What do you think?
Rate this book
Round Trip
This book isn't just the story of a round trip--it is a round trip! Read forward and look at the sights, then flip the book over to see something different on the way back. Ann Jonas's amazing two-way trip is guarnateed to change the way you look at things!
28 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1983
7 people are currently reading
627 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
August 13, 2016
At the Circulation Desk the other day, a retired teacher friend told me that this is her favorite book! She was checking it out from the Library for the umpteenth time, so, I felt obliged to discover what all the fuss was about for myself. The illustrations are truly inventive and must have taken some time and ingenuity to figure out. Reading through the book one way you discover the events of an outbound journey. Flip the book around, and you can make the journey back home. My favorite page is an illustration of a shore with "marshy inlets and summer cottages" on the outbound journey, and reinvented as a display of "fireworks" on the way back home! I can imagine children truly enjoying making these discoveries. It could become a bedtime favorite.
February 28, 2021
Though this book was published during the eighties, I somehow missed sharing it with my boys who were born in the nineties . . . and, what a shame, as I suspect it would have been a favorite. The story is simple - a visit to the big city for a movie and a trip to the top of a skyscraper - is made special by the stark, black & white illustrations, and this clever gimmick - you flip the book over for the return trip, seeing the same artwork from a whole new perspective.
A bridge over peaceful waters . . .
becomes telephone wires against a starry sky.
See the marshy inlets by day . . .
Ooh and aah over the spectacular fireworks by night.
Pretty cool, eh? And, yeah, I know that topsy-turvy books have been around for centuries, and this is nothing new, but this easily-amused old gal was greatly entertained.
Wonder if I could still get the boys to come over so I could read them a story?
A bridge over peaceful waters . . .
becomes telephone wires against a starry sky.
See the marshy inlets by day . . .
Ooh and aah over the spectacular fireworks by night.
Pretty cool, eh? And, yeah, I know that topsy-turvy books have been around for centuries, and this is nothing new, but this easily-amused old gal was greatly entertained.
Wonder if I could still get the boys to come over so I could read them a story?
June 11, 2018
Read this picture book through in the normal way, then turn it upside-down and read it back again. Of course, this flips the pictures and you see each page in two different ways. Lighted windows become stars, ponds become clouds, power pylons become bridge supports and the jagged city skylines work either way because the skyscrapers become gaps and the gaps become skyscrapers. The pictures are solid black-and-white and very abstract, which is stark and sometimes jarring.
It's a neat idea, but not all the inversions are convincing. They rely heavily on the reader not noticing details that belong to the other orientation. Some of the pictures don't really work either way up. As an experienced adult, I was always bothered by the ambiguity: I can't suppress the knowledge that each picture has two faces. Maybe children don't mind so much.
It's a neat idea, but not all the inversions are convincing. They rely heavily on the reader not noticing details that belong to the other orientation. Some of the pictures don't really work either way up. As an experienced adult, I was always bothered by the ambiguity: I can't suppress the knowledge that each picture has two faces. Maybe children don't mind so much.
August 11, 2010
Sometimes I’m a sucker for a gimmick. When they work, I can really appreciate them. For the most part, it works here. I can see that it took a lot of thought and effort to make this work well.
I really liked this book. The only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars from me is that I’m not completely wild about either the pictures or the story, but I love the gimmick.
The illustrations are all in black and white. The story consists of a short sentence on each page. The gimmick is that the reader reads through the book, and then turns it over and reads it in the other direction. And, they’re truly taken on a round trip; it goes from country to city and back again.
It’s a lot of fun, and probably equally fun for any age group. It’s a clever book. It’s a great idea that basically works. I really enjoyed it.
I really liked this book. The only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars from me is that I’m not completely wild about either the pictures or the story, but I love the gimmick.
The illustrations are all in black and white. The story consists of a short sentence on each page. The gimmick is that the reader reads through the book, and then turns it over and reads it in the other direction. And, they’re truly taken on a round trip; it goes from country to city and back again.
