Clovis Meets His Match - Katelyn Aronson;Benji Williams

When a buzzing drill heralds the opening of a new China shop in town—right across the street from his own China shop—Clovis is alarmed. Worse, the shop is modern, classy, and run by the super charismatic elephant, Alastair, who everyone seems to love.

Soon Alastair’s elevated events begin to overshadow Clovis’s classic cozy atmosphere, and Clovis can’t help but feel upset, with many of his regulars headed across the street. When Alastair boldly calls Clovis’s shop “old-fashioned,” Clovis convinces his buddies to give Alastair a hard time. But even they are taken in by Alastair’s trendy tea, and trying to intimidate Alastair only makes Clovis feel worse.

Taking matters into his own hands, Clovis goes on the offense, tossing trouble into his rival’s store. But when old connections are revealed between the two—connections that span generations back to Clovis’s own beloved Granny Grace—can Clovis and Alastair see eye to eye and realize that they have more in common than at first glance?

Filled to the brim with community spirit, double the cozy tea shops, and fun, this playful timeless tale is ready to remind competitive kids that a rival can mean a friend rather than a fight.

Katelyn Aronson grew up in Southern California and once worked in the coziest of shops (much like Clovis’s) where she hung decor and swept up glitter. Today, she lives in an old farmhouse in France and works as a bilingual language instructor in Switzerland. She is the author of the Piglette books and When PB Met J (Penguin Random House), Poo-Dunnit? (Candlewick), and Clovis Keeps His Cool (Page Street Kids). She is always dreaming up new stories.

Benji Williams is an illustrator living in Georgia. He graduated from The Savannah College of Art and Design’s illustration program in 2006. In addition to kids books, he has worked for years in the animation world as a storyboard artist and designer, including as a storyboard artist on Nickelodeon’s Spongebob. When he isn’t drawing or painting, he’s usually chasing after his two young kids Henry and Mattie with his wife Ashley.

"[T]he colorful, dynamic digital illustrations defly evoke the protagonists' expressive personalities. An homage to fond memories, friendship, the spirit of cooperation, and love of grandparents."
—Kirkus Reviews