Eon: My Pet Tardigrade

by Cybèle Young, Nell Jocelyn (Primary Contributor)

Genres: Picture Books

56 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 11, 2026

About the author

Cybèle Young is an award-winning paper sculpture artist as well as an author and illustrator of children's books.

Reviews

[Chelsea Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eon by Cybèle Young is a visually stunning exploration of the microscopic world. Through intricate paper sculptures, Young tells a gentle, poetic story about a pet tardigrade and the importance of letting go.

Pros:
Breathtaking Art: The 3D cut-paper illustrations and foldout page are unique and fascinating.
STEM Spark: A perfect introduction to the resilient "water bear" for curious kids.

Cons:
Quiet Pacing: The meditative tone might be too slow for fans of high-action stories.
Delicate Feel: The complex art style is best appreciated by slightly older or more careful readers.

A beautiful, high-quality choice for children interested in the wonders of the natural world.

[Kali Cordes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow -- this book is stunning! I homeschool my 7.5 year old and we are learning about tardigrades, so we were both very excited to read it. Right away, my daughter was drawn into the story by finding Eon hidden in the narrator's microscope frames. The cut paper art is beautiful and gave the illusion that parts of the book were popping off the page. Our favorites were the rooms that the narrator created for Eon, as well as the scattered stars. Although it wasn't mentioned by name, we recognized when Eon went into his tun stage and enjoyed the connection to our homeschool learning. We loved this book!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Tundra Book Group through NetGalley.
Readers meet Eon through the eyes of the young girl who found him through a microscope. This tardigrade became her "pet" and she shared all about him. We learn how much he can endure and survive in the natural world. Then, she sets up spaces for him until it's time for him to move on. Charming illustrations by Jocelyn capture the scenes and allow readers to see into his world. The simple to follow text will appeal to preschool and elementary level readers. I love how much science they will learn as they read about these two.
Don't miss the author's message at the end.

[Moth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Tundra Books for the ARC!
Eon is a picture book about a girl who discovers a tardigrade (water bear) through her microscope and decides to care for it.
This was a very sweet story about friendship and how to let go of someone. I have always loved tardigrades, so this was an A+ for me.
The art style is very cool and features lots of 2D and 3D paper art. It’s very simple, yet colorful, and the scenes depicting microscopic organisms are absolutely stunning.
I highly recommend this to anyone, especially if you love biology and science.

[Stef · Rating 5 out of 5]

[i received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review]
Im biased, waterbears are my favorite animal. When I found out I was pregnant, my app said my baby was the size of a waterbear. I did so much research on these resilient little creatures to make me feel calm. Theres something so relaxing about a tiny little bear that is so resilient. This book had a lot of good information that was told in a very accessible, whimsical way. I loved the art as well

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A cute story about a small creature that the young girl finds and all the things she wants to create for it. I also love that the author describes how she came up with this story after meeting her very own Tardigrade at a Lighthouse on the St. Lawrence River, one of my favorite places ever.

[Ambi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn’t love a picture book about a tardigrade? This was a super adorable story about a young scientist who discovers a water bear in her microscope. The art collages are beautiful. We loved trying to spot Eon when he was hiding. Heartfelt and informative, this book was the perfect blend of fact and fiction.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
This is everything I love about a new picture book- it’s unique, has lovely artwork, and contains new content that causes students to think about things differently. In this case, a girl finds a tardigrade when using her microscope and decides to keep him as a pet. I look forward to sharing this!

[Dylan Teut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really remarkable, and sure to be a standout title for this year. The unique illustrations bring life to the curious text, making for a read aloud that is both heartwarming and surprising. I loved reading the back matter and imagine this book will spark further inquiry and curiosity. Bravo!

[Raven Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book. A lot.

When it comes out. Get a lot of copies to share and to read.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful mixed media art and cute story about a microscopic super organism.