Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Draw and Discover: Inside, Outside, Upside Down
Activity Book
For ages 5 to 7
Laurence King Publishing, 2017 ISBN: 978-1780679297
Learning the differences between opposites can be a bit confusing when you are young and relatively new to the world. Sometimes the best way to understand opposites is to see them in action, and in this activity book this is exactly what children can do.
On every spread in this book children are offered a pair of opposites, demonstrated by Duck, Bear, or Rabbit. Children are invited to add to the artwork so that the true nature of the opposites is revealed. For example, on the second spread we see a picture of Bear reading a newspaper. We are invited to add a big picture to the empty space on the front of the newspaper, and some small pictures to the empty spaces on back of the newspaper.
One the next spread we see Rabbit and Duck. They are about to eat some pancakes. Rabbit’s stack is enormously tall, while Duck’s is very short. We are asked to help Duck out by adding “more pancakes so he has a tall stack, too.”
On another spread we see Bear holding a bag that is right side up. We are asked to color the bag. Then we see that Bear is holding his bag upside down and we are asked to draw the things that are falling out of the bag.
Children are going to enjoy exploring this clever book, which is educational, fun, and at times quite amusing. You never know what Bear, Duck, and Rabbit are going to do next, and the ways in which the author gets her readers engaged in the adventures these characters have is delightful.
