One of These Is Not Like the Others

by Barney Saltzberg

Overview

One of these is not like that other—and that's great! This gently subversive board book points out— and celebrates!— the differences between subjects.

Barney Saltzberg's hilarious and delightfully direct text and simple illustrations introduce children to the concept and splendor of inclusiveness, through recognizing who or what's different on each spread and celebrating the unity as it is.

For example, the reader sees three cows and an elephant accompanied by the text "One of these is not like the other," turn the page... and all four animals take part in an exuberant conga line and say "that's just fine with us"!
In a series of similar examples children are encouraged to notice both the similarities and differences between characters and celebrate both.

Barney Saltzberg's picture book is a pointed and timely tribute to the power of inclusivity and as well as a riotous read-aloud.

Praise for One of These is Not Like the Others:

"A perfect read-aloud that celebrates the joy of embracing differences."—Booklist

"[A] winsome spin on the spot-the-difference concept while sending, with humor, the missive that diversity and collaboration are to be unequivocally celebrated."—Publishers Weekly

"Using amusing illustrations and simple couplets, Saltzberg celebrates differences. . . . The generous use of white space lets the humorous cartoon illustrations really pop."—School Library Journal

"The art uses plenty of white space to good effect, placing the guileless creatures front and center and allowing viewers to notice variation. Upon not-that-close examination, for example, we see that none of the supposedly matching figures is exactly the same in appearance, behavior, or both, a point that gently underscores the text's welcome be-yourself message." —The Horn Book

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823445813
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	01/05/2021
Pages:	28
Sales rank:	81,570
Product dimensions:	4.90(w) x 6.20(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the Author

Barney Saltzberg is the author of over 40 books for children, including Hug This Book, Beautiful Oops! and the bestselling Animal Kisses series, with over 800,000 copies in print. He's recorded four albums of songs for children and lives in Los Angeles.

Editorial Reviews

"A perfect read-aloud that celebrates the joy of embracing differences."—Booklist

"[A] winsome spin on the spot-the-difference concept while sending, with humor, the missive that diversity and collaboration are to be unequivocally celebrated."—Publishers Weekly

"Young readers will jump at the chance to point out the differences. But those differences are what are celebrated! . . . Subversive and clever, this book challenges readers to change habits of thought."—Kirkus Reviews

"Using amusing illustrations and simple couplets, Saltzberg celebrates differences. . . . The generous use of white space lets the humorous cartoon illustrations really pop."—School Library Journal
 
"The art uses plenty of white space to good effect, placing the guileless creatures front and center and allowing viewers to notice variation. Upon not-that-close examination, for example, we see that none of the supposedly matching figures is exactly the same in appearance, behavior, or both, a point that gently underscores the text’s welcome be-yourself message." —The Horn Book
 
"Fans of Sandra Boynton’s artwork and humor will love this cheerfully animated tribute to individuality. Penguins, pandas, cows, and a variety of surprise creatures line up against a stark white backdrop for comparison. Each spread features three things that are just alike, and one that is decidedly different. Rabbits and a bicycle? Snails and an alien? Find out how they all fit together in this quirky, good time celebration that stands up for standing out."—Foreword Reviews

From the Publisher

12/16/2019

Saltzberg (Dog and Rabbit) puts a winsome spin on the spot-the-difference concept while sending, with humor, the missive that diversity and collaboration are to be unequivocally celebrated. Repetition drives home the message, as the titular words introduce three similar—but not always identical—items alongside one distinctly different one (three cows and one elephant, three dogs and a cat), before a flip of the page reveals the members of each quartet interacting happily. The author matches wordplay and pictures; three pigs and a wolf form a band (“And that’s the way we rock”) and three rabbits pile onto a bicycle (“And that’s the way we roll”). Saltzberg inserts subtle—and some not-so-subtle—variations into his depictions of the look-alikes (divergent rolling of eyeballs or positioning of tails), allowing kids to spot what’s different even among like images. A scenario revealing all the characters eyeing each other skeptically (“Some of us are a little different”) gives way to a final, jubilant spread in which all agree, “And that’s the way we like it!”Ages 2–5. Agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

02/01/2020

PreS-Gr 1—Using amusing illustrations and simple couplets, Saltzberg celebrates differences. Each line gets its own two-page spread, and each couplet begins with the line, "One of these is not like the others." and is paired with an illustration of four critters in which one is different: three cows and an elephant; three pigs and a wolf; three bunnies and a bicycle; and so on. The following page finishes the couplet, "But we can still be friends." The matching illustration shows the four characters interacting or having an adventure. It is fitting that there is one couplet that's not like the others, in which a pielike creature eats the pies it's paired with: "And the other three were delicious." The final couplet declares "Some of us are a little different. And that's the way we like it!" as all the critters featured in the book joyously dance amid falling confetti. The generous use of white space lets the humorous cartoon illustrations really pop. VERDICT The title essentially tells you everything you need to know about this book. Purchase as needed.—Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH

School Library Journal

2019-12-22
Saltzberg upends traditional spot-the-difference design.

A carefully chosen set of four objects is offered—most similar but not quite the same and sometimes vastly different. Three cows and one elephant? The titular phrase comes in handy. "One of these is not like the others." But the page turn reveals all four clasping hooves and trunk and celebrating: "And that's just fine with us." Three dogs and one cat? "One of these is not like the others." The cat's nervous mien prompts misdirection to assumptions of stereotypical cat-and-dog relationships. "But we can still be friends." Saltzberg goes on to compare more surprisingly visually similar items, such as three cowboy hats and a fish rising from a puddle, mouth agape, to mimic the outline of the headwear. The fish is then wearing all the hats in the following spread: "Because you can never have too many hats." Placed on a blank white canvas, the sets are simple and uncluttered. Young readers will jump at the chance to point out the differences. But those differences are what are celebrated! It's impossible to not hum the Sesame Street song of similar wording, but instead of not belonging, the different objects are accepted and embraced. "Some of us are a little different. // And that's the way we like it!"

Subversive and clever, this book challenges readers to change habits of thought. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews