Thematic Reading List: Contrast and Opposites

This book list includes a collection of titles for children ages 0-3. Some of the books feature high contrast images, which are especially interesting to infants who don’t quite have their full eyesight. Others contrast objects, particularly with regard to opposites, a concept that is important for the older end of this age group to begin learning. No matter a child’s development in this age group, there is something here for everyone.
Contributed by: Mary Lanni
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

	Big Chickie, Little Chickie: a Book of Opposites By: Janee Trasler Silly rhyming text invites young readers to join the chickies as they have their pictures taken and learn about opposites.
	Big and Little: a Book About Opposites By: No Author Teaches young children opposites, including “first and last,” “clean and dirty,” “hot and cold,” and “black and white.” On board pages.
	Big and Small By: Guido van Genechten Invites readers to identify which of different animals, including penguins, elephants, and alligators, are biggest and smallest and ready for the party.
	Black Bird Yellow Sun By: Steve Light As a solitary black bird wings its way through the day, little ones are treated to a magnificent flight from one vibrant color to another.
	Black on White By: Tana Hoban Black illustrations against a white background depict such objects as an elephant, butterfly, and leaf.
	Checkers and Dot on the Farm By: J. Torres and J. Lum Checkers and Dot visit the farm where they meet some animal friends and learn some new animal sounds.
	Opposites By: National Geographic Society Introduces students to big and small, short and tall, fast and slow, and other opposite ways we can group concepts and objects we encounter every day.
	Opposites with Polar Animals By: Melanie Watt Explores what it means for things to be opposite to one another while introducing various polar animals.
	Over Under By: Marthe Jocelyn Illustrated by: Tom Slaughter Illustrations with strong colors and simple drawings of animals to demonstrate some opposite concept like short and tall, over and under, and black and white.
	What is Black and White? By: Petr Horacek Illustrations and simple text show a variety of things that are black, white, or both.
	White on Black By: Tana Hoban White illustrations against a black background depict such objects as a horse, baby bottle, and sailboat.
	Who Are They? By: Tana Hoban Black silhouettes against white background depict different mother animals and their young, from one sheep to five ducks. On board pages.