FICTION

Double Take!: A New Look at Opposites

illus. by Jay Fleck. 32p. Candlewick. Jun. 2017. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780763672911. POP
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2—A clever young boy, his small black cat, and a gentle blue elephant set off on an adventure to explore opposites in this wonderful concept book with a twist. The trio begin with some basic pairs, such as "yes and no" and "asleep and awake," but then explain that "not every duo is so black and white." Readers are presented with opposites that may seem simple but whose meanings can change depending on the situation. We see how relative words such as near and far and big and small can be, and the team suggest that "who's strong and who's weak is hardly perplexing. But strong can look weak when a new champ is flexing." Through rhyming text, this unassuming picture book clearly conveys the concept of perspective ("where you are can affect what you see") and advises readers to "consider all sides": a powerful and timely message. The classic sans serif black font injects some fun into the retro-style digital illustrations.
VERDICT Charming details make this book a pleasure to revisit. Highly recommended for school and classroom libraries.

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