It’s a lot of fun, and probably equally fun for any age group. It’s a clever book. It’s a great idea that basically works. I really enjoyed it.
November 26, 2024
Our library system has only one copy and there were three holds ahead of me. It's exciting to see some of these "old" books still popular with kids today. This book made a big impression on me as a kid because it was so unique. I had never seen a book that you started reading forward and right-side up then flipped over and read back the way you had come to complete the story. The way the illustrations depict a different scene depending on whether the book is right-side up or upside down is really cool and creative (for example, weeds by a roadside become fireworks in the sky on the return (upside-down read) part of the trip). I feel like if the word was in their vocabulary, my kids would have called this book "trippy" LOL. My youngest actually said, "wow, that kind of hypnotized me!" My oldest thought it was "cool" and he's mostly uninterested in picture books anymore. There was a novelty factor, for sure!
July 6, 2015
This book is pretty amazing.
June 25, 2016
Great idea and excellent black and white illustrations that worked perfectly with the story.
January 23, 2018
My son brought this book home from his class library at school. It brought back all kinds of memories and nostalgic feelings from my childhood. Published in 1983, Round Trip was one of the hottest library books around. Kids fought over who got to check this one out. We watched intently as teachers read this book then flipped it over to read it back to the beginning. We were amazed at how the pictures turned into a different scene when turned upside down. We would try to figure out the pictures without turning them over. Soon those copies became dog-eared and worn, or sometimes even missing. I'm glad to see this book still holds the same magic and appeal for children today. ❤️
January 21, 2020
This is brilliant! Such a clever idea that must have taken a lot of work. How fun for children to read and flip and read. I have spacial issues so I cannot even comprehend how one would create illustrations that can be viewed like this from one way and then flipped and seen from the other way. It really blows my mind!
November 13, 2018
A really clever book that you read one way and then turn it round and read it back the other way. Just like going on a journey and then coming back. Brilliant book and very clever illustrations
August 28, 2025
beautiful! mesmerizing!!!!!
July 21, 2023
Open Library
January 8, 2020
What do you see when you take a road trip? This book is read first on the trip out from home during the night. The traveler sees passing fields, bridges, sky scrapers. Then turn the book round and read on the return trip home as night turns into days and the same black and white pictures from the trip out transform into new objects on the trip back. The artwork in this book is amazing. I think students would enjoy making their own art in this style. They could think about what they see on their way to school and back. Students who take the school bus might see something different than a student who walks.
October 2, 2013
Round Trip by Ann Jonas is an unusual book that follows a narrator’s trip to the city. The trip starts in the country at day break. As the narrator, and presumably his family, drive many miles to get to the city, the narrator describes his sights along the way. The descriptions of the sights are rather ordinary, and seem anticlimactic until the end of the book is reached. To accompany the descriptions, Jonas uses plain black and white images to create silhouettes of what the narrator describes. The last page reads, “We watched as the sun set. Time to turn around.” Then to continue reading the story, the book much be turned upside down, and read back to the beginning. Every image that was used before in the narrator’s description, when inverted, matches the description of what he sees on his way back home until finally the beginning of the book is reached again.
At first, I was off-put by the stark black and white images until I realized that it was necessary in order for the inverted images to fit the description of both the trip to the city and the trip back home. This book wasn’t one of my favorites, because there wasn’t much of a story. Being a literature teacher, I like stories. The illustrations were interesting, but that’s about it.
At first, I was off-put by the stark black and white images until I realized that it was necessary in order for the inverted images to fit the description of both the trip to the city and the trip back home. This book wasn’t one of my favorites, because there wasn’t much of a story. Being a literature teacher, I like stories. The illustrations were interesting, but that’s about it.
July 21, 2016
The book makes me feel fabulous with all the black and white scenes that keep changing.
The theme is round trip into the city and back home.
It is amazing how the pictures turn into another scene when we flip the book around; I am not sure how I would use the book. My guess is the age group might be a little older as the black and white is not as eye catching, so the changes in scenery are more subtle, so perhaps for a group of children who are quieter in nature and can appreciate the amazing little changes on each page.
