Books with a playful mechanism introducing young readers to some basic concepts.

Is the house big or small? Is the ball clean or dirty? What’s the difference between old and new? In this board book, kids will learn the basic opposites they meet on an everyday basis! This way, children will learn their first words with us!

On every page, there is a little surprise waiting for them: thanks to cut-outs on every spread, one image transforms into another as the page turns. Combined with thoughtful and lively illustrations, this book is perfect for little ones!

Format: Board book

What did you like about the book? Part of a series (First Words), this book is nicely sized for little hands and printed on sturdy board pages.  The opposites are well presented; the pictures clearly illustrate the concepts and readers will be able to catch on to the concept of opposites.

This is a simple book, with just the two words on each page (old/new, many/few) but there are enough extra details that there will be plenty to talk about between adult and child as they look at the book together. Especially fun are the pages that have windows cut through to show part of the next or previous illustration.

Anything you didn’t like about it?  No

To whom would you recommend this book? Families with babies and toddlers learning to hold books and turn pages, people learning the concept of opposites, beginning English language learners.

Who should buy this book?  Daycares, preschools, public libraries

Where would you shelve it?  Board books

Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles?  Yes.

Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City and State:  Robin Shtulman, Athol Public Library, Athol, MA

―Youth Services Book Review