The Skeleton and the Cat by Brandon James Scott has already earned four starred professional reviews, and it’s easy to see why! This sweet Halloween read-aloud isn’t scary at all. While the skeleton values her solitude, she is kind to a rather persistent cat that comes calling one day.
Author and Illustrator: Brandon James Scott
Themes: friendship, solitude, joy of reading, skeletons, cats
Great for: cozy Halloween read-alouds, unlikely friendship stories
Recommended for: PreS-Grade 3
Release date: July 7, 2026
The Skeleton and the Cat is about a skeleton who just wants peace and solitude. She loves to read, tend her garden, and drink her tea. But when a persistent cat comes calling, she slowly finds that she likes having a friend around. After all, reading books is so much better with a cat purring in your lap!
⭐ Recipient of four starred professional reviews
👻 A wonderful “cozy Halloween” read-aloud
❤️ Great for discussions about kindness and unexpected friendship
🔍 Hidden illustration details encourage close reading
It’s a delightfully cozy Halloween read! Yes, there’s a skeleton, but she’s gentle and kind. Her bright, cheerful home is filled with charming details, and the story ends with the sweetest scene of the skeleton reading while the kitty curls up in her lap.
Sharp-eyed readers will also enjoy looking for what might be hidden Easter eggs in the illustrations.
This is something elementary school librarians are sure to notice!
Take a close look at the framed pictures on the wall behind the kitchen table in the skeleton’s house.
One picture looks remarkably like the red house from The House with Nobody In It (2026), illustrated by Jon Klassen.
Another frame features a simple yellowish-brown triangle, reminiscent of Triangle (2017), written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen.
The other two pictures—a dog and a cowboy—appear to have a different illustration style. In contrast, the geometric house and triangle have a much simpler, more iconic look that strongly resembles Klassen’s artwork.
Could Brandon James Scott be paying tribute to Jon Klassen’s books?
The connection is especially intriguing because The House with Nobody In It, also published in July 2026, stars another solitary supernatural character—a ghost living alone in a house.
Coincidence or intentional Easter egg? I suspect it’s the latter, but unless Brandon James Scott confirms it, we can’t know for sure. Either way, your students will have fun comparing the illustrations and deciding for themselves!
Whether you’re looking for a gentle Halloween read-aloud or a heartwarming friendship story, The Skeleton and the Cat is an easy recommendation. It’s a cozy, comforting picture book that reminds us that even those who treasure their solitude sometimes discover life is sweeter with a friend.
Love Halloween books? Check out my Halloween Digital Booktalk for dozens of fun, creepy, mysterious, and heartwarming Halloween reads for every grade level.
