The Skeleton and the Cat by Brandon James Scott; HarperCollins, 2026.

This humorous, heartwarming tale about the joy and comfort experienced as an unlikely friendship grows, transcends the fall season it calls to mind.

Why this book? Why will it matter to kids?

Formatted in a set of five short chapters, The Skeleton and the Cat is a warm, fresh, funny picture book about the blossoming of an unlikely friendship. With its engaging art and expertly conceived text sprinkled with sparkling dialogue, here’s an endearing and satisfying read-aloud choice for the primary grades. Named a #1 Kids’ Indies Next  Pick and a Best Kids’ Book of 2026.

Why read aloud?

We settle into a safe space as we gather to share a book. As we reflect, exchange thoughts, and explore concepts, we are building background knowledge—and community. When read-aloud sessions are routine, children become comfortable voicing their perspectives. They grow in active listening skills and learn to respect the thoughts, feelings, experiences, and beliefs of others. When we (educators, parents, and caregivers) select age-appropriate, length-appropriate stories based on needs and abilities, we offer children the opportunity to see themselves, see others, find validation, and contemplate solutions to conflicts and challenges that they may not have considered.

Read-aloud sessions are inclusive: there are no reading skills or level barriers, and learning obstacles are mitigated by preparation prior to reading the book aloud. In a read-aloud session there is immersion as well as the comfort of distance from the challenges the characters encounter.

Reading aloud engages listeners, offering a positive, secure, stress-free “learning without struggle” experience grounded in a book, the value of which cannot be overestimated.

“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, or who had ever been alive.” ~  James Baldwin

Levels and Layers of Learning

Grade level: K—2

Social-Emotional Learning Themes

Acceptance, connection, courage, creativity, curiosity, dedication, diligence, effort,  empowerment, encouragement, fortitude, friendship, generosity of spirit, gratitude, hope, inspiration, integrity, kindness, perseverance, persistence, perspective, relationship skills, resilience, resourcefulness, respect, responsibility, self-assurance, self-awareness, self-reliance, social awareness, tenacity, understanding

Content Area Connections:

Social-Emotional Learning, Friendship

 Illustration © 2026 Brandon James Scott

Using This Book in the Classroom

Hit the Ground Running Ready Resources for Educators, Homeschoolers, and Parents

Learn more about Brandon and his books.

The Skeleton and the Cat book trailer.

Write Away! Ideas to prompt writing

Reading,  writing, listening, and speaking form the core of literacy. In robust literacy instruction we aid students in strengthening the connections between these fundamental processes. Shared reading—and dynamic conversations about text—strengthens reading skills and leads to meaningful writing. Multiple strategies are employed in the process of gaining meaning from reading (background knowledge, text structure, sequence, detail, cause and effect, visualization, summarizing, synthesizing, perspective, and more) and we utilize these strategies in the process of writing. Reading skills support writing, and writing skills support reading.

“[There is} a deep connection between how students read, write, and communicate, and how they develop socially and emotionally.”  ~  Justina Schlund, Director of Field Learning for CASEL

Who is your favorite character in this book? Why?

What do you like most about Cat?

What do you like most about Skeleton?

What is your favorite illustration in the book? Why?

Do you have a friend like Skeleton or Cat? Describe your friend.

Skeleton and Cat are unlikely friends. Who might be an unlikely friend for you? (Look around your classroom or neighborhood!)

At the end of the story, Skeleton stays up with Cat who isn’t ready to go to sleep, “because that’s what friends do.” What are some other things friends do for one another?

Skeleton learned two things one day in this story. Make a list of two things you learned.

 Illustration © 2026 Brandon James Scott 

Poetry Break Related poetry to recite before or following the reading of this book

Poetry breaks fit perfectly into the framework of the school day. These brief moments can signal change, smooth or frame transitions—from beginning or ending the day to lining up for lunch; from zipping up backpacks and jackets to shifting from one subject to the next. Poetry breaks can reset mood or tone, providing a moment to pause, reflect, and breathe. Reading a poem aloud typically takes less than a minute, yet it can introduce or reinforce a concept, provide clarity, celebrate language, exemplify rhythm, enhance vocabulary, expand understanding, increase attention span, initiate reflection, spark imagination, or simply summon a giggle. And, poetry soothes and strengthens the spirit.

