Outdoor Opposites

If you’re trying to teach your child about opposites, we’ve got just the book to help! Outdoor Opposites, by Brenda Williams, not only does a great job of representing opposites in images throughout the book, but incorporates rhyming text, too. If that isn’t enough, the book includes a bonus CD with a catchy song about opposites. Whether you’re teaching opposites for the first time or trying to reinforce what your child already knows, this book and CD combo is a great learning tool!

I Love You Night and Day

A new picture book just arrived that pretty much melted my heart. I Love You Night and Day, by Smriti Prasadam-Halls is a beautiful declaration of unwavering, everlasting love. Besides the adorable illustrations from Alison Brown, there are a few things that make this book a winner.

First, rather than pictures of people in specific roles, like a mother and daughter who look alike, the images in the book are of a purple bear and a blue bunny. Because of this, the book has the potential to reach a much broader audience. It’s one that could be shared between a grandparent and grandchild, siblings, adoptive parents and children, or even friends.

Next, books that rhyme, such as this one, are great to share with your little one, as they help improve phonological awareness. This allows children to hear the smaller sounds in words, a helpful pre-reading tool.

Finally, the book features several different pairs of opposites that are great to point out and perhaps lead to a discussion about other opposites. Some of the ones in the book, too, aren’t ones that we hear every day and can help with vocabulary-building. For example: “I love you big, I love you tough, / When the path is smooth and when it’s rough.”

This book is a great morning, nighttime, or anytime reminder for your child. Enjoy!

Extreme Opposites

New-favorite-book alert! Max Dalton’s book, Extreme Opposites, had me laughing aloud and sharing the illustrations with my coworkers. Instead of your average concept book about opposites, this little gem is (as advertised) extreme, comparing things like “too hot” with “too cold” and “too big” with “too small." While this may not sound overly exciting, I assure you that the pictures are hysterical. It’s perfect for all ages—little ones can learn opposites while older kids and adults can get a good laugh. J