Cabin Head and Tree Head (Cabin Head and Tree Head, Book #1) - by Scott Campbell (Paperback)

About the Book

"Whether drawing or hiding or just saying hello or bye-bye, Cabin Head and Tree Head are irresistible buddies who have fun together, support one another's ideas (digging for treasure without a map) and help one another overcome challenges (bad leafcuts!). These are lighthearted tales of two pals who think differently--and entirely embrace it--set in a landscape of equally unforgettable characters such as Automobile Head, Volcano Head and Trash Can Head. Let's go hang out with all the Heads!"--

Book Synopsis

"Hahahahahahahaha" --Jon Klassen, Caldecott medalist and New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of THE SKULL

"I laughed my head off!" --Ben Clanton, Eisner Award winner and New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of NARWHAL AND JELLY

THREE STARRED REVIEWS! - HELLO, READER HEADS! Jump headfirst into the wonderfully off-the-wall world of renowned creator Scott Campbell, in this goofy, good-natured graphic novel series featuring a best friend duo like no other! It's Frog and Toad meets Bill and Ted for a new generation of readers -- and best buddies of all ages.

Book 1 includes 6 laugh-out-loud adventures in a universe where everyone has something on their head! Includes bonus content: Storytime with Library Head, Pool Party with Pool Head and Drawing Time with Box of Crayons Head.

Whether drawing or hiding or just saying HELLO or BYE-BYE, Cabin Head and Tree Head are irresistible buddies who have fun together, support one another's ideas (digging for treasure without a map) and help one another overcome challenges (bad leafcuts!). These are lighthearted tales of two pals who think differently -- and entirely embrace it -- set in a landscape of equally unforgettable characters such as Automobile Head, Volcano Head and Trash Can Head. Let's go hang out with all the Heads!

Review Quotes

An American Library Association Notable Children's Book of 2026
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2025
A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade of 2025
One of Kirkus Reviews' 90 Most Anticipated Fall Books for Young Readers, 2025
An American Booksellers Association September/October 2025 Kids' Indie Next Pick
A 2026 Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
A New York Public Library Best Book for Kids of 2025
A Booklist Editor's Pick for 2025 Graphic Novels
One of Amazon's Best Children's Books of 2025, Ages 6-8
One of the Evanston Public Library's 101 Great Books for Kids of 2025
One of PEN America's Best Children's Books of 2025
A Southern California Indie Bestseller
Longlisted for the 2027 UKLA Book Award

"This book is so ridiculous and brilliant that I'm kind of freaking out." --Drew Daywalt, New York Times bestselling author of The Day the Crayons Quit and They Call Me No Sam!

"There are some books that you read and midway through you realize that you are reading for the very first time a title that will now be counted amongst your favorites for the rest of your life. That was my experience reading Cabin Head and Tree Head." ―Betsy Bird, School Library Journal

"A wildly original tale with the buddy-based charm of Frog and Toad but imbued with a wacky energy all its own." --STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews

"This graphic novel is full of wit, humor, and heart. Telling the tale across seven chapters, Campbell reinforces the theme of helping a friend in need with different clever scenarios. The straight-up silly scenes coupled with the soft, muted earth tones offer an overwhelmingly pleasant reading experience. . . . A heartwarming, hilarious gem that young readers will return to again and again." --STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal

"A pair of best buddies -- one with a cabin for a head, one with a tree for a head -- star in this uproarious early reader comic packed with visual jokes. . . . Campbell capably taps into the freewheeling creativity of kids' imaginative play in each of the vignettes included here, and some understated moments of sweet friendship between Cabin Head and Tree Head nicely bookend the delightfully ridiculous stories. Sure to be a favorite for kids with wacky senses of humor." --STARRED REVIEW, Booklist

"Best friends Cabin Head and Tree Head love having adventures together, from painting portraits to hide-and-seek. There's no challenge they can't weather, even a disastrous haircut, in this entrancingly surreal, child-friendly 5+ graphic novel." --The Guardian

"The conflict is low, and the spirits are high . . . It's a congenial snapshot of best buds who are eager to bask in life's everyday joys--and, as the introductory tale suggests, happy to invite a new friend along." --Publishers Weekly

"Illustrations in soft watercolors with a typeface based on Campbell's hand lettering anchor the wacky concept. . . . The humor is a mix of gentle and absurd. It's a winning combination that rewards rereading." --The Horn Book

"Like a sillier, hipper, absurdist comic book Frog and Toad, Campbell's Cabin Head and Tree Head features two best friends going about their lives and enjoying one another's company." --J. Caleb Mozzocco, School Library Journal

"Scott Campbell transforms goofiness into an art form . . . Winsome art and quirky dialogue blend for a tale that's perfect for young fans of the absurd; a lust for life pervades the narrative, too." --Mahnaz Dar and Laura Simeon, Kirkus Reviews

"The best thing about Cabin Head and Tree Head is that there is no reason they have a cabin and tree on their heads! And yet, it's exactly right that they DO have a cabin and tree on their heads! This absurd best-friend duo will make young readers (and their grown-ups) laugh!" --Betsy Harberl, Shelf Awareness

About the Author

SCOTT CAMPBELL (sometimes called Scott C.) creates books, comics, paintings, illustrations and video games. Scott is the author and illustrator of Hug Machine and is the illustrator of the Zombie in Love series, among other children's books. He has worked as an art director on games such as Psychonauts, published numerous comics and is the creator of the Great Showdowns series. His paintings have appeared in galleries and publications around the world. Scott lives in Los Angeles with his family.