“Poetry builds resilience in kids and adults; it fosters Social and Emotional Learning. A well-crafted phrase or two in a poem can help us see an experience in an entirely new way.” ~  Elena Aguilar

Poetry Collections About Friendship 

• Dear Acorn (Love, Oak) Letter Poems to Friends by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
• Friends and foes: poems about us all by Douglas Florian

Poetry Collections for the Fall Season 

• All Around the Seasons by Barney Saltzberg; see “fall”
• Autumnblings by Douglas Florian
• Calendar by Myra Cohn Livingston, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
• A Child’s Calendar poems by John Updike, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman; see “October”
• Festivals by Myra Cohn Livingston, illustrated by Leonard Everett Fisher; see ”Diwali” “Creek Indian Busk or New Year: The Old Men’s Dance” and “El Dia De Muertos: The Day of the Dead”
• Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems by Paul B. Janeczko, illustrated by Melissa Sweet; see Fall chapter
• Holiday Stew: A Kid’s Portion of Holiday and Seasonal Poems by Jenny Whitehead; see Fall chapter
• Pieces: A Year in Poems & Quilts by Anna Grossnickle Hines’ see “To Each His Own” “Pageantry” and “Ode to a Rake
• Poems for Every Season: A Year of Haiku, Sonnets, and More by Bette Westera, illustrated by Henriette Boerendans, translated by David Colmer; See Fall chapter

And Then There’s This…
Enrichment activities, related books, online resources, craft projects, and ideas for further study

Find information about The Skeleton and the Cat events and merchandise.

Book Collection Suggestions

Reading multiple books on a topic allows for deeper understanding and connection. Students’ knowledge base expands, comprehension increases, critical thinking sharpens, conversations deepen, and writing becomes more meaningful.

Recently Released Books For Your Seasonal Shelf

• Be the Acorn by Jason Douglas Griffin, Grades K-2
• Fall Day, All Day by Kari Percival, Pre-K—Grade 2
• The Last Leaf by Ali Pye, Grades K-2
• Mary E. and the Apple Tree by Cynthia Cliff, Grades 1-2

Recently Released Spooky-ish Reads 

• The Beginner’s Guide to Being a Wizard by Keith Negley, Grades 2-3
• Billy and the Hole by Jessica Goecke; Grades 1-2
• Dragon Dog by Suzanne Lang and Max Lang, Grades K-2
• Duck & Goose: Honk! Quack! Boo! By Tad Hills; Pre-K-Grade 1
• Giggling Ghosts! by Fiz Osborne, illustrated by Tim Budgen; Pre-K—Grade 1  
• Happy Spooky Halloween! by LeBron James, illustrated by Ariel Landy; Grades 1-2
• The Haunted Playground by R. J. Palacio, illustrated by Brett Helquist; Grades 3-4
• Jasper Rabbit’s Creepy Tales!: Yarn Is Everything! by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown; chapter book; Grades 3-4
• Pizza and Taco: Scariest Sleepover Ever! By Stephen Shaskan; Grades 1-2
• Richard Scarry’s Lowly Worm Saves Halloween; Pre-K-Grade 1
• Scritch! Scratch! An Itchy Witchy Halloween Tale by Teri Sloat, illustrated by Zuzana Ĉupova’; Grades 1-2
• The Secret Dragon by Briony May Smith, Grades 2-3
• Spells to Cast on Your Parents by Pete Holmes, Grades K-2
• Spooky Pookie by Sandra Boynton; Pre-K
• Stitch Head: The Pirate’s Eye by Guy Bass, illustrated by Pete Willaimson; graphic novel; Grades 3-5
• Tiddly and Winks: Don’t Be Scared by R. L. Stine, illustrated by Marc Brown (Ready-to-Read) Grades 1-2
• To Knit a Ghost by Z. B. Asterplume, illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee; Grades 2-3
• A Very Scary Book by Andela DiTerlizzi and Tony DiTerlizzi; Grades K-2

Have a title to suggest? Scroll down to add it in the Comments section at the end of this post.

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Meet the Author

Brandon James Scott loves coffee. He loves drawing. Like Skeleton, he also loves quiet. And cats—Cats are good. Brandon wrote and illustrated The Skeleton and the Cat, and he is the illustrator of more than a dozen picture books, including A Bear, A Man, and a Donut Van, A Cure For the Hiccups, and I Was Born a Baby. He is also the Emmy Award–nominated creator of the preschool television series Justin Time and is a creative director with 20 years of experience in the animation industry. Brandon lives with his family in Burlington, Canada. Visit Brandon’s website to learn more.

