Exactly the Opposite: A Picture Book About Opposites in the City, at the Sea, and in Your Backyard for Children

by Tana Hoban

Brilliant photographs present a world of possible opposites. "Beautiful, elegantly composed, nourishing to eye and mind."--Kirkus Reviews. "Another winner from an artist with a seemingly unlimited imagination."--Horn Book.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Mathematics, Nonfiction, Pre K

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 24, 1990

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Picture Book- Concept
Summary: Vivid photographs are used to convey the concept of opposites to a young child. No words are included, so the reader is left to infer the opposite words the photographs are displaying.
Critique- I like that the wordless photography leaves this book open-ended to interpretation.
Each two-page spread shows two similar photographs that are slightly changed to make them convey two opposite words. However, there are no words to accompany the photographs so the reader is forced to make a guess at what the author is trying to convey. The way the possibilities are left open-ended leaves a lot of room for differentiation. Students on all levels are able to stay engaged with this book. Higher-level thinkers might challenge themselves to think of the most creative opposite words to accompany the photographs. One of the two-page spreads shows a picture of a very large bear on one side, and two baby bears on the right-hand side that are fighting. Opposite words to go along with this could include: big/little, old/young, adult/baby, alone/together, gentle/rough, etc. The pictures not only encourage creativity, but also create a meaningful and realistic bond to the lesson.
Curriculum Connection: While reading this book to the class, you could have the students act along with the story. For instance, if the words are up and down, have them stand up and sit down. You could call on different students to show how they would act out the two opposite words. The class could play opposite charades. The student might have to act out one word and the class guesses what it’s opposite is. Students could also play memory and BINGO using opposite words. Students could draw pictures like the ones in the book, or even use a class camera to take two photos with the teach

[Igor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice photos and that´s all.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another photo-illustrated wordless book with several possiblities for discussion on each page. The duck, for example, could be over/under, rightside up/upside down, hungry/fed, working/resting, relixing/busy, or possible considered dry/wet. While some of the subjects illustrated are not exact opposites (opuntia cactus is not "exactly opposite" of a possibe serrated-edged Agave or senecio succulent, or barb-tipped Aeonium), the "smooth" photo certainly creates the illusion of silk fabric, which would be opposite a prickly cactus.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wordless book has pictures of opposites that are very clear so short. Even if I try to find and show my toddler things that are the exact opposites, there are usually other distracting things that go along with it or more moving parts. It is nice to be able to show it to him clearly. It is also a book he can "read" by himself.

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age of readership: 2-up
Genre:Picture Book
Diversity: Concepts of opposites
Description of the illustrations:Color photographs
Personal response to the book: A nice book for toddlers learning the concept of opposites.
Curricular and programming connections: The book can be used for preschool or library story time in learning about opposites.

[Renate]

This would have been a great vocabulary book except some of the opposites were really hard to figure out. Some are clear- there is a picture of a closed gate on one page and an open gate on the opposite page. But there were several pages that were hard to find an opposite. I wouldn't use it unless I got could come up with some opposite choices for the difficult pages.

[Helen Costulis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exactly the Opposite is a book that teaches young children what the word opposite means through pictures. While the book contains no words, the reader can look through the pictures and know what the word opposite means. For example, there was a picture of an open fence and then the next picture was a closed fence. This book is great for readers of very young ages.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the photographs used to illustrate the concept of opposites. I liked that it was a wordless book - and it put the reader in charge of inserting words to describe the opposites. I think it would be great to use to enrich vocabulary in younger children.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

There were too many combinations in this book I did not get. A plastic water bottle, and then a flattened plastic water bottle- where is the opposite there? My husband labeled them as "usable" and "unusable." What kid is going to get that?

[Emily Von pfahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that it was wordless because it makes the reader analyze the images to determine the difference, and that none of the differences are obscure. The absence of text encourages readers to articulate for themselves the differences. Perfect for kindergarten.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book displays opposites on each fold-out page. You see the whole of something and then you see it broken next, e.t.c.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book without words, showing all different kinds of opposites with photography.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

No words, just photographs so it does a good job getting child to talk about what they see, use own words.

[Paige Albright Vanderpool]

CONCEPT: No words so you have to do some of your own thinking and figure out how the pictures are opposite. Engaging and interesting.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a cleaver book done with photographs of real world situations and objects. this book is about opposites. one page has one picture and the next page has it's opposite. cute idea!!!

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wordless picture book uses real life photographs to depict opposites in life. It's a great tool for introducing a study of antonyms.

[Sandyma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opposites are presented with beautiful, bright pictures.
Children can draw their own pictures of opposites.

[Aysheh M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really understand the book as a whole. At first I thought it was a book about finding the difference between each picture.. but it wasn't.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used this in a 5th grade math course looking at the inverse/opposite of multiplying fractions vs multiplying whole numbers. Hopefully this maybe helped things stick?

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Photographs of familiar outdoor scenes illustrate pairs of opposites.

[BiblioBeruthiel · Rating 2 out of 5]

wordless and a bit weird.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wordless picture book shows photos of opposites.

This was a good idea, and the use of photos allows young readers to connect the concept of opposites to real life experience. But some text would have been helpful because not all the opposites are entirely clear, so the reader sometimes just has to guess. Also, opposites aren’t always obvious to children who are concrete rather than abstract thinkers. For example, my preschooler said “sheep” and “sheep bottom” for what was probably intended as "head” and “tail.”

[Nichole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great wordless picture book. Would be fun to do with any age to see what different words they come up with for the pages.

[Mely · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wordless book with photographic illustrations showing opposites. A good book to initiate discussion with your little.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure about an opposite book without words but it really got my 4yo thinking and got us talking about the opposites shown, as opposed to merely reading the words.

[E & E’s Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great book for toddlers and infants. Big, engaging photographs help show opposites

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hoban books are classics - I love the (now) vintage feel of the photos.