MUNGO ON HIS OWN

By Matthew Burgess * Illustrations by Julie Benbassat

Clarion Books / HarperCollins * January 27, 2026 * Available for ORDER HERE

ISBN: 9780063216716 * 48 pages * 4–8 years

One evening, young Mungo ventures into the forest to find the sweet, red berries he’s been dreaming about. But he soon finds that foraging alone can be hard for a kit like him, and Mungo gets lost. Very lost! Will he find the berries—and his way back home—all on his own?
With suspense, daring, and foxy resolve, here is a story for all readers who wish to strike out on their own before returning to the cozy warmth of home.

An INDIE NEXT Pick

★ “Atmospheric, softly textured illustrations warmly convey the wide-eyed kit’s range of emotions and playfully incorporate elements of Mungo’s perceptions into the forest landscape. Onomatopoeia also runs through many of the illustrations, amplifying Mungo’s feelings and begging to be read aloud. Kids beginning to explore their own physical boundaries and early independence will appreciate Mungo’s courageous mission, while its gentle language makes this a comforting lap time or cozy winter storytime read.” — Kit Ballenger, Booklist (Starred Review)

“Mungo is irresistibly adorable as our intrepid traveler, and the picture book is given a unique take by the action—or lack thereof—from the mother, who encourages Mungo to head out into the world entirely alone and independent… Kids looking to go a bit feral after snack time will appreciate Mungo’s success as an argument for their own independence, and helicopter parents might take a lesson or two from mom’s free-range approach.” –Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books