Backstory: Q & A with Brandon James Scott

It is my pleasure to introduce you to Brandon! When I reached out to invite him to be my guest this month on Children’s Book Corner, his warm nature and passion for his work were immediately evident. I discovered that he is an international neighbor, living in Canada across the shores of Lake ONTARIO from where I live. In this interview you will learn about the creation of Brandon’s debut as an author/illustrator as well as a bit about other projects in the works. Brandon’s books encourage kindness while supplying ample amounts of winning humor. The Skeleton and the Cat drew me in from the cover onward. The art, the text, and the message come together in a satisfying read-aloud choice about the pleasure found in making—and nurturing—unlikely friendships. Read on. You’ll see: Brandon is one humorous, likeable guy!

Judy Bradbury: Named a #1 Kids’ Indie Next Pick and a Best Kids’ Book of 2026, The Skeleton and the Cat is your debut as an author-illustrator and the first title in a series. Impressive! Tell us about this project: What seeded its creation? How do you see the series growing with subsequent titles?

Brandon James Scott: It started as an self-initiated illustration project—a daily picture exercise I did for a while. I don’t exactly know why I settled on these two characters. It was originally a grim reaper who was sort of done with the ‘reaping’ and just wanted to relax and enjoy life. And I gave her a cat sidekick. The more pictures I made of them, the more they became friends. Eventually it seemed like a good idea to try to turn it into a book. 

JB: How did you land on the format of chapters for this story?

BJS: I tried to a write a more traditional story but I couldn’t get it to work. I went from doing bite-sized single illustrations to trying to make this large story and I couldn’t figure it out. But I had characters that felt strong to me. So I approached it in a similar way to how I approached the daily illustrations: I just tried to think of a moment or a scene that these two could be in, and then expand on that. I was able to write these little sketches that were based on a single idea or gag, and I ended up writing quite a few of them. And then by stringing a few of them together, you felt there was a larger story going on, but you only saw it through smaller mini-stories. It’s a format that worked well for other friendship classics like George and Martha or Frog and Toad.

JB: Tell us about a challenge you faced in the creation of The Skeleton and the Cat, or provide a memorable (or humorous!) anecdote related to this book. 

BJS: Seeing these characters in a book at all was a challenge, because it’s not how it started. I honestly thought it would just be a fun art project, and I initially didn’t see it working in a longer format of written stories. Thankfully due to some encouragement from my agent and some publishers I gave it a shot.

JB: What is one unexpected joy that came from the creation of The Skeleton and the Cat?

BJS: I think developing their voices through dialogue when writing was the most surprising fun thing. Writing doesn’t come as easy to me as illustrating but I did enjoy hearing these characters speak and developing their personalities through dialogue.

JB: Which is your favorite illustration in the book? Why?

BJS: Definitely the illustration in “The Sandwich” where the Skeleton is trying to figure out how a sandwich works and puts her skull in-between two slices of bread.

Illustration © 2026 Brandon James Scott 

JB: What would surprise readers to learn about you or about the creation of The Skeleton and the Cat?

BJS: Some people are surprised to hear I don’t own a cat (for now…). However I did grow up with one, and seem to get along with them whenever I meet one.

JB: Who is your target audience?

BJS: I think this book works for children who enjoy some spooky things but not necessarily scary things. It’s a cozy friendship story more than anything, with a slightly darker side.

JB: What do you hope young listeners / readers will take away from The Skeleton and the Cat?

BJS: I hope they look at Skeletons differently now!

JB: Hah! There’s that sense of humor! How do you see The Skeleton and the Cat connecting to curriculum or being used in learning settings?

BJS: While I definitely didn’t write the book to convey a specific message or moral, I do think there are some lessons or useful examples relating to making friends, trying new things, getting out of your comfort zone, and respecting others’ boundaries.

Illustration © 2026 Brandon James Scott 

JB: You have illustrated other picture books that are humorous but also have social-emotional learning components. Tell how your interest in working on such books developed.

BJS: Humor is really the thing. I want to work on books that give me a chance to tell a fun and often funny story, and develop characters that can be entertaining and endearing. You can learn from lots of different stories, but I think making a great story with characters you love is always the priority. 

JB: If you could ask your young audience a question, what would it be?

BJS: What is your favorite sandwich?

JB: Tell us about forthcoming books.

BJS: More Skeleton and the Cat is coming! A second book, just like the first one with five more stories, is arriving next summer. And after that there will be a few Skeleton and Cat I Can Read books…

JB: More fun in store! What work(s)-in-progress do you currently have on your desk?

