Strange Creatures

by Cristina Sitja Rubio, Cristobal León

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Fiction

44 pages, Hardcover

Published October 7, 2025

Reviews

[Adriana Martinez Figueroa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Kids Can Press for access to the e-ARC on Edelweiss!

Strange Creatures is a fantastic tale of animals defending their natural habitats from encroaching humans. They've been tricked into going to a feast, and when they return, their trees and homes have been deforested. A strong allegory for the displacement of families due to climate change and the creation of climate refugees, the sparse writing allows for the art to take over and tell the story for our animal friends.

The book will be available for US and Canadian markets October 7th, 2025.

[Bookmeaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange Creatures - 3,25/5 - lecture en anglais, avis en anglais :

"Our homes had disappeared.
Only their skeletons remained."

Strange Creatures, one day, stole the animals houses, while they were busy at a party. When the animals came back they were no homes left. They try to explain to the creatures that they need their homes. But to no avail. So they tried to build back with what was left : strange objects left here and there by the strange creatures. But this didn't work out in the end...

"But something wasn't right.
The houses fell over in the wind...
...and they gave us no fruit."

How do they try to fix this ? Make a plan, arrange a conversation with the Strange Creatures' guardians... Find a solution.

"We tried to speak to the strange creatures who had done this. (...) It was easier to communicate with the strange creatures' small guardians."

Strange Creatures is a contemporary story about how humans treat nature, the planet, the animals and forest nowadays, and since a long time. It's applicable to the global warming, displacement of living creatures (humans, animals, insects, plants), how they destroy humans and animals habitats. It's about how we should protect our Home, with a big H, meaning the planet, the natural habitats, constructions. A good little story with a very important environmental message. There are always consequences when we pick up, cut down, collect, ressources from some place : it ends up changed, ressourceless, disrupted. It could lead to permanent change and not in a good way. We have to keep communication open between humans, living forms and our shared home.

One small remark about the book, it's a bit hard to read the black text over some illustrations.

[Ankit Saxena · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Human beings are strange creatures. As people come across one another they produce various outcomes. Good things, sometimes. And other times, bad.”
― Natsuki Takaya, Fruits Basket, Vol. 16

Strange Creatures by Cristina Sitja Rubio and Cristóbal León is a hauntingly beautiful and thought-provoking picture book that carries a powerful environmental message. Through its evocative illustrations and tender storytelling, the book reminds us that humans are steadily and slowly eating away all the forests—destroying the very habitats that countless creatures and animals call home.

Each page captures the wonder and uniqueness of these beings, while also stirring a deep sense of urgency about what we stand to lose if we don’t change our ways. It’s a gentle yet impactful introduction for children and a striking reminder for adults, about the fragile connection between humans, animals and nature. A truly important and visually stunning book that sparks reflection, compassion and action.

My NetGalley review

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

A number of forest animals are tricked and their homes are stolen (i.e., their forest is cut down). They try to replace them with pieces scrounged from a junkyard, but it's not any good. When they figure out where their homes have vanished, they try to get them back but are unsuccessful. When they show the strange creatures (humans) who took their homes what this loss means to the animals they and the strange creatures work out a compromise.

With bright illustrations, authors Cristina Sitja Rubio's and Cristóbal León's fable shows the horror of losing one's safe place, as well as how the loss of the forest affects the animals' ability to not only shelter from weather and danger, but also to eat.

The environmental message in this story is simply conveyed to children, showing them part of what can happen with deforestation, and how individuals can be displaced by sudden change to habitat.

I'd love to think that people, when faced with such well-described and sensible information, would respond by trying to remedy the harm they've caused.

3.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Kids Can Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

[Theediscerning · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm… Seemingly from 2013 in the original French (so no rush, then…), this weird picture book has the forest animals have a wonderful party, but get back home to find the forest demolished behind their backs. Strange creatures, that look like humans, have taken their homes, shelters and fruit supplies. What are they to do?

The story here is obvious, and obviously important, but I don't think this is the way to deliver it. This is bordering on the surreal at times, the hand-done lettering doesn't make this attractive, and the art to me left a lot to be desired. If anything I think the way the forest animals engage in tit-for-tat (I'll leave it as a surprise (or should that be disappointment)) is just too oddball for this to really work. Plus it's over in record time, meaning that it might as well stay a forest for now, and wait til you stumble on it by chance for a speedy – and weird – browse.

I've said for years books are translated with the speed they deserve, and this couldn't have been anyone's priority. Don't rush to make it yours.

[Vincent Desjardins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fable about the loss of wildlife habitat can also be looked at as a metaphor about any group who are forced from their homes. Though the story's focus may be on the animals who lose their homes, the lesson of the story is an important one for the strange creatures referred to in the book's title - the humans. When we cause the destruction of habitat belonging to other species, we put our own homes in danger as well. This book with its expressionistic, somewhat child-like paintings by Cristóbal León will provide a thought-provoking starting point for conversations on many different subjects including refugees, deforestation, climate change and sustainability.

[Amanda Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

The animals of the forest become distracted by a party and when they return home after the party, their homes (the forest trees) are gone. They find the strange creatures that took their homes but communicating with humans is difficult so they talk to the human pets instead. They come up with a plan to get their homes back. It’s wild. The story is sweet. The illustrations are a bit too busy sometimes and not clearly drawn. I’m sure I missed some nuances occasionally but I did notice sad faces on logs and stumps.

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine that you were invited to a party, and when you returned . . . your home was missing.

That's the dilemma facing the animals in this lovely picture book. It's a sad, sad situation, though the animals' solutions to their problem are pretty funny. The ending shows the benefits of cooperation, and offers hope.

This was a sweet, somewhat melancholy read. And, I LOVED the illustrations by Cristobal León.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for sharing this.

[Katerina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely story this is! Making kids aware of how taking from nature and not giving back makes animals suffer. If people cut trees without planting new ones, animals will have no place to live. Creative approach to this sensitive subject.

Highly recommended for readers of all ages

Thank you, NetGalley, and Kids Can Press for this awesome digital copy, thoroughly enjoyed.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the forest animals return from a party, the trees are all gone-- including their homes and food. The strange creatures that took everything don't seem to understand the problem... the animals may need to take drastic measures to communicate! Clever, funny, and a little bit sad-- with a few seedlings of hope!

[Meghan Bohn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't care for the art style, and overall message was meh.