Coco and Stephen, Together Forever

How a Kitten and Bunny Became Best Friends

Hardcover

Grades Preschool – 3
Ages 4–8

From New York Times bestselling author, proud animal foster parent, and spokesperson for the world’s largest no-kill rescue and adoption organization Beth Stern comes the heartwarming story of an abandoned bunny and a discarded kitten who each found their forever home and became best friends.

Coco is a kitten who was surrendered to a shelter. Stephen is a bunny who has been abandoned in the forest. All they both want is a forever home. When the two see each other for the first time through a glass door in Beth’s foster room—Coco has never seen ears so fuzzy, and Stephen’s never seen eyes so golden!—it’s friendship love at first sight. 

Soon their days are filled with hide and seek, the zoomies, and snuggling in the sunlight. They have found not only their forever home, but also a forever friend.

This sweet and simple meet-cute is inspired by the unlikely friendship between a heartbroken kitten and an optimistic bunny whose love captured the attention of thousands of people on Instagram. New York Times bestselling illustrator Joanie Stone fills every page with warmth as this adorably irresistible pair find each other against all odds. 

In an author’s note at the end of the book, Beth shares her experiences rescuing animals and offers information about fostering or adopting pets.

"Sweet prose and softened digital illustrations make this duo an irresistible springboard for discussions about responsible pet ownership or fostering....A tender tale of forever friends finally finding a forever home." —Kirkus Reviews

"[A] touching story....Clever parallels and repetition make this suitable for a younger audience and early literacy development." —School Library Journal

ISBN 9798217123544 (Hardcover)
Published on May 5, 2026
Published by Random House Studio
Pages 40
Dimensions 10-1/2 x 8-1/2
Age Range 4-8 years
Grade Preschool - 3
Reading Level Lexile: 580L

ISBN 9798217123551 (Hardcover Library Binding)
Published on May 5, 2026
Published by Random House Studio
Pages 40
Dimensions 10-1/2 x 8-1/2
Age Range 4-8 years
Grade Preschool - 3
Reading Level Lexile: 580L

ISBN 9798217123568 (Ebook)
Published on May 5, 2026
Published by Random House Studio
Pages 40
Age Range 4-8 years
Grade Preschool - 3
Reading Level Lexile: 580L

ISBN 9798217345069 (Audiobook Download)
Published on May 5, 2026
Published by Listening Library
Age Range 4-8 years
Grade Preschool - 3
Reading Level Lexile: 580L

Margaret McNamara

Margaret McNamara is the author of five other titles about Mr. Tiffin’s class including How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?, which was awarded the Oppenheimer Toy Portfolio Best Book Gold Award, and The Dinosaur Expert, which received three starred reviews. She is also the author of countless other picture books, including Vote for Our Future, which Kirkus Reviews called "essential" in a starred review. Ms. McNamara lives in New York City.

Joanie Stone

JOANIE STONE was born and raised in Virginia, where she still lives today with her husband and young daughter. She spends her days painting in her studio in the country, surrounded by nature. She is the illustrator of Julia Child: A Little Golden Book Biography and the Little Golden Books Let’s Go Trick-or-Treating! and I’m Going to Kindergarten!

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Coco and Stephen, Together Forever

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