Scott, Brandon James. (2026). The Skeleton and the Cat. Harper.
*Downloadable activity sheets at the end of this post!
Skeleton lives all by herself and she is happy. One day, a black cat shows up at her door and asks if he can come in. Skeleton tells him no, but discovers he is still there later. Cat asks Skeleton if he tells a joke, and she likes it, will she let him in. So, Skeleton considers it. But it’s a really, really bad joke. But she lets him in anyway.
Cat teaches her things that she has never known before, like how to make a sandwich.
The lesson on how to EAT said sandwich was a little more complicated, however.
Then they went out into Skeleton’s lovely garden and Cat taught her that it is even better if you dance through the garden! And she was right!
Next, Cat helps Skeleton pick out a book to read and tells him he can do whatever he wants. Well, he decides he wants to be part of the book reading experience and Skeleton decides that even though Cat is terrible at picking out books, reading a bad book is way better with a cat in your lap. (I think he is growing on her.)
And last but not least, they gaze at the stars together and say absolutely nothing and stay together to enjoy the experience “Because that’s what friends do.”
I absolutely love this book. With a skeleton and black cat you get a little bit of the macabre, but it is SO CUTE and lovely, and sweet. It’s my favorite mix! It’s a calm, easy and funny story, in four parts, about friendship. The illustrations are colorful, stylized, expressive, bright and fantastic. Well done! Highly recommended!
Recommended Ages: 3-7
Activity Pages:
Original Source:https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-skeleton-and-the-cat-brandon-james-scott
