Publishers Weekly
11/10/2014
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.)
School Library Journal - Audio
10/01/2015
PreS-Gr 2—Susan Verde's lovely rhyming poem of "what ifs" (Abrams, 2015) is narrated with gentle assurance by Elizabeth Cottle, as Peter H. Reynolds's sweet illustrations are simply animated. This is a tale of feline fealty—two friends who, had circumstances not fallen into perfect order, might never have met. Fate? Kismet? Luck? Serendipity is hard to quantify but is much appreciated, as this tenderhearted homage to friendship highlights. Narration and illustrations perfectly meld like the two arms of a good hug. VERDICT While children will understand the concepts of friendship shown here, the story seems like a beautiful extended greeting card that would be more appreciated by longtime adult friends.—Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary, Federal Way, WA
School Library Journal
12/01/2014
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
Kirkus Reviews
2014-10-22
A chance meeting that leads to a lasting friendship is lauded in rhyming text and jaunty illustrations.Verde celebrates not just the bond between best friends, but also the somewhat abstract concept of serendipity by describing experiences that might have brought about a different result on the day she is describing. "What if I had slept in..?" or "...the weather had been stormy gray?" or "a rock in my shoe / had caused me to pause/ for a moment or two." Simple language, small touches of humor and an engagingly earnest tone enable her to keep things sweet without descending into the overly saccharine or sentimental, but it still seems likely that her message will resonate more with adults than children. Reynolds' artwork, created using ink, gouache, watercolor and tea (an unusual but appropriately cozy medium for an ode to friendship), brings Verde's words down to earth and cheerfully to life. His pictures chronicle the accidental encounter and subsequent shared activities of a lanky, androgynous, anthropomorphic yellow cat and a purple feline of similar proportions. Illuminating and expanding the action, amusing tableaux offer charming details and some slyly humorous misdirection. The cats' faces, though simply drawn, are expressive and appealing. Perfect as a gift book exchanged between kindred spirits, this could also spark interesting conversations about the role of chance in our lives. (Picture book. 4-7)
