The Skeleton and the Cat

by Brandon James Scott

A humorous and touching tale of the unexpected friendship that blossoms between a peaceful skeleton and a persistent cat. Told in five short and charming stories that will remind you of Frog and Toad.

Skeleton lives alone in lonesome bliss. She reads books, drinks tea, and tends to her garden. it’s simple and peaceful. Until, one day, a cat knocks on Skeleton’s door… "Can I come in?" asks the Cat. Readers and cat lovers of all ages will adore this surprising duo who is sure to convince you that skeletons are gardeners, cats tell good-ish jokes, and, together, they make the best of friends.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Cats, Animals, Halloween, Humor

64 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 2026

About the author

Brandon is an award-winning Canadian author & illustrator who makes picture books.

His latest book, The Skeleton and the Cat with HarperCollins, is a National Indie Bestseller and is his author-Illustrator debut. It’s the first book in a series based on his Dead Cat personal art project.

He's the illustrator of over 15 picture books, including A Cure for the Hiccups with Penguin Random House, A Bear, a Man, and a Donut Van, One Day at the Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea, A Bear, a Fish, and a Fishy Wish, and A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree with Hippo Park, and I Live in a Tree Trunk and I Was Born a Baby with HarperCollins.

Brandon is also an Emmy Award–nominated creator of the Canadian preschool television series Justin Time and is a creative director with 20 years' experience in the animation industry.

A born and raised Canadian, he lives with his wife and two children in Burlington, Ontario.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated book is made up of 5 short vignettes about the relationship that develops between a little black cat and a reclusive skeleton! I think that the stories would appeal to children in grades 4-6. I enjoyed seeing their relationship evolve.

[Taj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not just for children! A charming story that made me smile & my heart happy & the illustrations are simply gorgeous. A gem of a book!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this a few months ago and instantly pre-ordered it. A very cute book.
As you may tell from the cover illustration, although one of the characters is a skeleton, this is not a scary tale at all. Instead, it tells the tale of a little black cat, who is pretty determined to make friends with a skeleton who lives alone. The illustrations are so beautiful and charming. They are very vibrant, with lovely details (the pictures on the wall in the chapter about the sandwich, for example, reacting to what is taking place before them). Through the chapters, it shows how opening up your world can give you benefits which you possibly didn't even imagine to begin with.
A lovely tale, and I would definitely like to see more of skeleton and cat in the future.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe it’s because I am emotionally fragile right now, but I cried through this whole picture book. Better still, Brandon James Scott’s The Skeleton and the Cat is a beautiful portrayal of an unlikely friendship. It’s charming, and quirky, and I think it can be enjoyed by all, not just kids.

I’ve followed his work for a long time, and I am always astounded by the beauty of his art. Everything feels purposeful and intentional. The colours are vibrant, the illustrations are expressive, and the short stories as a whole are both tender and humourous. As a spooky kid-turned-adult myself, I loved it.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could live in a children’s book, I’d want to live in this one!

This is such a cute, charming collection of stories about a misanthropic skeleton lady and the black cat who basically decided that she would adopt him.

Together, the pair share meals, read books, tend the garden, and enjoy each other’s company. It’s a simple but delightful, soft story about being a good friend and the joy of friendship.

I think this is definitely great for readers of all ages, especially young readers who are learning to be good friends or who enjoy spooky things or cats or all of the above :)

In addition to being such a lovely story, the art is wholesome and charming. It has a soft, almost pastel quality to it.

All around enjoyable read! Would highly recommend 💀~

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable!

[Shelby Logan-Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the absolute cutest 😭

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, but not amazing. I liked the scene re: the Skeleton eating a sandwich for the first time and the pictures on the wall behind them, but logically, if Skeleton knows about tea and how to drink it, wouldn’t she also know about food and how to eat it?

Also, no mention of bread in the very short list of food Skeleton had on hand. How were the sandwiches made?

3, cute but takes suspension of disbelief beyond the original premise, stars.

[MKF · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had been looking forward to this book but it wasn't worth the excitement. The story is simple and for some reason is divided into separate sections. The section about the sandwich made the skeleton look like an idiot who can't eat but can drink. It is also in the section about the sandwich where the look of the house in the background is different. This book had potential to be something great but the story needed work and the art could have been slightly more cohesive.

[Andrea Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be the cutest book I’ve read this year and I must have one for my personal library 📚 ❤️

[Beth Ann McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous illustrations, and such a fun story!

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love an unlikely friendship and Skeleton and Cat gives just that.
I only had access to the audio and I wish the illustrations had been available to turn along with.
Very cute story.
Thank you NetGalley & HarperAudio Children’s for my ALC.

