The Little Book of Not So [Hardcover]

PreSchool-K–"Pretty/Not So Pretty. Dark/Not So Dark." Spare text and homely pictures introduce this variant on the concept of opposites. Paired scenes feature the flat, comical figure of a crudely sketched girl, digitized and shaded in medium color tones via Photoshop, who sports jagged twin ponytails and lashes only on the bottom rims of her round eyes. The minimal text appears in chunky letters. For "Tasty," the child is shown, tongue licking her lips, holding a chocolate cake; turning the page to "Not So Tasty," readers see her looking aghast at the fallen cake, upside down on the floor. Sometimes an animal companion joins her; at other times, she stands alone with just a few objects on a bare page. The opening positive example is always set on white with the reverse view on a colored backdrop. The repetitive scheme with bits of humor should work well with children who enjoy language play. The volume's modest size is comfortable for small hands, and the simple scenarios offer multiple possibilities for conversational reading.– Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston
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"The repetitive scheme with bits of humor should work well with children who enjoy language play. The volumes modest size is comfortable for small hands, and the simple scenarios offer multiple possibilities for conversational reading." (School Library Journal )

Flowers are pretty. Getting a bouquet filled with bees . . . not so pretty. Standing out in the rain makes you wet. Ah, ha-but having an umbrella makes you not so wet. Colorful illustrations lead the reader through many of lifes good, and not so good, times.

Charise Mericle Harper is the author and illustrator of many books for children, including the first book featuring "Just" Grace, called Just Grace. In a starred review, Booklist called Just Grace "hilarious" and said, "The kids come alive in the story, and Harper enhances the comical goings-on with sparkling cartoon sketches. Give this to . . . anyone looking for a funny book." Charise lives in New York.