Making new friends can be hard, especially for a cat confronted by a canine newcomer to the household. At first Cleo is alarmed by Caspar’s barking and runs to hide on a tree branch, but she soon overcomes her fear and the two creatures become playmates. A spare text (“Cleo runs downstairs. / Cleo hears a sound. / Someone new is in the house! / Cleo looks around.”) and striking, boldly-outlined acrylic illustrations combine in an appealing look at new experiences for young children. (Ages 18 months – 3 years)