Double Take! A New Look at Opposites (2017, Candlewick Studio, Picture Book)

From the publisher:

Do you know opposites – yes or no? On. Off. Asleep. Awake. Opposites are a piece of cake…right? Not so fast! Time for a quick double take. Who knows what is BIG unless there is SMALL? Does SHORT mean a thing except next to TALL? What is ABOVE and what is BELOW? The answer depends on who wants to know!

Review:

Double Take! A New Look at Opposites, written by Susan Hood and illustrated by Jay Fleck, is a surprisingly fun book about opposites! The illustrations are darling and cleverly illustrate every opposite situation while also playing off subtle opposites that aren’t directly mentioned in the text. The text is charming and fun, which may come as a shock to parents or teachers who may be accustomed to the topic of opposites being a bit redundant. In this book, the standard opposite situations are introduced, but it introduces a new element of perspective, making the reader consider why things are opposite and what the words are really saying when labeling something TALL or SHORT, BIG or SMALL, etc.

I enjoyed reading this book and I think a lot of parents and teachers will enjoy it too, not to mention the young readers who will love the short sentences and delightfully illustrated characters.

Highly recommended as a read aloud to children ages 6 and under. This could also be enjoyed by early independent readers, and while older readers might enjoy flipping through this book, I think the topic of opposites might feel a bit too young for them.

5 stars shining bright against a dark sky

Thank you to Candlewick for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.