View source for Opposite Things by Anna Kovecses

{{infobox2
|title=Opposite Things
|author=Anna Kovecses
|reviewer=Sam Tyler
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=Join Little Mouse as she learns about opposites in this gorgeous book that has some awesome flaps to play with.
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=16
|publisher=Wide Eyed Editions
|date=August 2017
|isbn=9781786030382
|website=http://annakovecses.tumblr.com/
|video=
|aznuk=1786030381
|aznus=1786030381
|cover=1786030381
}}
 
Rearing a child is not a competition, but have a conversation with a certain type of parent and they won't agree.  Their child can speak four languages.  Their child wrote their first sonnet at the age of three.  Their child can be seen wistfully looking into the middle distance just wanting to play on the bouncy castle.  For me, I am happy, if my child is happy; be that doing sums, or eating play-doh.  However, even with a relaxed attitude to educating your kid, it can be fun to learn a little, especially when a book is as fun as Little Mouse's ''Opposite Things''.
 
Little Mouse is a curious rodent and wishes to know a little more about her environment.  If she is a Little Mouse, what is big?  Lift up the flap and you will see – Big Whale.  Over the next few pages Mouse learns different opposites from hot and cold, to happy and sad.  All of which are behind some awesome flaps.
 
There are loads of different areas that a child needs to understand as they grow up; colours, numbers, letters.  Anna Kovecses has created a series of lift the flap books to help and this particular outing tackles one of the harder concepts – opposites.   Whilst blue is blue and one is one, opposites are different as the 'answer' is not the same as the question.  Whilst a child can count the number of marbles, they will find it tricky to understand what the opposite of black is; kcalb? 
 
A gentle introduction to the concept is required and this is exactly what Little Mouse gives.  The book comes in a small hardback format with only 16 pages.  Each page has Mouse asking a question like what time is it.  On the other page will be some opposite answers i.e. day and night.  The simple format means that the concept can be grasped by toddlers.  However, as it is a little harder to learn about opposites the likes of colours and numbers are best to start with first.
 
The layout of ''Opposite Things'' is wonderful for little hands and the question and answer format draws little readers in, but for all intents and purposes it is just another edutainment book.  However, Kovecses' illustrations and use of flaps lifts the book beyond this.  Even if a child does not truly understand the meaning of what is happening, the book is pure fun.  Kovecses' simple drawings have a timeless appeal and are crisp.  Soon enough even the smallest child will see what the pictures are trying to tell them and this is vital in this form of book.  Kovecses' Hungarian illustrative roots give the book an edge over other similar titles, as it looks so lovely (plus flaps rock!)         
 
There are other great children's books by the same author to explore; [[One Thousand Things by Anna Kovecses]].
 
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