Al Contrario

Grade 1-3-One morning, Nate wakes up to find an Opposite-a mischievous-looking, pointy-nosed individual with a transparent body-in his bedroom. Thanks to his unwanted visitor, whenever Nate tries to do things correctly, the opposite happens. For example, milk ends up on the ceiling instead of on his cereal. No one else can see the Opposite, and every time Nate points it out, it isn't there anymore. The boy finally figures out a solution to his problem, turning his phrases around to express the converse of his true intent. When he declares, ""I mean...there isn't an Opposite standing right in front of me,"" the creature is finally exposed. Interesting patterns and colors surround the bright white faces and rosy cheeks of the characters in the stylized illustrations. The figures are starker and more sharply angled than those featured in John Burningham's work, but they possess the same air of tongue-in-cheek humor and sophistication. Though not a first purchase, this book would make an interesting choice for story time or a discussion of opposites. [This straightforward Spanish translation does an adequate job of transmitting the meaning of the original text.] School Library Journal