Small Pets

by Cynthia Rylant, Benson Shum (Illustrator)

Say hello to many cute, cuddly, very small pets in this adorable picture book from Newbery Medal winner and author of the Henry and Mudge series, Cynthia Rylant.

In one happy neighborhood, there live many cute and cuddly pets of diminutive size. There are the parakeets, Zelda and Marty; rabbit parents Fluff and Puff with all their baby bunnies; two little mice named Tomato and Potato; and, last but not least, corgis Cookie, Biscuit, and Muffin!

Though each animal friend may be small, they’re sure to get a big aww out of readers of all ages with their infectious charm.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Pets, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2026

About the author

Cynthia Rylant is an American author, poet, and librarian whose deeply felt books for children and young adults have made her one of the most beloved voices in contemporary literature. Writing across picture books, novels, short stories, nonfiction, and poetry, she has published more than one hundred works, many of them rooted in memory, family, solitude, and the emotional landscapes of ordinary life. Her fiction often draws from her upbringing in West Virginia and reflects the textures of Appalachian life with unusual tenderness and clarity.

Raised in modest circumstances, Rylant spent much of her childhood with her grandparents in a rural setting that later became central to her imagination as a writer. Those early years, marked by hardship as well as warmth, shaped the emotional honesty and quiet resilience that define her work. She later studied English and library science, and after working as a waitress, librarian, and teacher, she began publishing books inspired by the world she had known so intimately.

Among her most acclaimed works are Missing May, which received the Newbery Medal, and A Fine White Dust, a Newbery Honor Book. She also earned Caldecott Honors for When I Was Young in the Mountains and The Relatives Came. For younger readers, she became especially well known through the enduring Henry and Mudge series, as well as other popular books and series that combine gentleness, humor, and emotional depth.

Rylant's writing is distinguished by its compassion for lonely, searching, or overlooked characters, and by its reverence for animals, nature, and small human connections. Whether writing about grief, wonder, childhood, or belonging, she brings a lyrical simplicity that resonates across generations. Her books continue to offer comfort, recognition, and beauty to readers of all ages. She remains a singular literary presence in children's literature and beyond today.

Reviews

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I requested this book as I love Cynthia Rylant who has been a celebrated author throughout my career and I am an animal rescuer. As an elementary librarian I review hundreds of books a year and consider them all for my 2 school collections. This art is adorable. The broad view of the small town and the small pets in the small town is very interesting. (We teach communities with our youngest students and I can use that page, for sure, during that unit.) The rest of the book is the owners of the small pets and how they are cared for daily. Cute illustrations and simple text describe each animal type: parakeets, bunnies, mice, and Corgi dogs. What I like is the inclusion of parakeets and mice as they are great small pets and often misunderstood how much care they need. What I did not like is the rabbits having babies. (My rescue group rescued many bunnies from folks who would not neuter or manage the rabbits they have and it gets out of hand very quickly.) Aside from my personal rescue community concerns, there is nothing wrong with this book. The cute factor is outstanding and it will likely be borrowed for the illustrations.

So, this very cute book will find its audience easily. I will likely add it to my school collection when it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Beach Lane Books for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) digitally.

[Steff Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small Pets is a simple, very cute book that goes through just a small handful of the “small” pets that a person or family could have. Truthfully, the book doesn’t delve into too many. We get birds, mice, bunnies, and corgis. It’s very slice of life-esque, just going through what a random day for these animals might look like before moving on. I’d say the most one really learns is just a little about each of the types of animals presented and that’s it. As far as standing out as a children’s book, it’s not very high up on my list even if the animals and artwork is very adorable.

Which it definitely is; I think the shining star of the book is the art. Every animal jumps off the page and demands attention. You must look here and see how adorable they are! But that’s about it and then the story is over.

Personally, I don’t know that I see this as a book most kids are going to want to open and read again and again. It’s very mellow, doesn’t really have any moments that make you laugh, and the major selling point is, again, just how great the art is. I could see kids flipping through it over and over to look at the pictures, but going out of their way to read it? Maybe. Maybe not. Worth a pick up at the library, for sure, but probably not one I’d purchase myself.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Autumn (Wanda for Halloween) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This is basically the definition of a cozy bedtime book. There is nothing scary or stressful here, just adorable little pets in sweet, homey settings. I think it would be especially well suited for children around 3–6 years old.

The illustrations were my favorite part. Everything is small, pastel, fluffy, and cozy, which gives the entire book such a warm and comforting atmosphere. It feels like the kind of book you could read right before bed and know you're not about to introduce some dramatic plot twist that will have a five-year-old suddenly asking seventeen questions at 9:47 PM.

