Colors (Touch Think Learn)

PreS—In these simple, chunky board books, each spread features a raised object on the verso and the relief on the recto along with the word for the color or opposite. In Colors, some spreads incorporate a single object such as an apple or flower, while others use the same shape to depict two different objects. For example, an orange sunset on the left and an orange slice on the right are both created out of the same semicircle. However, it should be noted that the shade of orange used is not easily distinguished from the red on the preceding page. Typical couplings such as "Outside/Inside," "Night/Day," and "Small/Big" are included in Opposites, along with more peculiar pairings such as "Caged/Free," showing a tearful lion behind bars on one side and the bars lifted on the other. Some of the opposites that might not come naturally to young children include "Heavy [an elephant]/Light [a cloud]." The motto of these French imports is "to touch is to experience; to experience is to learn." Children will certainly be drawn to the bright, appealing, and touchable illustrations, but the flaws in the execution of the concepts make the books additional purchases.—Rachel Kamin, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL