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ALONE TOGETHER

Name: ALONE TOGETHER
Author: Clayton Junior
ISBN: 978-1-910277-28-7

by Clayton Junior ; illustrated by Clayton Junior ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 3, 2017

Perhaps not a first choice in the competitive field of opposites books.

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All kinds of animals are shown in varying settings to illustrate antonyms and contrasting concepts.

Flat illustrations that look digitally composed are shown on mostly white backgrounds, with just the descriptor in easy-to-read sans-serif type. The contrasting concepts are illustrated opposite each other on the spreads. Thus, the lower portion of a giraffe (from the neck up is off the page) is illustrated with the word “high” opposite a snake in the grass, which is “low”; a tangled spider’s web is shown with the word “messy” and the remade web on the opposite page with the word “tidy.” The animals are connected with their own visual logic, so distant African antelopes represent “far,” and a scary close-up of a tiger’s face illustrates “close.” The text is sometimes subtly angled or differently sized to represent a given concept but remains easily legible for a beginning reader. The titular concept, “alone/together,” visually illustrates how ants work independently and together to demolish a leaf. In spite of their extreme simplicity, Clayton Junior’s illustrations successfully convey in scale and color the concepts being illustrated, and each spread tells a story that a skillful adult could expand on when reading with a child. A few images may be hard to interpret, particularly the bats in “sleepy/awake.” The whole impression is somewhat bland and clinical, however.

Perhaps not a first choice in the competitive field of opposites books. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2017

ISBN: 978-1-910277-28-7

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Words & Pictures

Review Posted Online: Aug. 1, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2017

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

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ONE FAMILY

by George Shannon ; illustrated by Blanca Gómez ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 26, 2015

A visually striking, engaging picture book that sends the message that everyone counts.

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A playful counting book also acts as a celebration of family and human diversity.

Shannon’s text is delivered in spare, rhythmic, lilting verse that begins with one and counts up to 10 as it presents different groupings of things and people in individual families, always emphasizing the unitary nature of each combination. “One is six. One line of laundry. One butterfly’s legs. One family.” Gomez’s richly colored pictures clarify and expand on all that the text lists: For “six,” a picture showing six members of a multigenerational family of color includes a line of laundry with six items hanging from it outside of their windows, as well as the painting of a six-legged butterfly that a child in the family is creating. While text never directs the art to depict diverse individuals and family constellations, Gomez does just this in her illustrations. Interracial families are included, as are depictions of men with their arms around each other, and a Sikh man wearing a turban. This inclusive spirit supports the text’s culminating assertion that “One is one and everyone. One earth. One world. One family.”

A visually striking, engaging picture book that sends the message that everyone counts. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: May 26, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-374-30003-6

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Frances Foster/Farrar, Straus & Giroux

Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2015

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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TURKEY TOT
by George Shannon ; illustrated by Jennifer K. Mann

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A VERY WITCHY SPELLING BEE
by George Shannon ; illustrated by Mark Fearing

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WHO PUT THE COOKIES IN THE COOKIE JAR?
by George Shannon ; illustrated by Julie Paschkis

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THE CRAYONS LOVE OUR PLANET

by Drew Daywalt ; illustrated by Oliver Jeffers ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 13, 2024

A droll exploration of color and nature—and a welcome reminder to safeguard our planet.

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Daywalt and Jeffers’ wildly popular Crayons have an important ecological message.

Though climate change is never mentioned, the book nevertheless gently introduces responsibility for Planet Earth. As in previous titles, the main text is in a large black font, while the Crayons’ dialogue is presented in a smaller, gray font. Blue begins by showing off a blue-tinged image of the globe (land masses are depicted in a darker hue). Green takes over: “Yay, Trees! I did those!” Beige breaks in, pointing to a tiny wheat plant next to two large trees: “And wheat! I did the WHEAT!” Beige puts wheat front and center throughout—even on White’s drawing of mountaintop ice caps. When Red, Yellow, and Orange display drawings of various fruits, Beige interjects, “And WHEAT. Wheat is totally fruit.” Diplomatic Purple politely responds, “Um. NO. It is not.” Purple attempts to dissuade self-important Beige, but it all ends happily as the Crayons join hands and proclaim: “Our planet has all of us too, in many shapes, colors, and sizes.” Beige and Purple reconcile, with Beige adding, “And it’s our job to keep the planet safe.” Young children will easily absorb this positive message. Although these characters have had many outings, their quiet humor still succeeds, and fans will definitely want this new entry.

A droll exploration of color and nature—and a welcome reminder to safeguard our planet. (Picture book. 3-5)