Common Sense Media Review
By Susan Faust
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Opposites attract in charming, not-scary tale of friendship.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
A wide-eyed black cat comes knocking on the door of a hollow-eyed skeleton in THE SKELETON AND THE CAT. Skeleton loves her simple life of books, tea, and no interruptions. Then Cat, spirited and curious, shows up. "Can I come in?" he asks. With a joke, he wins entrance to her house, and thus begins the story of how this odd couple forges a friendship and learns from each other. This opening scenario unfolds in "The Knock," one of five vignettes in a short story collection, presented in picture book format. In "The Sandwich," Skeleton learns what to do with a stale loaf of bread. In "The Garden," Cat shows that dancing among the flowers "makes everything better." In "The Book," Skeleton finds that "all books are better when you have a cat sitting on your lap." In "The Night Sky, " Skeleton and Cat feel the majesty of the universe and the pleasures of their unfolding friendship.
Is It Any Good?
Making friends and having a growth mindset are relevant themes in this endearing picture book story collection titled The Skeleton and the Black Cat. Two often sinister archetypes from traditional literature look the parts but don't act accordingly. Here the playful art shows that the hooded skeleton and black cat represent two different personality types, encountering each other for the first time. The extroverted cat woos the introverted skeleton into engagement, and their banter offers a fresh take on the "opposites attract" motif. The humor is deliciously dry while the bright, contrasted art eases any worries that young children might have about what's next. With no spider webs or bats in sight, Skeleton's colorful house and garden make fertile ground to spark friendship and for possibilities to blossom. As in the beloved tales of "Frog and Toad" and "George and Martha," this droll short story collection easily proves anew that friendship may have small challenges but, more important, it has big rewards.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can discuss the friendship between The Skeleton and the Cat. Do friends need to be alike, or can they be different and still share good times? Do opposites attract?
How do you feel about the art in this book? Skeleton and Cat are portrayed in black and white while the the places, inside and out, are cheery and colorful? How do the bright colors make you feel about the "spooky" characters?
In the story, the curious Cat doesn't give up on befriending reserved Skeleton. Have you ever had to work hard to win over a new friend who might be shy or scared?
In the story, it takes time for Skeleton and Cat to learn how to communicate, to listen to each other and learn. How do you communicate your ideas and feelings to friends?
This book is divided into five short chapters or stories. Do you have a favorite? If so, which one and why?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Brandon James Scott
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Friendship
- Character Strengths : Communication , Curiosity , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Harper Collins Publishers
- Publication date : July 7, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 64
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : July 14, 2026
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