Octopus Opposites

May 1, 2010
PreS-KThis book explores one animal pair per spread and features simple rhymes ("Octopus fat, octopus thin. Sea urchin out, sea urchin in"). A few of the comparisons are clunky (snow leopard climb, snow leopard fall), but most do an effective job of showing the differences. The last two spreads answer the question, "]where do all these creatures go?" and provide a simple illustration of their habitats. The text is accompanied by vivid, appealing acrylic drawings surrounded by textured borders, with backgrounds painted in thick strokes. An attractive, useful concept book."Beth Cuddy, Seward Elementary School, Auburn, NY"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2010
"Elephant young, / elephant old. / Polar bear hot, / polar bear cold." Blackstone's simple rhymes are illustrated with Bauer's double-page spreads showing animals in their natural habitats. The illustrations feature chunky geometric shapes and decorative borders. The creators of Alligator Alphabet and Counting Cockatoos have taken a basic concept and tastefully dressed it up.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)