The theme is round trip into the city and back home.
It is amazing how the pictures turn into another scene when we flip the book around; I am not sure how I would use the book. My guess is the age group might be a little older as the black and white is not as eye catching, so the changes in scenery are more subtle, so perhaps for a group of children who are quieter in nature and can appreciate the amazing little changes on each page.
August 23, 2016
Stark but stunning black and white images show a completely different aspect of a journey - to the city and back home again - when turned upside down. The reader gets to the end of the book, turns it over, and is offered a whole new perspective by the decidedly different reverse images. It must have taken a brilliantly creative, artistic mind to envision, design and devise this beautiful book. The late author-artist was married to graphic designer and children's book illustrator Donald Crews; theirs must have been a visionary household.
March 3, 2020
Great illustrations!
This is a book that you read through as normal until you reach the last page. Then, you flip the book upside down and read back to the first page. On the return "trip," you are looking at the same illustrations, but they look completely different, and you see new things on the way back that were not noticeable on the way out to the original destination.
And that is what a good book can do: take the reader somewhere they would never have otherwise been able to go.
This is a simple story that can inspire a life-long love of books for young readers.
This is a book that you read through as normal until you reach the last page. Then, you flip the book upside down and read back to the first page. On the return "trip," you are looking at the same illustrations, but they look completely different, and you see new things on the way back that were not noticeable on the way out to the original destination.
And that is what a good book can do: take the reader somewhere they would never have otherwise been able to go.
This is a simple story that can inspire a life-long love of books for young readers.
August 3, 2015
The concept of this book was unique. The illustrations were clever to be able to work both ways. It was kind of difficult to ignore the upside down words and the illustrations were sometimes hard to envision, particularly on the return trip. Not my favorite book.
December 12, 2007
Dude, man! You can read this book upside down!?!?
It kind of hurt my head to share it at storytime, I kept getting confused about which way to turn the pages.
It's super cool though.
It kind of hurt my head to share it at storytime, I kept getting confused about which way to turn the pages.
It's super cool though.
July 14, 2017
Amazeland!
September 10, 2013
Very clever and imaginative book detailing a trip into the city from morning until night. All in black and white illustrations, the book is flipped upside down to read about the trip home.
February 6, 2017
Source: Chapter 3 of Children’s Books in Children’s Hands
Round Trip is a picture story book that tells the story of a trip to the city and back. The structure of the book helps to explain the concept of a round trip. Once the reader reaches the end of the book, the reader turns the book around and reads it backwards and upside down to read about how the family goes back home after their trip to the city.
There is minimal text and simple sentences describing the trip on each page. Some descriptive language and vocabulary is used (i.e. shining, starlit city; lightning flashed across the sky; moonlit street), but there is not much of a story line. The most appealing aspect of this book is the illustrations. The illustrations are the main focus and depict the setting of the story in a creative and interesting way. The black and white illustrations are on a double page spread to show the landscape of what the family is passing in the car.The author uses negative space in her illustrations to depict the ride back home. For example, viewing the illustration one way shows the family passing a farm; when the book is flipped over, the reader is able to see the smoky factories that the family is passing.
I think that this book would be most appealing to primary students, but some intermediate students may still enjoy the illustrations and reading the book in reverse. This book could be used to support sequencing, perspective, and understanding how illustrations help to tell the story.
Round Trip is a picture story book that tells the story of a trip to the city and back. The structure of the book helps to explain the concept of a round trip. Once the reader reaches the end of the book, the reader turns the book around and reads it backwards and upside down to read about how the family goes back home after their trip to the city.
There is minimal text and simple sentences describing the trip on each page. Some descriptive language and vocabulary is used (i.e. shining, starlit city; lightning flashed across the sky; moonlit street), but there is not much of a story line. The most appealing aspect of this book is the illustrations. The illustrations are the main focus and depict the setting of the story in a creative and interesting way. The black and white illustrations are on a double page spread to show the landscape of what the family is passing in the car.The author uses negative space in her illustrations to depict the ride back home. For example, viewing the illustration one way shows the family passing a farm; when the book is flipped over, the reader is able to see the smoky factories that the family is passing.
