Back and Front

PreS-K—Each book uses photographs and simple phrases to demonstrate multiple examples of opposites. In Day, a Ferris wheel is shown during the day and then lit up at night; a house is pictured in sunlight while another is depicted with windows aglow in the evening. In Tall, a giraffe appears on each page, paired with smaller animals, such as an owl, a kitten, and a rabbit, with the words "tall" and "short" accompanying the photographs. Each book comes with a note to adults claiming that it helps "pre-readers get a jumpstart on reading." While that may be true, the uninspired images and lackluster design do nothing to attract children. In Over, identical rainbow images are used repeatedly. While a giraffe is an apt example of tall, it appears on every spread. A variety of examples might add some much-needed pizzazz to this book. Although the series aims at simplicity for clear and concise educational value, there is no excuse for uninviting, lifeless design.—Diane McCabe, Loyola Village Elementary School, Los Angeles