Teaching (and learning) about opposites can be tricky. We’ve compiled books about people, animals, and objects that are very different. Whether they are concepts, personalities, skills, or locations, spot all the opposites in these heartwarming and hilarious stories, and find activities to help make learning about opposites fun!
Stanley’s Opposites
by William Bee
In this board book addition to the popular Stanley series, Stanley and Little Woo (an adorable little shrew) travel through their day learning about all sorts of opposites. Focused on early childhood learning, this concept book is perfect for very young readers. Check out the Stanley activity sheets to continue the fun!
Kalinka and Grakkle
by Julie Paschkis
Kalinka’s a showy little bird with an eye for neatness, but her grumpy neighbor Grakkle doesn’t care one bit about cleaning. He just wants to relax in his favorite chair and soak his feet in a cool bucket of pickle juice. “Grakk!” he complains as Kalinka “tidies up” his messes. “You’re welcome,” she responds. They simply aren’t on the same wavelength. Can an unfortunate accident plus a little humor and empathy help an odd couple like this see eye to eye? Read an excerpt here.
Pig and Bug just want to be friends. But their size difference is proving to be a BIG problem. Pig wants to play games―but Bug is too small. Bug wants to make things for his friend―but Pig is too big! Just as they’ve given up all hope for their friendship, Pig has an idea… But will it work? This hilariously quirky tale from Alex Latimer is filled with visual puns and wordplay, and offers a unique message to teach readers about making friends and finding common ground.
The Opposite
by Tom Macrae
illustrated by Elena Odriozola
When Nate poured milk on his cereal―something he is usually good at―The Opposite happened. Milk splashed everywhere and made a big mess. When he started to draw a very good picture of an elephant at school, The Opposite happened. Paint went everywhere, except on his paper. But when Nate comes up with a brilliant plan to beat The Opposite at its own game, things start looking up again. Featuring the joys of paradox and inversion, this story about how a resourceful young protagonist cleverly triumphs over a nefarious nemesis will appeal to young readers.
Ebenezer Has a Word for Everything
by Chelsea H. Rowe
illustrated by Frank Dormer
No one seems to understand Ebenezer’s word collections, but his efforts are finally appreciated when he meets Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald doesn’t have a word collection―but he does have lots of ideas. Together, they can make stories. This offbeat tale about a friendship based on different but complementary passions, collaboration, and a love for both language and stories is also perfect for vocabulary building, with a list of words and definitions in the back. Read an excerpt here and check out the activity sheets!
Immi’s Gift
By Karin Littlewood
Two children in opposite parts of the world are connected in an an unexpected way in this timeless, fanciful story. Way, way up north in a snow-covered world, a young girl is surprised when she keeps finding colorful surprises on the end of her fishing line. When visiting the fishing hole for the last time, she drops a little wooden bear into the water. Far away, on a beach in the hot, hot sun, a young boy throws a colorful object into the water but then finds a small wooden bear washed up on the beach. This simple, affecting story of how individuals around the world connect and enrich each other’s lives―from the frozen Arctic to the tropical shoreline. Read an excerpt here.
Look for these titles at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble. How do you teach children about opposites? Let us know in the comments!