The Kerfuffle by Lerner Publishing Group and Clotilde Perrin - ADVISABLE

The Kerfuffle by Lerner Publishing Group, illustrated by Clotilde Perrin. PICTURE BOOK. Lerner Publishing Group, 2025. $22. 9798765688656

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Neighbors Kitty and Pup are the best of pals until a small misunderstanding—Kitty ate Pup's fish and Pup took Kitty's slipper—triggers a full-blown feud. As their friendship dissolves, the two build a massive brick wall between their homes.

Perrin uses ingenious lift-the-flaps and die-cuts to represent this wall, allowing you to peek at what’s happening on either side. It’s a literal reverse illustration of how relationships fall apart and are eventually mended. Perrin packed the background with tiny subplots. If you look closely, you’ll see a mouse rescuing a friend or birds building a nest while the main characters bicker. It makes every page feel alive and rewards repeated readings. I loved the lift the flaps and peek through gaps.

S. Lewis