double take! a new look at opposites

"HIGH might look hazy

until we see LOW.

A racer's called FAST

when rivals are SLOW.

Now just when you think you've mastered that notion,

Watch relative words set matters in motion."

Looking and thinking about opposites from a new perspective—from multiple perspectives—is the clever and thought-provoking premise behind Double Take! A New Look at Opposites.  Jay Fleck's illustrations are a delight and Susan Hood's ideas give us much to ponder and show us that how we see things is so dependent upon our point of view.  A smart and refreshing look at opposites.

Double Take! A New Look at Opposites was written by Susan Hood and illustrated illustrated by Jay Fleck. Out from Candlewick Studio on June 13.

little lit book series: books that take you places

Summer is the perfect time for an adventure and a book that really transports you.  That’s our theme for #littlelitbookseries this month—books that take you places.

"He charted a course. 

He checked the breeze. 

He cut the strings...

and floated free."

On a dull and lifeless night, and ready for a change in scenery, a boy named Sebastian takes flight in a hot air balloon made out of his grandmother's afghans and patchwork quilts.  He has a few mishaps along the way but makes a few memorable friends on a most unexpected adventure.

Sebastian and the Balloon was written and illustrated by Philip C. Stead and published by Roaring Brook Press.

Stop by littlelitbookseries.com throughout this month for more books that take you places  and see what everyone is sharing today with the hashtag #littlelitbookseries on Instagram.

and then comes summer

An ode to summer and its myriad sun-drenched possibilities.  And Then Comes Summer is a fitting read for the first day of June, no?  Warm, dusky summer nights are one of our favorite things about this season.  And walking by ripe, sweet-smelling stone fruit at the farmer's market, ready to be eaten out of hand.  What about everyone else?

And Then Comes Summer was written by Tom Brenner, illustrated by Jaime Kim and published by Candlewick Press.

my four seasons

We’re diving into Dawid Ryski’s gorgeous stylized world of seasons today.  We join a family as they experience the changing of the year — the crunchy white snow of winter, spring’s air redolent of “pink cherry blossoms and apple trees” and summer filled with sunshine, evening barbecues and leisurely trips.  Before we know it, they’re drinking in the last soporific days of summer and trading them in for cool, brisk autumn mornings spent at school.  A book for all year round. 

My Four Seasons was illustrated by Dawid Ryski and will be published by Little Gestalten on June 22.

colette's lost pet

Colette is new to Mile End, and is reluctant to get out and explore her new environs.  An unexpected and playful opportunity to get to know the other neighborhood kids falls into her lap and she runs with it.  Inventive and absolutely charming, Colette's Lost Pet is the stuff childhood is made of.  We should all read this kind of magic to our kids—and ourselves—as often as we can.

Colette’s Lost Pet was written and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault and published by Random House Books for Young Readers.