- Graphic Novels
- Ages 7–9
- Comedy
Cabin Head and Tree Head
Book 1 in Cabin Head and Tree HeadView the full series
In a whimsical world where everyone has something on their head, best friends Cabin Head and Tree Head share six laugh-out-loud adventures. A gloriously strange, sweet graphic novel bursting with wit and heart from Scott Campbell.
- Best for7–9
- FormatGraphic
- Length88 pp
- Read aloud~41 min
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The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Comedic
- Conversational
Tone
- Funny
- Silly
- Warm
- Whimsical
- Absurdist
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Welcome to a world where everyone has something on their head. Cabin Head has a cabin; Tree Head has a tree; and their neighbours include the likes of Pool Head and Telephone Pole Head. Best friends Cabin Head and Tree Head spend their days playing games, sharing tacos, making art and helping each other through life's little troubles, like a very bad leafcut. Across six laugh-out-loud adventures, Scott Campbell (Zombie in Love, Hug Machine) conjures a universe of old-fashioned charm and unpredictable creativity, where friendship, kindness and everyday joys take centre stage. Warm, witty and utterly, delightfully odd, Cabin Head and Tree Head celebrates helping one another and finding wonder in the simple things. Named an ALA Notable Children's Book, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and a Kirkus Best Middle Grade of the Year, this is a graphic novel full of heart, humour and strange sweetness. Perfect for readers who love Narwhal and Jelly, Pizza and Taco and the gentle comedy of Elephant and Piggie grown up into comic-book form.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A whimsical graphic novel best for 7-9s reading solo, and a lovely shared or read-aloud from 5-6. Low-peril, warm and very silly, it suits sensitive children and reluctant readers alike, with absurdist wit that keeps the adult reader entertained.
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 7–9
- Read aloud · 5–8
- Independent · 6–9
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Bedtime
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
4 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
5 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Reluctant readers
- Comic fans
- Silly humour
- Gentle read aloud
Avoid if
- Wants realistic story
- Wants high stakes
Particularly good for children who are…
- Making friends
- Reluctant reader
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
In a world where your head might be a cabin, a tree or a telephone pole, two best friends eat tacos, make art and rescue each other from a very bad leafcut. The rules are gloriously silly and every one of the six stories has a giggle in it.
- Friendship and belonging
- Cosy safety
- Secret world
Why parents love it
An ALA Notable and multiple best-of-the-year pick, Scott Campbell's absurdist world has a warmth and wit that adults enjoy as much as children. It reads aloud beautifully, rewards repeat visits, celebrates kindness and everyday joy, and makes a memorable, off-the-beaten-path gift.
- Shared humour
- Indie gem discovery
- Beautiful illustrations
- Great writing
In the series
Cabin Head and Tree Head.
2 books · open the series →
About the author & illustrator
Scott Campbell.
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