Yes & No

March 15, 2021
The maxim that cats and dogs get along like...well, cats and dogs, is upended. The unseen guardian of a cat and dog awakens the pets cheerfully, asks how they slept, offers breakfast, invites them to clean up and play together, then suggests they frolic outside. To every comment, the canine responds affirmatively; the feline--quite the opposite. For example, does it want food? Answer: "I already ate." Will it help clean? The haughty response: "Never." Backyard merriment doesn't go well, as the dog attacks the clothesline and digs holes, and the cat climbs a tree. Finally commanded to play together farther from home, the duo are depicted wordlessly marveling at nature in engaging, colorful panoramic spreads. Eventually, they have a grand time--and the tables get turned. When the owner finally summons the pair home, the cat willingly complies. However, the pooch, now the naysaying contrarian, only reluctantly accedes to its human's ideas, expressing sorrow the great day is over. A calming, reassuring reminder to the dog at the conclusion sets things right, and, in a comic twist, the animals' customary natures are restored. This sweet, gentle story reminds youngsters that yes and no have their proper places and times and that all good things don't necessarily end. The deceptively simply drawn, definitively lined ink-and-watercolor illustrations with their limited palette capture the animals' lively personalities well; ample white space focuses attention on their activities. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 85.9% of actual size.) Children will say, "Yes!" to this delightful charmer. (Picture book. 3-6)

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March 15, 2021
Preschool-Grade 1 *Starred Review* As a cat returns from its nighttime prowls, the narrator asks if her pets are ready for the day. While the awakening puppy eagerly replies "Yes," the sleek black cat grumpily retorts "No" and settles down for a snooze on their shared blanket. The puppy's body language is spot on: he's excited about everything from eating to playing to going outside. Meanwhile, the aloof feline eludes the frantic dog by climbing onto the mantle and hiding in the bathtub. The puppy's enthusiasm and his frenetic activities are engaging as he flits from one occupation to another, voicing "yes, yes, yes" as his boundless energy sends him all around the backyard--the calm cat perches on the fence and in a tree. After the pup is scolded for tearing up the yard, the two animals venture into the countryside where they sit comfortably together, taking in the beauty and peace surrounding them. Eight wordless pages with serene pictures extending from margin to margin reveal the companionship the two have forged during their outing. When called to go inside, the puppy's demeanor (and repeated "no, no, no") reveal his disappointment that the day is now over. Delightful ink-and-watercolor illustrations outline everything in thick black ink and leave plenty of white space as a backdrop to the animals' perfect day.

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