington Square! Bodegas! Picklefest!), animal rights, and a touch of super hero fun.

KIDS LOVE SERIES! Katie ends on an exciting cliffhanger leading into the next book!

MIDDLE GRADE DEBUT FROM HIGHLY PROMOTABLE CREATORS! Colleen’s a National Book Award nominee for her YA graphic novel debut Kiss #8 as well as a former designer at First-Second. Stephanie was the colorist for Raina Telgemeier’s Smile (among other books) and this is her debut as a middle grade graphic novel illustrator.

CATS-Did I mention 217 cats?!

Colleen AF Venable is the author of the National Book Award Nominated graphic novel Kiss #8 and is making her middle grade debut with Katie the Catsitter. Colleen is a lifetime comic fan and has designed numerous award winning graphic novels at First-Second books. She’s also is an avid rollerskater, animal rescuer, and once started a national holiday (true story). Colleen lives in Brooklyn, NY with her two pet rabbits.

Stephanie Yue grew up in Atlanta, Beijing, and Hong Kong. She’s a lifetime comic fan and martial artist (with a black belt in Kung Fu) and travels the world by motorbike. Stephanie was the colorist for the megahit, industry changing, Smile by Raina Telgemeier and Katie is her debut as a middle grade graphic novel illustrator. Stephanie currently divides her time between Boston and Hong Kong, where she’s working on the second Katie. Visit her online at stephanieyue.com and on twitter @quezzie.com.

Author Residence: Brooklyn, NY

Author Hometown: Walden, NY

Stephanie Yue grew up in Atlanta, Beijing, and Hong Kong. She's a lifetime comic fan and martial artist (with a black belt in Kung Fu) and travels the world by motorbike. Stephanie was the colorist for the megahit, industry changing, Smile by Raina Telgemeier and Katie is her debut as a middle grade graphic novel illustrator. Stephanie currently divides her time between Boston and Hong Kong, where she's working on the second Katie. Visit her online at http://stephanieyue.com and on twitter @quezzie.com.

Illustrator Residence: Boston and Hong Kong

Illustrator Hometown: Atlanta, Beijing and Hong Kong

“Who can possibly resist a team of super cats? Or a wonderful kid who gets swept up in the feline drama? I loved Katie!” —Lucy Knisley, New York Times bestselling author of Stepping Stones

“A winner.” —Nick Bruel, New York Times bestselling author of the Bad Kitty series

“Super fun and utterly delightful.” —Gene Luen Yang, New York Times bestselling author of American Born Chinese

"Young readers will revel in the heroic antics, and older ones, like me, will be tickled by the Easter eggs strewn throughout. The sweet and funny nature of this book is expertly reflected in Yue’s energetic art and seemingly effortless line work." —New York Times

★”Neko Atsume meets The Tick in this laugh-out-loud funny, well-paced series starter…Yue’s expressive cartoons complement this enchanting story, the first in a series with a promising cast of characters—feline and otherwise.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A little evil and a whole lotta fun.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A winsome mix of adventure, humor, and realistic middle grade problems, ideal for readers seeking the whimsy of Dav Pilkey’s “Dog Man” tempered with thereassuring tone of Raina Telgemeier’s work.” —School Library Journal

“A pro-girl comic to encourage adventure, entrepreneurship, and excellent, pun-filled pet names.” —BCCB

“Venable’s twisty plot swoops gleefully around Manhattan, touching on everything from animal activism to evolving relationships to a secret rescue mission, and combining to tell the story of one of the least boring summers ever.” —BookPage

“Realism and absurdity snuggle harmoniously, with such delightful dichotomies as grumpy moggy Moritz knocking over glasses as calico Jolie plays MMORPGs while donning enormous headphones.” —The Bulletin

"Sight gags, sly humor, pop-culture references, and a dollop of animal-rights activism combine to make Katie’s story a fun one." —Booklist