As we write this review in the sweltering heat at Literacy Tree HQ, we’re reflecting on the climate change that’s clearly contributing to the increased temperatures year on year. Lots of us at Literacy Tree have pets, from Guinea pigs (with the inclusion of a surprise baby!) and a rabbit to several dogs and cats. Keeping our be-furred companions cool is a struggle but we do all we can to help keep them safe in extreme heat: they’re family!

So, because we adore our pets so much as well as creatures in the wild, we’ve selected a range of animal-themed books for this month’s literature review. There are dogs brawling with bears; a bizarre comic world inhabited by a range of anthropomorphic creatures; and a book that is a foray into all-things feline. Oh and there are some squids too…

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Picture book

Dogs and Bears by Max Porter and Dorothee de Monfreid 
(Faber, 30th July 2026)

At first glance, this looks as if it’s going to be a rather frivolous look at dogs and bears that brawl. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. The book is narrated by an unseen voice, who announces that this is a story about animals brawling. In fact, they’re actually fighting for the third time. There seem to be lots of things that annoy the bears. First, it’s because the dogs enjoy dressing in sunglasses and berets. This annoys the bears. The second brawl is the result of the dogs making sweets: Sticky, sickly candy fruit. Burnt sugar on the breeze. Imagine trying to eat a savoury meal while someone is making lemon sherbet up wind… also annoys the bears. But then when the third brawl happens, nobody knows why. And therein lies the problem: if nobody is sure why a brawl has started, it becomes much harder for the brawl to end asserts the narrator who has by now been revealed as a bathtub-dwelling protestor, keen for peace to be restored.

Behind De Monfreid’s hilarious illustrations (the facial expressions and passive-aggressive body language are captured perfectly!) is a clear message around conflict and how community and a different perspective can be everything in effecting change. The rich discussions that could be had around the themes in this book make it perfect for children in year 2 and up. And - in case you were wondering - the narrator, it turns out, is a squid.

Comic book

Squid Bits by Jess Bradley
(Phoenix Comic Books published by David Fickling, 4th June 2026)

Curiously enough, just as there are squabbles between dogs and bears, so too are there moments of conflict in this brilliant comic book by Jess Bradley. There’s an array of ‘friendly and adorable’ characters who appear in several comic strips throughout. There are also several handy lists such as ‘things you should not pickle’ and things you’d not want to find lurking under your sofa. And then there’s the rather rude red panda… to be fair, he is billed as ‘Nature’s Jerk’ so he might simply be living up to expectations but he does appear to have turned over a new leaf when he realises he is actually capable of love… in fact, he’s found a mirror and it is his own reflection he’s fallen for! Highly quirky and hugely appealing, this is perfect for children in lower key stage 2 and up on long summer days when the heat is making everyone woozy and irritable and some downtime is needed. 

Non-fiction

Cats! Cats! Cats! Cats are cool and so is this book. Fact. (Nature Investigator) by Susan Martineau (Author), Vicky Barker (Illustrator)
(b small publishing, 2nd July 2026)

This is utterly gorgeous! Martineau and Barker (firm favourites of ours) have once again created a stylish, fascinating non-fiction book. And as the title would suggest, this is very much an ‘all about cats’ offering. There are moggies and the Andean mountain cat; there are huge, powerful apex predators and tiny (by comparison) wildcats; and there are prides of lions, perhaps proud of their community-mindedness and social structure. All cats included! The ‘superpowers’ of cats are explored, with not only their incredible sense of smell and balance but also an extra sense that’s a combination of smell and taste for ‘especially interesting’ smells. Who knew? Endangered cats, mysterious cats and cats from the past, including the Ancient Egyptian belief that cats were sacred, are all feline facts that are explored. Perfect for all age-groups.

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