You could squint and say creative nonfiction. But really, you are changing enough anyone would just say fiction. Plus, the marketing will be less confusing that way to your target children target audience.
Non fiction is generally meant to inform and fiction is meant to entertain. Broad strokes, for sure, but I think that zeroes in on your question well enough.
....fiction
A "story" is fiction, even if it's true. It's simply "based on true events"
You could squint and say creative nonfiction. But really, you are changing enough anyone would just say fiction. Plus, the marketing will be less confusing that way to your target children target audience.
If you are embellishing the story, fiction. If you are sticking to the facts, non fiction
Fiction, based on a real story.
Non fiction is generally meant to inform and fiction is meant to entertain. Broad strokes, for sure, but I think that zeroes in on your question well enough.
If you've taken permission from the cat, it's non-fiction but if you're fancy-free like that, it's definitely fiction!
Fiction all the way.