Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
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.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K--A wonderful exploration of friendship, Wood's picture book offers a wealth of wordplay and rhyme. Opposites, such as "little" and "lot" are juxtaposed to emphasize the range of the love being expressed. Amounts that could fill buckets and cake pans, or a love so large it could reach miles are also described. Comparisons, similes, and amusing adjectives work together in the affectionate banter between the characters. Pencil and digital media illustrations support the playful text. The two friends (a cat and dog) board a train; one speaks from the engine, while the other answers from the caboose. Readers also see them swim at the beach, fly kites, and enjoy a sunset picnic as they describe their bond. The font developed from Karas's own hand-lettering is a personal touch that matches the cozy mood of the book. VERDICT An instant classic that will be read repeatedly.--Suzanne Costner
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A love poem, told in dialogue. "My love for you would fill 10 pots / 15 buckets and 16 cans / 3 teacups and 4 cakepans," a gray cat informs a brown dog while ladling hot chocolate into the enumerated vessels. The sweet image and statement allude to the unquantifiable nature of love. Earnest pencil and digitally drawn art looks like it could be placed on a refrigerator alongside well-loved handmade notes and drawings. The anthropomorphic animals' attachment to each other is without label, making for an inclusive tale that just about any caregiver could easily share with little ones at bedtime. At one point, the cat states, "I love you up," while the dog, suspended in the air while flying a kite, responds, "I love you down / My love for you / can touch the ground"--a page that makes effective use of perspective and movement. Wood and Karas also root the poem in the tangible as the characters reference the rainbow and trains to express their love. There are no bumps in the road here, and some may find the lack of narrative or drama unfulfilling, but most will fall into the declarations heart-first. Fans of Salina Yoon's Penguin and Pinecone (2012) or Kathryn Cristaldi's I'll Love You Till the Cows Come Home (2018), illustrated by Kristyna Litten, will find new companions in these pages. (This book was reviewed digitally.) There's a lot of love here, and it's all good. (Picture book. 3-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