BJS: Not my desk, but beside it on my easel—I’ve gotten back into painting again, and have been working on some new acrylic on canvas paintings (featuring some familiar cats and skulls…).

JB: What is one question you wish I had asked, and what is your answer?

BJS: What is my favorite sandwich? (!)

And truthfully, it’s a very good question, because there are so many good ones out there. But if I had to choose only one, it would be a clubhouse.

Illustration © 2026 Brandon James Scott

A Selection of Books Illustrated by Brandon James Scott

Sidebar Spotlight New releases of note

Each month I receive several boxes of books for review from various publishers. As I read and peruse the books, I place them in two piles: those that I will consider featuring on the blog, and those that don’t fit the theme of Children’s Book Corner blog for whatever reason. Ultimately, I choose the one new release I will feature on my monthly blog post. Yet there are many terrific books I wish I could give a shout-out to, even if I can’t write an entire post about each one. So I highlight those books on most Mondays on Instagram and Bluesky.

Sidebar Spotlight is a means of giving a nod to new releases that, in my opinion, are noteworthy. I’ve linked each title to Bookshop so you can learn more. Happy reading, friends! And feel free to comment on these or other new books in the Comments section at the end of this post.

Gifts from Crows by Gideon Sterer, illustrated by Shadra Strickland is the true story of a nurturing friendship between a girl and neighborhood crows that speaks to kindness, patience, trust, and the anchor attributes of friendship. Highly recommended read-aloud, Grades K-4. Consider pairing with Go, Crow (see below).

Go, Crow by Tjitske Kamphuis follows a crow from dawn to dusk in this picture book with minimal, rhyming text and illustrations that soar off the page. Recommended read-aloud, Pre-K-Grade 1. Consider pairing with Gifts from Crows (see above).

A Riddle of Eels by Nicholas Day and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor is a clever informational picture book using the subject of eels and their puzzling history to approach the concept of curiosity and the satisfaction wonder brings —even without solid answers. Brilliant! Recommended read-aloud Grades 2-4. 

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News, Updates, & Items of Interest

The Fall season finds me out and about enjoying school visits, participating in book festivals and panel discussions, and just having a bunch of bookish fun! Here’s what’s in store through the month of November.

On October 29, I’ll be taking part in family fun activities planned for Lockport Literacy Night: “Unlock the Magic of Reading.”

On November 8, I’ll be returning to the Rochester Children and Teens’ Book Festival taking place from 10am-4pm at Monroe Community College. At 1:00pm, I’ll be participating on a panel, teaming with Kevin Kurtz and James Preller to discuss “Brainstorms: How to Build a Book.” Check the Festival schedule for times and locations of all activities throughout the day.

Find all the information about where my books and I will be on my Events page.

Find me online at Instagram, Bluesky, and LinkedIn where I post about books, book-related items of interest, Little Free Libraries, and occasionally travel (on IG). Connect with me there!

I am currently booking school visits and professional development sessions for the 2026-27 school year. Find information and contact me to discuss a visit tailored to meet your school’s needs.

Photo credit: Jody LaRose

Readers Theater with props! Cayuga Island Kids, The Adventure of the Big Fish by the Small Creek

Small and large group presentations

A note  received following a recent school visit:

Thank you so much for coming to meet with my students. You were wonderful, answering their questions and explaining how you wrote the book. We all loved it! Here are some illustrated thank you notes the students made for you. Thank you again!

And here’s a note I received after presenting “SEL-Related Children’s Books with Curriculum Tie-Ins” to teachers and librarians of Grades Pre-K—Grade 6:

Thanks so much for presenting! I heard wonderful things about your workshop! One person mentioned to me that you were so organized and passionate. They also loved seeing all the children’s books you brought with you!

Find my books packaged as a series at your favorite bookseller. Individual titles are also available in hardcover, softcover, and e-book versions.

Kindness tip: If you read and like a book, consider posting a review on GoodReads, social media, or on Amazon (if you bought it there). Authors and illustrators appreciate the shout-out. Even a one-sentence comment increases visibility of a book. Also consider placing a request with your local library to purchase a copy–another free way to support a book you recommend!

Over to You…

Join the conversation! Offer your thoughts related to this month’s post in the Comments section below:

What seasonal picture book stands out to you? Share the title, author, and suggested age or grade range.

You are also welcome to post a general comment.

Thanks for sharing!

Final Thought

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