{"id":834928,"date":"2026-09-10T15:51:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T15:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.abnewswire.com\/pressreleases\/?p=834928"},"modified":"2026-09-10T15:51:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T15:51:02","slug":"axolotls-can-be-cowboys-joe-reidys-debut-childrens-book-about-daring-to-be-different","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.abnewswire.com\/pressreleases\/axolotls-can-be-cowboys-joe-reidys-debut-childrens-book-about-daring-to-be-different_834928.html","title":{"rendered":"“Axolotls Can Be Cowboys” – Joe Reidy’s Debut Children’s Book About Daring to Be Different"},"content":{"rendered":"
\""Axolotls<\/a><\/div>\n
In “Axolotls Can Be Cowboys,” debut author Joe Reidy tells the story of Axy, a tiny axolotl who dreams of becoming a cowboy. A whimsical, heartfelt picture book about embracing what makes you different, inspired by the author’s own son.<\/div>\n

Houston, TX – September 10, 2026 – What occurs when an axolotl who is six inches long and has feathery gills and webbed feet realizes that his purpose on this earth is to ride horses and rope cattle? Meet Axolotls Can Be Cowboys, the whimsical and hilarious first children’s book by writer Joe Reidy, available from The Empire Publishers on September 18, 2026.<\/p>\n

Reidy’s book stands out against the crowd in a literary landscape filled with clichéd farm stories by not only encouraging kids to think big but showing them how to achieve their dreams.<\/p>\n

Say hello to Axy<\/strong><\/a>. He is different from his fellow axolotls who love to frolic in the ponds. He doesn’t content himself with chasing bugs around and sitting on moss-covered rocks. While the rest of his fellow amphibians are completely fine with their mundane and simple water existence, Axy has set his eyes on the sky, literally, and a cowboy hat on his head.<\/p>\n

He is ready to take off on his grand adventure wearing a backpack full of boots, his very own lasso made of kelp, and enough boldness to fill up the entire rodeo arena with it, leaving the place that has been his home all his life to venture into the dusty and sun scorched lands of cowboys. Humans look at him in disbelief, while cowboys laugh at him.<\/p>\n

However, Axy will not back away from this challenge. Axy will not blink. Axy comes to the challenge with a saddle in hand and proves that spirit beats strength any day.<\/p>\n

A Story Born from Fatherly Love and Childhood Wonder<\/strong><\/p>\n

Beyond its whimsical story meant for children, Axolotls Can Be Cowboys is a book about love. As Reidy mentions in the dedication to his book, the story “came from my son’s amazing imagination, love for axolotls, and constant thirst for knowledge.”<\/p>\n

“Thanks for showing me how big the dreams may be, how weird the ideas can get, and how even the tiniest creature can glow if he believes in himself. Without you, this book wouldn’t have been possible,” the author writes.<\/p>\n

This personal approach can be felt throughout the entire book. As people read about Axy’s adventures, they get the sense of passion that went into writing the book. It is a celebration of childhood imagination and a call for all kids (as well as adults) to be dreamers who do not give up when they hear “impossible.”<\/p>\n

Why This Book Matters Right Now<\/strong><\/p>\n

As children grow up today and become subjected to increasing amounts of pressure to conform and follow the pack, Axolotls Can Be Cowboys<\/strong><\/em><\/a> comes along as a refreshing change that the world of books desperately needs. The message conveyed by the book could not be simpler nor more effective, being different is a strength, not a liability.<\/p>\n

Axy is not trying to conceal his gills or act like somebody else. Instead, he comes to life the way he is, with his frills, tail, diminutive size, and everything. What the story demonstrates, however, is that he not only gets accepted, but celebrated!<\/p>\n

Not only does this book’s climax, a dazzling display of the art of rodeo complete with Axy’s galloping, lassoing, and tipping of the hat in pure cowboy style, represent victory for the young axolotl, but it represents victory for any child who has felt too small, too strange, or too different to dream.<\/p>\n

Capturing the Magic of Childhood Wonder<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reidy’s style of writing is dynamic and full of life. It ranges from describing Axy’s jittery tail-wagging before the big trip all the way to the shocked reactions from the crowd as he shows that he is worth more than he seems on the surface. His prose is easy enough to understand for children but sophisticated enough for parents to enjoy at bedtime.<\/p>\n

The playful nature of the story, including its font, exclamation “YEEHAWW!”, and touches of warmth, make it an immediate read aloud favorite. Kids will cheer for Axy, giggle at how skeptical the cowboys are at first, and raise their hands in the air when the lead cowboy says: “This is a cowboy.”<\/p>\n

What Readers Are Saying<\/strong><\/p>\n

Early readers have already fallen in love with the story of Axy:<\/p>\n

“My son begged me to read it three times in one night. He’s already planning his own cowboy adventure, and he’s never even been on a horse!”<\/em> — Early Reader Parent<\/p>\n

“This is the perfect example of a book for kids that shows the value of courage without being heavy-handed. Axy is the hero kids need today.”<\/em> — Educator Review<\/p>\n

“Joe Reidy has really done something remarkable. This book belongs alongside classics of the genre.<\/em>” — Advance Copy Reviewer<\/p>\n

About the Author<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reidy Joe is a debut author for kids who is motivated by the unlimited imagination of his little boy. He spends time with his family and loves outdoor activities and chasing the dreams which may seem impossible just like Axy. Axolotls Can Be Cowboys is a debut book by Joe Reidy and marks the start of an amazing journey of self-discovery and empowerment.<\/p>\n

A Message That Will Echo Beyond the Page<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the end, “Axolotls Can Be Cowboys” is all about acceptance. It is about looking at oneself in the mirror, accepting what one sees, and then going out into the world with pride. Axy does not need to turn into a human being to be a cowboy, instead, he simply needs to be himself, one hundred percent. And that is something we can all learn from this tale.<\/p>\n

So put on your spurs, don your hat, and cheer for the littlest cowboy of them all.<\/p>\n

Availability<\/strong><\/p>\n

Axolotls Can Be Cowboys by Joe Reidy is scheduled to release on September 18, 2026; pre-orders can now be placed at Amazon<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

For review copies and interviews, contact: https:\/\/theempirepublishers.com\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Media Contact<\/span>
Company Name:<\/strong> The Empire Publishers (USA)<\/a>
Contact Person:<\/strong> Iris Williams
Email:<\/strong> Send Email<\/a>
State:<\/strong> Texas
Country:<\/strong> United States
Website:<\/strong> https:\/\/www.theempirepublishers.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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In “Axolotls Can Be Cowboys,” debut author Joe Reidy tells the story of Axy, a tiny axolotl who dreams of becoming a cowboy. A whimsical, heartfelt picture book about embracing what makes you different, inspired by the author’s own son. … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[448,447,424,446,404],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-834928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-Books-Literature","category-Education","category-Family-Parenting","category-Society-Culture","category-US"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.abnewswire.com\/pressreleases\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/834928","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.abnewswire.com\/pressreleases\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.abnewswire.com\/pressreleases\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.abnewswire.com\/pressreleases\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.abnewswire.com\/pressreleases\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=834928"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.abnewswire.com\/pressreleases\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/834928\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.abnewswire.com\/pressreleases\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=834928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.abnewswire.com\/pressreleases\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=834928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.abnewswire.com\/pressreleases\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=834928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}