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
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Black on White By: Tana Hoban Black illustrations against a white background depict such objects as an elephant, butterfly, and leaf. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Opposites with Polar Animals By: Melanie Watt Explores what it means for things to be opposite to one another while introducing various polar animals. |
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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. |
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What is Black and White? By: Petr Horacek Illustrations and simple text show a variety of things that are black, white, or both. |
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White on Black By: Tana Hoban White illustrations against a black background depict such objects as a horse, baby bottle, and sailboat. |
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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. |