Concept books are a type of picture book that introduces basic ideas, or concepts, to young children. They are sometimes described as informational picture books for preschoolers. These books play an important part in early literacy and can be found in all our children’s collections. In this series of posts, we are going to highlight concept books according to theme, providing a booklist with additional recommendations.

Next on our series, let’s talk about books about opposites. These books can cover size (big/small), spatial relationships (over/under) and even emotions (happy/sad). Learning about opposites help children understand how to compare different things and to acquire vocabulary to better describe them.
 

The Opposite Zoo by Il Sung Na
The sky is dark and the Opposite Zoo is CLOSED. But the monkey's cage is OPEN! Time to explore... Follow the monkey as he visits all the animals in the zoo: fast and slow, big and small, noisy and quiet, soft and prickly!

Opposite Surprise by Agnese Baruzzi
Everyone knows the sun is hot. But open the flaps in this book and you may find a chilly surprise instead! Each spread of this cleverly designed board book reveals a surprising opposite that makes for a truly original way for toddlers to learn about words and concepts.

We Love You, Rosie! written by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Linda Davick
Rosie is a very busy little dog. Sometimes she’s good, and sometimes she’s bad. Sometimes she wants to go out, and other times she wants to stay in. But no matter what, Rosie’s family loves her!  This is a sweet story about a day in the life of a family dog as she explores the concept of opposites.

Looking for more books about opposites? Head over to our list of Books about Opposites for additional recommendations.

Visit your neighborhood library to find these books and much, much more!