[Adrienne Blaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re going to give a children’s book as a gift, you absolutely need to read it first. This one was charming from beginning to end and the 5-year-old I gifted it to didn’t want to save the second half for bedtime. Short stories show vignettes that capture a spooky take on the joys of cat friendship over solitude. Perfect for Halloween season and beyond.

[Rachael Dockery · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 - The pictures are better than the stories.

[Cheryl Gladfelter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous, smidge melancholy. I love it.

[Stella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well that was…interesting. I definitely didn’t love it. But it wasn’t exactly awful. The illustrations are generally nice. The story is goofy. I disliked the sandwich chapter…it’s illogical to drink tea but not have a clue how to bite food. The portraits changing expressions in the background are kind of ugly and don’t match the rest of the house decor. It was not what I expected somehow.

[Janelle Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t review picture books unless they are exceptional and this one is EXCEPTIONAL. I laughed out loud, I teared up, I got lost in the illustrations. It’s an incredibly heartwarming and charming story of a cat who befriends a skeleton. Not spooky at all and it’s so fun to read aloud. It’s a must-have addition to anyone’s fall picture book library, though me and my kids will definitely be reading this year round. I may be overselling this, but I love it so so much.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish this were my life.
Either the skeleton or the cat is fine.

[Einon Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable, funny, and cute! I want a sequel 🩷

[Ashley Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute story and artwork. I checked out this book for myself because I loved the image of a skeleton 💀 spending time with a cat 🐈‍⬛️

[Hannah | Reading Under Covers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SO cute 😭

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ALC.

There was something incredibly comforting about Skeleton and the Cat. At its heart, this is a story about friendship, kindness, and the way one friend can gently encourage another to step outside of their comfort zone. The relationship between the skeleton and the cat felt genuine and sweet, and I found myself completely invested in their journey together.

I listened to the audiobook version, and it was wonderfully done. The narration was easy to follow, and the story was divided into sections that almost felt like short chapters, making it a great option for younger listeners. Even without seeing the illustrations, I never felt like I was missing important parts of the story because the warmth and charm came through so clearly in the narration.

What I loved most was how peaceful and reassuring this book felt. There was no unnecessary drama or confusion—just a cozy story about companionship and caring for others. This is one of those rare children’s books that feels just as enjoyable for adults as it does for kids. I finished it with a smile on my face and immediately wanted a copy for my own shelf.

Who Should Read/Listen?
Parents looking for a comforting read-aloud, classrooms building friendship-themed collections, children who love cats or skeletons, and adults who appreciate cozy stories with a lot of heart.

[Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been staring at me on the shelves at work for the last few weeks and I decided to read it to see if it would be a good gift for my cousin's youngest, and honestly? I wanna buy it for myself now. This is so stinking cute. It's funny, it's beautifully illustrated, and it's halloween-y, so obviously it's right up my alley.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

☆*☆*☆*☆*☆*~ Aaaaaaall the Stars ~ *☆*☆*☆*☆*☆

Much anticipated after I already fell in love with these characters through social media. Was worth every second of waiting for delivery, and every cent and my liver that I paid for this pretty book to be shipped to Switzerland. I love how huge the pictures are and to find all the little background details.

[Matt Athanasiou · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated story about a skeleton and a cat. Sometimes you find a book that feels like it was made for you.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars.

🐈‍⬛ The vibes:
- Beautiful illustrations
- Children’s book (good for all ages)
- 5 short stories
- Humorous

🐈‍⬛ My thoughts:
This has to be one of my favorite book purchases for the year. The artwork is gorgeous. The colors are vibrant and eye catching. The skeleton is just spooky enough while not being creepy, and the cat is freaking adorable.

🐈‍⬛ There’s 5 very short stories in this book as we follow a skeleton who is alone and happy with her peace and solitude. When a cat arrives at the skeletons doorstep and forces a friendship, fun chaos ensues. The skeleton and the cat have lots of adorable fun together, and I loved everything about this book.

🐈‍⬛ I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to have some happiness in their life.

Note- adorable and humorous for all ages!

[Anne Maddox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually don't review the children's books that I read, but this one deserves the recognition! The Halloween vibes are great, but it is not at all scary. The skeleton learns about friendship from a friendly cat. Through this tale, the skeleton finds what she wasn't even looking for - a good friend. So sweet, a bit funny, with great illustrations -- this book is a winner.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute story! Would make a sweet gift for kiddos in your life.

[Boo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The modern Frog and Toad?

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute and I enjoyed it as much as my six year old. We hope it becomes a series!