There isn't really a deeper theme or lesson, but I don't think this book needs one. Sometimes a children's book can just be about cute pets, and Small Pets does that very well.

Overall, this was an adorable and peaceful read that I think would make a wonderful addition to a bedtime routine. If you're looking for a gentle book with cozy illustrations and absolutely zero unnecessary drama, this one fits the bill perfectly.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Beach Lane Books for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC). All thoughts are my own.

I requested this book because I saw corgis on the cover and I'm obsessed with corgis (I also have a corgi named Daisy). Overall, I enjoyed the art style. It was simple and cute, as well as colorful. The text, font, and font size were easy to read on the page.

This book is suitable for ages 4-8 years. While the story itself wasn't interesting, I could see this being a great book for new readers who are practicing reading out loud. This could even be great to break down the book into manageable chunks by reading about one group/set of animals each night, rather than reading the entire book at once, especially for those struggling to read or disinterested in reading in general.

After reading this, I would like to purchase this book when it comes out. I enjoy collecting children's books that include corgis.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are ADORABLE. They are so precious, and I love how this book showcases pets that rarely get included in picture books. However, even though this is a cozy, cute book, it has no plot. The premise is that in this neighborhood, everyone has small pets... And that's it. There is no conflict or resolution, which makes this read more like a care guide for animals. Because of the cuteness factor, this book will find an appreciative audience, but it is otherwise forgettable.

I received a temporary digital copy from the publisher through NetGalley, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Carissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Small Pets has a very cute premise and adorable artwork, the story is rather boring and lackluster. I liked the concept of a picture book about a town where everyone only has small pets, but the execution didn't really hit the mark.

All of my kids were incredibly bored and didn't pay any attention at all as I was reading to them. There wasn't really anything to grab their attention or pull them in. It read sort of like a care manual instead of a story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Beach Lane Books through Edelweiss+.
Rylant's latest is charming. Readers visit a neighborhood and meet the small pets that live there. We see portions of a typical day and meet their owners too. The text is simple to follow and early elementary readers will be able to enjoy this on their own or as a read together. The artwork is fun to look at and captures the pets' personalities as described in the story. A fun read aloud for families and classrooms.

[Kate Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

Not me tearing up about small pets and their happy, cozy lives. 😭🤍 This is such an adorable book and so full of heart. Cynthia Rylant is one of my favorite children's authors, so I'm so happy for this new book from her.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I normally love Cynthia Rylant books, but this one just isn’t doing it for me. It’s the story of some small animals in the neighborhood. Tomato and potato are mice and the corgis are biscuit muffin and I think cookie. And then the bunnies. It’s fine but it’s not really a story. I think it’s supposed to be calming for bedtime, but I just found it kind of boring.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from NetGalley for my honest review.

My 4 year old LOVED this book. It ended and she said "that book was so cute!" The illustration was amazing. The story was interesting. I have no notes. Would read it again.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super cute picture book about fictionalized small pets (I'm not sure a small dog would be classified as a small pet but I digress) is sweet and would make a good read-aloud for kindergarteners.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love parakeet representation in pet books, but the bright blue ceres on both birds indicate that they are both male birds. Ope. Sorry Marty and Zelda. A quick fact check would have fixed this since it is a book about pets.

[Rachel · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

A cute book about some small pets. Not too long so good for ST. Covers bunnies, parakeets, mice and corgi's. Almost reads like a nonfiction in that it talks about the pets and what they eat, like to do, how they are taken care of.

[Nena Jo Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute book. The little kids are gonna love the picture illustrations and the text. It's gonna keep them engaged and excited

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

soooo cute

[Alara Jennings · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Warning: your kid will ask you for a small pet after reading this.

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks)) · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Not a lot of story, but some short profiles of cute, small pets (birds, mice, rabbits, corgis). I think I would've loved this one as a kid.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small Pets was an adorable picture book featuring the small pets that call one neighborhood home.

In a small town there's a small neighborhood that's home to a variety of small pets. From parakeets to rabbits to mice to corgis, the residents of this neighborhood love their cute, cuddly, very small pets.

The illustration of the adorable animals on the cover of this book caught my eye and I knew I wanted to pick it up. The premise of a small town where the people only have small animals as pets is a cute one. The book goes through the lives of four groups of small pets; a pair of parakeets, two rabbits and their four babies, a couple of mice, and three corgis. Of the animals, I enjoyed the rabbits the most as the baby bunnies in particular were just so cute. The illustrations in this book were fantastic with bright, colorful drawings that perfectly captured the personalities of the animals.

Overall Small Pets was a fantastic read and I would highly recommend this book for young readers.