Double Take! a New Look at Opposites

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.--Whitney LeBlanc, KIPP New Orleans Schools, LA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Hood's rhyming prose gradually builds to a scene of a wild roller coaster ride, where she asks the reader to 'do a quick double take.' Fleck's picture shows the cat tied to a helium balloon, but the cat is above and the balloon is below — a clue that proves that the right-side-up book is now upside down. It's a satisfying highlight to a stimulating book.
—The New York Times Book Review

Readers are encouraged not to take things at first glance: an abstract composition of colored circles turns into a huge painting of a butterfly when viewed from a distance...Ideal for the thoughtful, deliberative child.
—Kirkus Reviews

The brief rhyming text sets a playful tone, which is heightened by the cartoon-style digital illustrations...the simplicity and humorous touches make this engaging, useful, and fun—a winning combination.
—Booklist Online

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. Charming details make this book a pleasure to revisit.
—School Library Journal

It's a thought-provoking book that will prompt questions for child readers about perspective and point of view.
—Kirkus Reviews (blog)