Books like Dog & Hat and the Lost Polka Dots — picked by fans

The vibe is: Saturday morning cartoons (the olden-days kind)!

The premise is simple and adorable: Tig (a small, yellow cat) and Lily (a much bigger feline with orange-and-black-stripes) both think they're tigers – but they can't both be right! The setup is funny, but the real joy is hanging out with Tig & Lily as they attempt to work through their issues.

The art is crisp and clean, and the comic timing is so spot-on that reading feels effortless. You might see the ending coming...or, like me, you might be taken delightfully by surprise. Either way, this book will lift your spirits in the most wholesome ways. (First in a series!)

The vibe is: foreboding folklore with a comforting twist!

The Wolf Suit wends through a dark wood, illustrated in a stark folk-art style that is in turns haunting and verdant. The story takes its time, building a deeply delicious atmosphere of suspense before revealing a completely unexpected ending that turns a fearful forest into a much friendlier place.

Keep a bowl of blackberries handy (and maybe a blanket to clutch), and relish the page turns! While The Wolf Suit is long in pages, the text is concise and flavorful, making this book a conquerable challenge for young readers!

I love the energetic ink and watercolor illustrations and the silly squirrel protagonists. The sequence where the squirrels interfere with a donut-making machine has a classic cartoon feel. This sweet, fun adventure story will leave you smiling–and craving donuts!

The vibe is:  wildly witty action-adventure!
The Flying Beaver Brothers series moves at lightning speed through compelling (and often dastardly) plots!  Packed with laugh-out-loud non-sequiturs, 4th wall breaks, and recurring characters, this book is densely rewarding to readers. Lucky for you, there are lots of books in this series, and you'll want them close at hand after you finish the first!

One of the things I like most about this series is that the jokes are multi-dimensional and not 'made easier' for kids...they're full-strength funny! My second favorite thing? The ridiculously inventive sound effects. (First in a series!)

When a new student, Lisa, comes to Gaspard’s class, he thinks she looks weird. Other than her color, she looks identical to Gaspard and they are both the only dogs in a classroom of humans, but Gaspard does not want anything to do with Lisa. After he learns she is a fast runner who helps his team win a race, he changes his mind and they become friends forever. The loose, bright paintings accentuate their childlike personalities. All their naughty “misadventures” make us laugh out loud every time we read them, which is a lot! 

I love the story of these best friends who, in trying to add something new to their lives, end up learning that the grass isn't always greener in someone else's yard!

The rhyme and meter are perfect, which makes it fun to read aloud, and the humor is subtle and sweet! Matthew Cordell's illustrations of Ollie and Claire are equally as sweet and matches the text perfectly!

I was on a panel with John and really enjoyed reading his novel, set in the 1940s. Two teenage girls, Philippa and Judy, are brought together through school and their shared admiration for teacher Christina Martins. A rape—or was it?—and a murder turn this story into a noir tale wrapped in the secrets they keep from others, and themselves. The narrative is uniquely structured with a voice that may be one or the other, not revealed until the end.

This novel is my ultimate comfort read on a rainy day, guaranteed to lift my spirits. The author masterfully intertwines multiple storylines so seamlessly that you hardly realize she’s telling four at once. I’ve always cherished the depth and significance of female friendships—they’re rare, powerful, and essential in our lives.

The bond between these four girls is a stunning portrayal of true empathy, connection, and unwavering support. I absolutely love it when literature captures friendships like this, and Brashares does it brilliantly. My copy is well-worn from countless rereads, a testament to just how much I adore this beautifully crafted story.

I remember well how starved I was as a teen for books about kids like me—queer, Cuban, or both—so I love books that fill a void. Sara Farizan does that with Iranian girls Sahar and Nasrin, including a swoony kiss you won’t want to miss. For anyone who’s ever had sparks with a friend, this is an extra special read.

This is one of my favorite YAs combining the modern influence of technology on art, friendship, and love. Quiet sophomore Ivy ends up becoming a semi-public figure at her school and the world after she starts using an app, VEIL, to help other artists and students who are asking for supplies and support. While her impact is meaningful and it all sounds well and good, her own creative steps have sent her on a more public, emotionally-vulnerable journey than she ever wanted or expected.