Coco and Stephen, Together Forever: How a Kitten and Bunny Became Best Friends

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.

Author: Beth Stern
Publisher: Random House Studio
Published: 05/05/2026
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.92lbs
Size: 8.81h x 10.92w x 0.45d
ISBN: 9798217123544
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 03/01/2026
School Library Journal 04/17/2026 pg. 1

About the Author
Beth Stern's love for animals is her passion in life. Her 2014 children's book, Yoda: The Story of a Cat and His Kittens and 2010 book Oh My Dog were New York Times bestsellers. She is the proud foster parent and spokesperson for North Shore Animal League America, the world's largest no-kill rescue and adoption organization. In addition to her animal rights activism, Beth has hosted shows for National Geographic, HGTV, Spike TV, and Hallmark Channel's annual Kitten Bowl and Hero Dog Awards. Beth lives with her husband, Howard, and their rescue cats and bunny. And of course, litter after litter of foster kittens!

Christopher-Award winning author Margaret McNamara has written more than three dozen books for young readers, among them the popular Mr. Tiffin's Classroom picture books, Eliza, The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, and the Robin Hill School series for early readers. Ms. McNamara lives in New York City.

Joanie Stone​ is a New York Times-bestselling illustrator, born and raised in Virginia, where she still lives today with her husband and young daughter. She spends her days painting in her light filled studio in the country, surrounded by nature. She has a love for all things vintage, especially children's book illustration, advertising, and fashion from long ago. She uses her background in traditional hand-drawn animation to bring life and movement to her characters and fills her images with textures reminiscent of children's books from the past.