Philadelphia author Kevin Patrick McCourt builds a growing catalog around imagination, perseverance and children of all abilities
PHILADELPHIA — McCourt Family Studios, LLC, founded by Philadelphia children’s author Kevin Patrick McCourt, is continuing to expand its collection of children’s books with stories celebrating imagination, perseverance, kindness and inclusion.
McCourt writes under his own name and as Feeny McCourt, a pen name created as a tribute to his late parents and inspired by his mother’s maiden name, Feeney. His growing catalog features children of different backgrounds and abilities as natural participants in the stories—not simply as subjects of lessons about disability or inclusion.
Among the studio’s newest titles is Liam and the Clock That Taught Him to Keep Trying, by Kevin Patrick McCourt. The father-and-son story follows Liam as he works with his dad to restore an old clock, discovering the importance of patience, persistence and continuing to try when something doesn’t come easily.
The catalog also includes Jimmy Benz and the Magical Rock, a story of childhood wonder and imagination centered on a boy’s discovery of a mysterious rock. Jimmy Benz has special significance to McCourt because the character and original story trace back to his own school years, decades before McCourt Family Studios was established.
Another growing part of the studio is the Billie With the Rainbow Tail series, written as Feeny McCourt. Billie is based on McCourt’s real-life rescue Maltese from Virginia, who had purple-dyed ears and a rainbow-colored tail for approximately two years before becoming a children’s-book character. The Billie stories celebrate friendship, adventure and responsible pet ownership while supporting the message “Adopt, Don’t Shop.”
“My goal is to create books children genuinely enjoy while making sure more children can see themselves as part of the adventure,” McCourt said. “Sometimes inclusion doesn’t need to be the lesson of the story. Sometimes it simply means making sure everyone is invited into it.”
McCourt Family Studios continues to develop new characters and stories from its home in Philadelphia while reaching readers internationally.
The McCourt Family Studios catalog is available worldwide through Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, as well as other fine booksellers.
Readers can follow the studio on Instagram at @mccourtfamily.studios for new releases, artwork, announcements and behind-the-scenes updates.
