What's Opposite?

by Stephen R. Swinburne

Overview

Up and down, big and small, hot and cold--opposites are all around us. Learning to identify opposites is one way children expand their view of the world. Soon they see that some things are completely different from one another and why. Steve Swinburne explores opposites through a simple, lively text and bright, colorful photographs that clearly illustrate this important concept. By the end of this engaging book, children will discover how opposites make the world a rich and wonderfully varied place. As in What's a Pair? What's a Dozen?; Lots and Lots of Zebra Stripes; and Guess Whose Shadow?, Stephen Swinburne offers another lively and entertaining look at an all-important concept.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781629792187
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	09/12/2014
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Lexile:	AD420L (what's this?)
File size:	10 MB
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Stephen R. Swinburne is the author of many books, including Coyote: North America's Dog. He lives in Londonderry, Vermont.

Editorial Reviews

PreS-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 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

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)

Kirkus Reviews

"The pictures tell a nifty story." —Kirkus Reviews

"Great visual appeal. . . . A good choice for preschool and primary-grade units on opposites." —Booklist

From the Publisher