Picture Books for Readers Ages 5 – 8
Publisher: Capstone; Release date: Jan. 1, 2026
Ethan Talks to Animals: Eat Your Food, Fussy Filo
One day Ethan and his dog, Chewie, go to visit their neighbor Ms. Parks. They learn Ms. Parks has had to change the food for her cat, Filo. And Filo is refusing to eat any of the new food! Ethan wants to help. But fussy Filo isn’t giving in! Thankfully, Ethan’s special superpower allows him to understand everything animals are thinking and saying. Will it be enough to get Filo eating again?
Ethan Talks to Animals: Sharing Is Caring, Cranky Kazoo
Ethan is tired of sharing his stuff with his brother and sister. He just wants his stuff to be his. Then a dog named Kazoo takes a toy away from Ethan’s dog, Chewie. Kazoo refuses to give it back! Thankfully, Ethan has a special superpower. He can understand everything animals are thinking and saying. Can Ethan talk Kazoo into giving the toy back? And can they both learn that sharing is caring?
Ethan Talks to Animals: Perk Up, Tired Tilly
Ethan is excited when a cute hamster named Tilly arrives in his classroom! But Tilly isn’t acting how the students expected. All she does is nap in her cage! Ethan takes Tilly home to see if he can help. Then Tilly and Ethan both get tired! Ethan’s dog Chewie is tired too—but only of Tilly and Ethan being sleepy! Can Chewie get them to perk up?
Ethan Talks to Animals: Be Brave, Scared Shirley
Ethan is surprised to see his friend Jay with a chicken at the park. Jay explains that the chicken, Shirley, won’t leave his side. A bigger chicken is pecking on Shirley at the farm, and Shirley is scared. Ethan thinks he can use his special superpower to help. He can understand everything animals are thinking and saying. When Ethan visits the farm, he finds that the huge chicken isn’t giving up its bad behavior easily. Can Ethan help scared Shirley be brave?
Nico Waters 