What's Opposite? - Hardcover

Swinburne, Stephen R.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1563978814 ISBN 13: 9781563978814

Publisher: Boyds Mills Press, 2000

Synopsis

Boyds Mills Press publishes a wide range of high-quality fiction and nonfiction picture books, chapter books, novels, and nonfiction

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Reviews

PreSchool-K-Swinburne explains opposites while depicting them in his vivid, full-color photographs. "Cars and trucks on the highway go in opposite directions" is accompanied by a picture of a divided road with a truck heading one way and a car going the other. The page format varies. Sometimes a two-page spread is devoted to a set of opposites; sometimes two pictures on one page show the contrast. The second half of the book invites participation. The picture on the right side of the spread asks a question, and the answer appears after the page is turned. The photos of children demonstrating the concepts appear to be posed rather than spontaneous, but the youngsters look natural and appealing. The concept of opposites is explained well and the book design fights boredom.
Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A photo essay in candy-bright colors that does better with its defining visuals than its text. It's hard to define "opposites"-"something completely different from another thing." And grownups might argue with some of the choices: is sitting the opposite of standing? What about lying down? But the pictures tell a nifty story, from the autumn-red country lane facing the blue and silver city; from heavy (a pumpkin) to light (a dandelion puff); from sweet (a girl munching a strawberry) to sour (the same girl puckering a lemon slice). Photos are centered within expanses of white space, sometimes facing their opposites, sometimes sharing the space, and sometimes, as in "Cars and trucks on the highway go in opposite directions," one photo shows it all. After a few declarative statements, the style turns to question and answer, giving the reader the chance to tell what the opposite is of wet, or full, or eyes closed. The opening page, of two feet, one clad in a tie-dyed sock and one with its little toes each painted a different color, and the last shot, of a tiny baby hand atop an adult one, bookend the images with an opposite of their own. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright © 2000 Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Ages 3-6. From the author and illustrator of Lots and Lots of Zebra Stripes (1998) and Guess Whose Shadow? (1999), this handsome book of photographs explores the concept of opposites. A few of the pictures focus on objects, but the vast majority feature individuals and small groups from a multiracial crew of children who look as though they're having a good time showing the differences between dry and wet, sour and sweet, and so on. The simple, pleasing layout and clear, colorful photos give this book its great visual appeal, while the brief text invites responses from children. A good choice for preschool and primary-grade units on opposites. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1563978814
• ISBN 13: 9781563978814
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32