Can Cat and Bird Be Friends?

Getting from the title question to yes is challenging for Cat, a smoky black oblong with pointy ears and prominent claws, and Bird, a bright white circle with stick black legs and an aeronautical tail. As their brisk, all-dialogue story opens against a minimalist taupe backdrop, Cat insists, “I must eat you” because “it’s always been like that.” But Bird is unwilling to rule out friendship and counters with thoughtful gestures—like showing Cat a “fun box” to play in—then successfully demands reciprocity from Cat, who takes Bird to a trove of worms. Now they’re friendly, but real friendship requires common ground, and that’s nowhere in sight (“‘Do you like flying?’ ‘Of course not. I’m a cat’ ”). An offhand remark by Bird reveals a shared passion for painting, and the final spread finds them at their respective easels, creating a double portrait, the taupe pages joyously splattered with red, blue, green, yellow, and purple. Comic book artist Muir’s visually playful and astute volume suggests that no matter the species, becoming friends takes work—a delicate blend of thinly veiled negotiations and leaps of faith, with a soupçon of the serendipitous. Ages 4–8. (June)