PreS-Gr 1— A clever picture book that connects children with a plethora of vocabulary detailing opposites found in nature. Each spread features two animals that contrast in a specific way, and the words describing these differences are highlighted in bold. Beneath these words are corresponding poems as spoken by the animals they reference. The poems themselves are delightful in their design, particularly because they do not rhyme, which is contrary to what is found most frequently in children's literature. Instead, the poems directly reflect the characteristics defined by the vocabulary words featured on each page. Translated from its original Dutch, this book adheres well to the original while being accessible to an English-speaking audience. However, the text is occasionally difficult to read against the background images due to the color choices used, but the book is otherwise enjoyable. On each spread, the featured animals are shown in relation to one another and are depicted using illustration methods that are true to van Hout's iconic style. These visuals allow children to better understand the creatures in this book, especially any animals with which they may be less familiar. Rich vocabulary, unexpected animal qualities, and clever poetry make this book an engaging selection for young readers and their families. VERDICT A unique book of opposites for children who enjoy learning about animals and being exposed to unfamiliar words.— Mary Lanni

In this Dutch import, Westera, author of the Batchelder Honor bookLater, When I'm Big (2023), offers a lighthearted lesson in antonymsSixteen pairs of animal opposites are portrayed in poems titled according to their primary characteristics. Like the titular duo, some pairs intrinsically embody their traits: A butterfly's "Dazzling" appearance diverges from a moth's "Plain" coloration, which also augments its ability to camouflage itself. A "Patient" spider awaiting prey in its web contrasts with a "Restless" blowfly as it debates where to land. A snake of unspecified species garners a "Dangerous" designation, while a facing earthworm, similarly sized in the accompanying illustration, is "Harmless." "No need to be afraid of me. / I wouldn't hurt a fly. / I don't eat bugs / or caterpillars. / Just autumn leaves." A preening turkey is "Fancy" while a self-effacing chicken is "Everyday." Often, the contravening traits are anthropomorphized: The nonmigratory house sparrow is "Contented," while the swallow's migratory behavior earns it an "Adventurous" label. Westera even bucks convention by assigning a pig the quality of "Tidy," reserving "Messy" for the warthog. The short, free-verse poems rely on first-person, matter-of-fact personification, dabbling in qualities such as braggadocio and self-effacement. Van Hout's cheerful illustrations (reminiscent of Douglas Florian's) alternate full-bleed double spreads with separately composed facing pictures, one with a colored background and the other set against white space. Her palette emphasizes butternut-gold and blue-green hues. A well-designed layout presents the facing poems with respective left- and right-justified margins.Breezy, colorful, and fun.(Picture book/poetry. 4-8)