Book Description
for Yes & No by Elisha Cooper
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
The personalities embodied in a yellow dog and black cat are apparent throughout the course of a day, with the duo often having opposing responses to the same question or event. The animals establish their contrasting attitudes from the start with their response to an unseen human narrator who asks, “My dears, are you awake?” The dog says “Yes”; the cat says “No.” While the human gives commands and asks questions through breakfast, clean-up, and playtime, the dog bounces with enthusiastic agreement to everything, while the cat maintains a contrary stance. But once outside, the duo meanders to a hill where they relax in side-by-side comfort. The dynamic flips when it’s time to go home and settle down for the night, with the dog obstinate about staying outside, and the compliant cat leading the way back in, modeling perfect behavior. The grumpy dog regains his equanimity at bedtime when reminded that tomorrow will be another day full of good things, while the cat offers snuggling comfort. A spare text and minimalist illustrations perfectly capture the personalities of both animals. (Ages 3-6)
CCBC Choices 2022. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2022. Used with permission.