I think that this book would be most appealing to primary students, but some intermediate students may still enjoy the illustrations and reading the book in reverse. This book could be used to support sequencing, perspective, and understanding how illustrations help to tell the story.
October 24, 2021
Round Trip is a mesmerizing adventure where the reader takes a leading role in the story! Many of the two page spreads situates the reader as the observer in the scene like a person waiting on a subway platform, looking out a car windsor, walking into a theater, or looking down a skyscraper to the road below. The use of line to draw the reader's attention through a variety of optical illusion type illustrations is like magic. Anna Jones is able to move her story along with minimal words but engaging illustrations that draw the reader’s eye directly where she intends. Her use of only black and white further aids her process and prevents the eyes from wandering among the pages unintentionally.
The real twist to this story is when you reach the end and the book gets flipped upside down! Each illustration uncovers itself as continuous action of the story all the way through a second time. The front and back covers, as well as the title pages, play a role in this little trick. Anna Jones’ use of color and line help hide these scenes when the story is flipped including the words that go with the continued story. When the story is flipped the perspective of the reader is kept engaged so that the reader is essentially the main character of the adventure. This book is definitely worth the read!
The real twist to this story is when you reach the end and the book gets flipped upside down! Each illustration uncovers itself as continuous action of the story all the way through a second time. The front and back covers, as well as the title pages, play a role in this little trick. Anna Jones’ use of color and line help hide these scenes when the story is flipped including the words that go with the continued story. When the story is flipped the perspective of the reader is kept engaged so that the reader is essentially the main character of the adventure. This book is definitely worth the read!
March 2, 2018
Round Trip (1990) is a picture book that is written and illustrated by Ann Jonas. The story takes the reader on a journey around several settings (urban & rural), with a sentence on each page to describe the scenery. Each scenery is described with a single sentence and is accompanied with a two page visual spread; all the artwork in the book is in black and white and consists of sharp lines and solid shapes. The most interesting and engaging part of the book is that each visual can be read and seen legibly right side and upside down; the book itself is meant to be read straight through one way and then on the last page, turned upside down and flipped through for the second half. It demands the reader to be interactive with the material and that's what instantly pulled me into reading the book. While the story isn't specific on characters or arcs, going through the book and trying to decipher the visuals that accompany the scenery, flipping it upside down and trying to decipher that image and scenery is highly entertaining and outright fun. It's a great book to help teach visual literacy for young students ranging from Pre-K to 3rd Grade.
March 29, 2018
I was talking with a fellow library worker about the importance of picture books, especially regarding an article we'd both read in the paper about the declining popularity of the picture book. The idea of words and pictures together opens up children's minds to different ways of reading. There are picture books for adults, too. We call them Graphic Novels.
She recommended this picture book, Round Trip, as an example of what could be accomplished within the framework of the picture book. Round Trip is phenomenal. The story is relatively simple, with prose details that mainly serve to further the graphic element of the book. However, the book is interactive. Once one is done reading the book, one simply flips it over and reads it the other way. The simple, black and white illustrations are transformed into completely different images before your eyes.
I never read this book growing up, and had never heard of Ann Jonas before. As an adult, I really appreciate the art that went into this book and highly recommend it for children of all ages. Even grown up ones.
She recommended this picture book, Round Trip, as an example of what could be accomplished within the framework of the picture book. Round Trip is phenomenal. The story is relatively simple, with prose details that mainly serve to further the graphic element of the book. However, the book is interactive. Once one is done reading the book, one simply flips it over and reads it the other way. The simple, black and white illustrations are transformed into completely different images before your eyes.
I never read this book growing up, and had never heard of Ann Jonas before. As an adult, I really appreciate the art that went into this book and highly recommend it for children of all ages. Even grown up ones.
