You and Me

In this warm outing from the duo behind The Museum, a lanky yellow cat imagines scenarios that might have interfered with its first encounter with its best friend, a similarly anthropomorphic purple cat. "What if I had slept in,/ covers pulled up to my chin?" the cat wonders. "Or if the clock had been slow and I was late,/ lingering over my breakfast plate." Rendered in ink, gouache, watercolor, and tea, Reynolds's typically loose and elegant cartoons picture each potentially friendship-preventing disaster, before concluding with scenes that celebrate the relationship that did indeed blossom. A decided romantic subtext (the cats themselves are gender-neutral, keeping such possibilities open-ended) and the small trim size may give the book its strongest audience among gift-giving adults, though children will have no trouble appreciating it. Ages 5-up. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Jan.)

PreS-Gr 1--This tale of feline friendship opens as a skimmer hat is floating in the breeze. A pondering cat reflects on the past and what led to the lucky day on which two furry friends crossed paths. Listing the countless "what ifs," the story unfolds to reveal a chance meeting where the charming pair become one. Verde's rhythmic text floats by in a breathtaking manner, ("Whatever it was that brought us together...That pull, that tug, that mysterious tether"), complementing this heartfelt story of destiny. Reynolds's characteristic illustrations provide a delicate and buoyant representation of the joys of friendship. The artist carefully renders the two felines in a combination of ink, gouache, watercolor, and tea. This title is a wonderful introduction to the concept of serendipity and the magic of true friendship.--Claire Moore, Darien Library, CT