Cat and Dog: A Tale of Opposites

In this English-language debut by Corda, the companionable relationship between a canine and feline is cleverly communicated through skillful visual storytelling, via the simple lens of opposites. The tale begins with a bright orange cat (“Awake”) eyeing a big teal blue dog across the gutter (“Asleep”). Leaping across the spread, the cat (“Brave”) pounces on the dog (“Afraid”), launching the duo into a day-in-the-life-style adventure involving hide-and-seek, a game of chase, and a tag-team attempt at ensnaring a teal songbird. Alongside standard opposites are some unusual combinations (e.g. “Oops!” and “Phew!”). Round-eyed, subtly gradient, and stylized illustrations match the spare text while providing movement between and beyond pages: the “Slow” dog appears at the edge of the left page, just in time to see the tail and hind legs of the “Fast” cat disappearing off the far edge of the next page. In a later scene, the cat (“Nimble”) scales a tree trunk occupying the gutter, while the dog (“Heavy”) looks upward from the opposing page. Against plenty of white space, Corda’s scenes fully play with the constraints of the page, giving the picture book an unrestrained, romp-like ambiance. Ages 3–6. (Sept.)