OVER UNDER
by Marthe Jocelyn & illustrated by Tom Slaughter
Slaughter explores more concepts with the same supersaturated colors and cut-paper, predominantly animal, forms that make One Some Many (2004) and 1 2 3: A Counting Book (2003) such toddlers’ delights. Jocelyn’s rhymed text, running to just a word or brief phrase per page, adds both continuity and a sense of verbal rhythm to go with the vibrancy of the art: “over / under / up / and down / inside / outside / country / town / above is sky / below is ground.” With just enough extraneous detail to keep it from being pedantic, this will inspire plenty of repeat visits as it enriches younger viewers’ verbal and visual vocabularies. (Picture book. 2-4)