April 15, 2018
Round Trip is a very unique black and white story told about a trip to the city and back home again. The story starts with the narrator talking about going to the city. The images that are illustrated along with the words match well. Once the trip to the city is over, they turn around to head back home. On the way back, the reader must flip the book over to continue reading. This is where the book gets fun. Once the book flips over, the images though upside down from the previous images, look brand new and interesting. I love how the book keeps its readers on its toes by having them flip the book to continue the story. Even with flipping the book, there is still an intricate level of detail that is used. I think this is a great interactive story that I would love to read aloud to my future students.
October 30, 2019
I really admire the brilliance of the author when creating this book. Basically, it consists of a story of a journey through the night, observing the surroundings, and then coming back. The idea is that the black and white illustrations are reversible so once the journey has stopped and it's time to come back, you flip the book around and experience another journey. I think it's a great book to introduce in a classroom setting, highlighting the importance of our awareness of our surroundings. It prospers the idea that you may think you know it all, but there's always new discoveries to be made. The illustrations being reversible carries out the idea that things may go unnoticed that you may have never thought of before. It's a simple, original book that can be enjoyed and keeps the engagement alive.
January 5, 2020
This is a creative picture book where someone is going on a trip… leaving from their town, driving through the country into the city… then turning around and driving home again. The creative part is that half-way through, once they leave the city, the reader turns the book upside down to follow along to head home. The photos work in both “directions”.
It is creative. It reminded me of “Mirror Mirror” the poetry book of “reverso” poems – read one way, then you can read from the bottom up and it’s kind of the opposite story of reading it “down”. I guess this one should really get the credit, though, as it was published in 1983! The pictures were a bit more artsy than I like, though of course, they had to be drawn in such a way that they would work right-side-up, and again, upside-down. Overall, I’m rating this ok.
It is creative. It reminded me of “Mirror Mirror” the poetry book of “reverso” poems – read one way, then you can read from the bottom up and it’s kind of the opposite story of reading it “down”. I guess this one should really get the credit, though, as it was published in 1983! The pictures were a bit more artsy than I like, though of course, they had to be drawn in such a way that they would work right-side-up, and again, upside-down. Overall, I’m rating this ok.
February 4, 2020
Round Trip is the story of the narrator’s trip to the city and home. Each page spread represents it’s own section of the trip and is illustrated in black and white silhouette’s with limited detail. The narration is kept simple with the pictures left to tell a good portion of the story. Once the book ends, the story doesn’t as the reader can then run the book over and follow the narrators trip home, the pictures now upside down transformed into new scenery that continues back to home, to the beginning of the book, but the end of the journey.
The flipped pictures is a fun concept. I think it was a good one time read and would recommend checking it out at the library before purchasing it for a home collection without having read it first to see if it fits one’s child.
Potential Problems: Pictures may not be legible to all young readers.
The flipped pictures is a fun concept. I think it was a good one time read and would recommend checking it out at the library before purchasing it for a home collection without having read it first to see if it fits one’s child.
Potential Problems: Pictures may not be legible to all young readers.
January 2, 2024
My sister often suggests children’s books for me to read because I am an eclectic reader and enjoy books for all ages. One of my favorite college courses was on children’s literature. When she told me about Round Trip by Ann Jonas, I was intrigued. The picture book is captivating with its black and white drawings. Ann Jonas created a book to be read traditionally from left to right. Then readers turn the book upside down and read again, left to right, thus returning from the trip begun.
Jonas died in 2013. In her obituary, I read a telling quote from Jonas: “I’ve been trying to explore other ways of stretching children’s imaginations. I find myself drawn more and more often to designing books that involve some sort of visual play.” Round Trip certainly does that.
I highly recommend Round Trip for parents, grandparents, and children!
Jonas died in 2013. In her obituary, I read a telling quote from Jonas: “I’ve been trying to explore other ways of stretching children’s imaginations. I find myself drawn more and more often to designing books that involve some sort of visual play.” Round Trip certainly does that.
I highly recommend Round Trip for parents, grandparents, and children!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews