Yes & No

An adorably over-the-top puppy and a fastidious black cat offer a study in contrasts in this sweetly comic interlude by Caldecott Honoree Cooper (Big Cat, Little Cat). An unseen narrator’s prompts guide the two throughout a day. “My dears, are you awake?” “Yes,” says the puppy eagerly; “No,” responds the cat. Asked if they would like something to eat, the pup springs into the air. “Yes, I would! I would like to eat something very much.” (The cat, its back to readers, demurs.) Sent outside, the hound engages in frenetic backyard play (“gnar, gnar”), while the feline remains aloof nearby. When the two are banished to a meadow behind the house, though, there’s a moment of sublime calm before evening brings a pleasing turnabout to the animals’ respective roles. Cooper’s rich black line draws the eye around the page, as the individuals interact with—and ignore—each other in ink and watercolor sequences that range from intimate to sweeping. Plenty of artists have captured the dueling personalities of dogs and cats; this sustained conversation offers giggles, reassurance, and warmth. Readers may even recognize themselves in a certain hound’s bedtime reluctance to say goodbye to the day’s pleasures. Ages 2–6. [em](Apr.) [/em]