Up Above & Down Below

by Sue Redding

Readers will find very different worlds living side by side at a picnic, in the ocean, in the freezing Arctic, even inside the same two-story home! Award-winning illustrator Sue Redding's bold illustrations include lots of fun and mischief.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Kids

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 23, 2006

Reviews

[Allyson Goose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pros:
--llustrations with so many funny, interesting details that my preschooler and kindergartener love to look at. My preschooler and I just spent about 10 minutes just talking about the two-page spread about the desert.
--Thought-provoking concept about what you see and what's hidden.
--You can make an extra game of finding an ant and a worm in every picture

Cons:
--Very few people of color are depicted.
--My preschooler pointed out that the last page, where animal parents are helping their animal babies go to sleep for the night, depicted nocturnal creatures going to sleep at night.

[Kelly]

This book has some great details of the above and below. It was a little weird that all the pages rhymed except for one. The illustrations are very detailed. The endpapers are fun to show daytime above and below and at the end, nighttime above and below. It's nice to have just one sentence per spread, but the book is still too detailed for toddlers. I also like how they showed a connection on each page between the above and below.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept of this book is great: show kids the behind-the-scenes (including underground) of everyday occurrences. The execution is just okay. The pictures do a great job of (literally) illustrating the story, but they are way too detailed for a group read aloud. This book would make a great one-on-one read with a toddler-Kindergartner when you have the time to just pore over the pictures.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book might appeal to children who love eye spy-type books. Lots to see on each page and an ant and worm on each spread to search for. Otherwise, the digital art and busyness of it all left me flat.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A picture book where every picture is shown with the action happening above and below. very cute. right toddler group and up. simple text with real focus on pictures.

[Misbah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great way to teach children about what goes on behind the scenes, teaching them to look deeper. A lot of fun different scenarios.

[Hensley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every time I tried to read this to the kid he didn't really get into it. I think we only managed to get thru it all the way once!

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the details of the illustrations - a book that will keep kids looking and seeing new things everytime.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.75

[The Book Box]

Mama read this to me last night. I liked looking at the detailed pictures of everything going on in different places at the same time.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter loves this book. Don't let the simple story fool you. Yes, each spread contains one sentence that describes a corresponding scene up above and down below. What makes this book entertaining though are the super fun illustrations. They cover every inch of each page making them bright and full of silly actions. My daughter loves studying each image and making up her own stories for what the characters are doing. You visit a house, play, picnic, Arctic, jungle, city, desert, garden, ocean, golf course, cruise ship and neighborhood. Fun way to introduce the opposites of up above and down below!

[Carla Pelayo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sue Redding's colorful illustrations are wonderfully designed in this book of comparisons. Look above to find passengers enjoying a cruise while the crew labors below. This interactive book stimulates an exciting exploration of the world while capturing any child's imagination. Readers will become lost in the intricate details of the illustrations and Redding's playful rhymes that inspire children to imagine what different worlds exist right under their feet or even in their own home.

[K Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I introduced this book to my daughter a couple of weeks before her first birthday, and she has been in awe of it ever since. She loves the illustrations, and so do I. She doesn't tire of pointing to different objects, and it's her book of choice right now. If I put another book in front of her, she's ok with it for a few minutes, but then she'll point to this book!

[Dylan & Belle at LearnPlayFun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rated and reviewed by Dylan, age 7

I like the part with the rabbits underground because they're so silly. I liked how the gophers make a marble run for golf balls. I like the cover and back cover. I also like the ant part because they take everything and they play cards and go to the doctor.

[Rebecca Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has awesome illustrations. This book can show children how there are many things going on in the world besides what is happening to them. Something may even be happening right underneath their feet.

[Kelly Triplett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great illustrations. This book would be best utilized as a small group story. There are small details/pictures that could not be seen from across a room. The story is nice but the illustrations are what make this book a great choice.

[Laura Siegel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of the "Upstairs Downstairs" of children's books. Shows reverence for life above and below ground. Great detailed illustrations of mouse, gopher and rabbit families to name a few of the below ground delights.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a book that reveals things often forgotten.

[Gitta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, detailed pics that will make the children, even you, enjoy the pages.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look closely and you'll find very different worlds living side by side, at a picnic, in the ocean, in the blazing desert, even inside the same two-story home.

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the detailed pictures and accompanying text.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both kids loved looking at the pictures in this book

[Monique the Book Geek]

Very cute! I would have loved this book as a kid! :)

[Christine Turner]

Subject: Underground areas -- Juvenile fiction.
Rhyme -- Juvenile fiction
"Directionality" -- Juvenile fiction