BOOK OF OPPOSITES

Rich illustrations depict a series of basic opposites.

In this board book, award-winning author/illustrator Jeffers takes inspiration from Here We Are (2017). Opposites like young and old and day and night are shown through simple stand-alone illustrations, through contrasting landscapes, or simultaneously in one layout. The art is compelling—for outside and inside, we see a child’s body, the left side covered in pink skin, the right a skeleton, the ribs hugging the lungs. The sense of curvature and space is playful and adds visual interest. The illustration for above and below is also clever—while a small boat rocks on the water, a world exists below it in the ocean. A nesting sea gull sits above the boat on a cliffside, while below, a shark, a narwhal, a sea turtle, and other creatures swim. Jeffers also includes some scenes as a wink to the caregivers reading aloud, like the pages for asleep and awake, which feature snoozing adults next to a baby in a crib, wide awake and wielding a hammer. Many of the pages are rich with details, like a busy apartment building and a beautiful sloping view of the Earth. This book allows for a range of reader experiences and invites readers to linger on each page. People depicted are diverse in skin tone. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Captivating illustrations that are enjoyable for adults and children alike.