CATapult!

A Story of Movement and Position

Illustrated by Jenn Harney
Hardcover
$18.99 US
On sale Jun 30, 2026 | 32 Pages | 9781635928006

Math-loving kittens plan a kitty-pop concert—which is sure to involve multiple surprises and a few CATastrophes—in this playful picture book that demonstrates the key math concepts of movement and position.

Nine chaotic kittens can’t wait to perform their kitty-pop concert for their neighbors. But while building the stage, one kitten—who is dangling above the dancers shimmying right and left below—falls and CATapults a dancer on top of the costume designer. That is only the beginning of the mayhem. . . . Should these kitties cancel their concert? No! They know that if they put their paws and heads together, they can perform as one. On with the show! 

Author Ann Marie Stephens draws upon more than 30 years of teaching experience to ensure that readers absorb math while having fun in the adventure-filled CATastrophe Tale series. And Jenn Harney’s energetic illustrations hilariously capture the antics of these enthusiastic kittens.

Each book in the CATastrophe Tale series includes helpful back matter, which shows readers that, just like the kittens, they use mathematical skills in their everyday lives. Additional titles in the series include CATastrophe!: A Story of Patterns, CATawampus!: A Story of Shapes, sCATtered!: A Story of Estimation and CATerwaul: A Story of Sorting.
Ann Marie Stephens is the author of several picture books including Scuba Dog, Cy Makes a Friend, and forthcoming titles, Arithmechicks Add Up and Arithmechicks Take Away. She was an elementary teacher for more than 30 years. She was a contributing writer for Kwame Alexander’s The Write Thing, a co-writer for Trait Crate Plus for grades 3 and 5, and has had dozens of original ideas published in Instructor and The Mailbox magazines. When she isn’t writing or teaching, she’s off scuba diving somewhere tropical. Visit annmariestephensbooks.com. View titles by Ann Marie Stephens
Jenn Harney is the illustrator for CATastrophe!: A Story of Patterns, “Smelly” Kelly and His Super Senses: How James Kelly’s Nose Saved the New York City Subway, and Probably a Narwhal. She has worked as both an author and illustrator of children’s literature for over twenty years.She lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Visit her at jkharney.blogspot.com. View titles by Jenn Harney

About

Math-loving kittens plan a kitty-pop concert—which is sure to involve multiple surprises and a few CATastrophes—in this playful picture book that demonstrates the key math concepts of movement and position.

Nine chaotic kittens can’t wait to perform their kitty-pop concert for their neighbors. But while building the stage, one kitten—who is dangling above the dancers shimmying right and left below—falls and CATapults a dancer on top of the costume designer. That is only the beginning of the mayhem. . . . Should these kitties cancel their concert? No! They know that if they put their paws and heads together, they can perform as one. On with the show! 

Author Ann Marie Stephens draws upon more than 30 years of teaching experience to ensure that readers absorb math while having fun in the adventure-filled CATastrophe Tale series. And Jenn Harney’s energetic illustrations hilariously capture the antics of these enthusiastic kittens.

Each book in the CATastrophe Tale series includes helpful back matter, which shows readers that, just like the kittens, they use mathematical skills in their everyday lives. Additional titles in the series include CATastrophe!: A Story of Patterns, CATawampus!: A Story of Shapes, sCATtered!: A Story of Estimation and CATerwaul: A Story of Sorting.

Author

Ann Marie Stephens is the author of several picture books including Scuba Dog, Cy Makes a Friend, and forthcoming titles, Arithmechicks Add Up and Arithmechicks Take Away. She was an elementary teacher for more than 30 years. She was a contributing writer for Kwame Alexander’s The Write Thing, a co-writer for Trait Crate Plus for grades 3 and 5, and has had dozens of original ideas published in Instructor and The Mailbox magazines. When she isn’t writing or teaching, she’s off scuba diving somewhere tropical. Visit annmariestephensbooks.com. View titles by Ann Marie Stephens
Jenn Harney is the illustrator for CATastrophe!: A Story of Patterns, “Smelly” Kelly and His Super Senses: How James Kelly’s Nose Saved the New York City Subway, and Probably a Narwhal. She has worked as both an author and illustrator of children’s literature for over twenty years.She lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Visit her at jkharney.blogspot.com. View titles by Jenn Harney

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