I Love You Little, I Love You Lots

By any measure—but especially by the quantifiable examples exchanged—a dog and cat show their immense love for one another in this tender picture book. The cat backs up an initial declaration, “I love you lots,” with a more precise accounting: “My love for you would fill 10 pots/ 15 buckets and 16 cans/ 3 teacups and 4 cakepans,” all depicted by Karas as filled with marshmallow-topped hot cocoa. The dog counters with “I love you very// And more than that// I love you more than/ my fishing hat/ My torn blue jeans/ And my untied shoes.” Wood’s can-you-top-this dialogue continues, relayed entirely in speech bubbles featuring a hand-lettering-based font that gives the exchange a personal feel. Via warm, relaxed pencil and digitally rendered images, Karas whisks readers into a number of activities that elicit affectionate calculations literal and metaphorical. Ages 3–5. (Nov.)