Not All Animals Are Blue: A Big Book of Little Differences

by Christian Jolibois and Béatrice Boutignon

Five penguins on the ice, five frogs relaxing in the pond, five elephants on their way...Each of the five is the same, but different too. Is it the clothes they are wearing? Their attitude? Perhaps it... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1933605960
• ISBN13: 9781933605968
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Kane/Miller Book Publishers
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.7" x 10.0"
• Age Range: 2 to 5 years

Customer Reviews

Book for Toddlers Holds Sophisticated Meaning for All Ages

Every turn of the page presents a marvelous matching game. Identify the animal. On every left side five questions or statements appear. On every right five animals appear in a row. First learn their differences and then discover their similarities. Fun and endearing, these animals are not only silly, but they also invite their young readers to search, identify, and learn. What does it mean to be similar? What IS a difference? Now, with an adult eye look closer. The meaning does not stop. Learning opportunities go far beyond the surface. Even though toddlers will be unaware, the concepts will still be planted. NOT ALL ANIMALS creates an opportunity for deeper understanding to grow along with every child. Yes, the left page asks how the animals are different and the right explains how they are the same. But too often the adult world abuses the definitions of similarity and difference and reduces them to assumptions. Similarities become a way to pigeonhole. Differences become an excuse to eliminate. In effect both form reasons to reject. Boutignon points out the true meaning of both such words. As she shows us how we are all alike, she focuses on the differences that really matter: "Who likes polka dots?" "Who couldn't decide which necklace to wear?" "Whose umbrella shines like the sun?" Who wants "to fly"? These are questions of identity and individuality. We are all the same. Differences just make us "handsome." Boutignon invites us - child and adult - to follow the lead of the first, and last, of her closing set of five animals. Let us all truly start "to look around."

An excellent read-aloud book highly recommended for stimulating young minds

Not All Animals Are Blue: A Big Book of Little Differences is a picturebook designed to get little ones thinking about basic concepts. The simple color illustrations show five creatures on every other page, while the text on the opposite page has five sentences, each of which refers to a different animal. For example, one picture shows "Five Monkeys Hanging Around" on vines, while the five sentences read "Look, no hands! / Whose tail is wrapped around? / Who is using both hands and both feet? / One hand and one foot? / One hand?" Young children can point to the appropriate picture while adults read aloud the sentences - and key words in the sentences are often highlighted with larger font and a special color. An excellent read-aloud book highly recommended for stimulating young minds.

Review from www.firrkids.com

The format used here makes for an unusual book, albeit a pretty interesting one. Initially I wasn't quite sure what to make of it, but the response from our test group was unanimous. The kids absolutely loved it! Their response coupled with the fabulous illustrations completely won me over. Each page (twenty pages total) has five animals pictured together with a unifying phrase, such as Five Monkeys Hanging Around. Directly opposite the photo page are five statements or comments, which describe each animal individually. Some of the statements are simplistic, while others require more thought. The reader's job? Why, to match each descriptive phrase to the animal it pertains to. And this is a very fun job, indeed! Subtitled A Big Book of Little Differences, this is an interactive book meant to spark discussion about colors, movement, attitude and accessories. At the turn of each page, the children in our group were scrutinizing the drawings, eagerly awaiting each statement to be read aloud. They loved examining the tiny details that set each animal apart from the group. In addition to being adorable, this book is also very clever, and certainly meets its goal of discussion through discovery. A sure winner!