OPPOSITES

Only the crocodile, toothily demonstrating OPEN and SHUT, remains from popup veteran Crowther’s Most Amazing Hide & Seek Book of Opposites (1985); otherwise, using big, bright, simple collages, he creates a new set of animals and objects that move—often in sudden, toddler-pleasing ways—to demonstrate various contrasting states. Ranging from a roller coaster that goes UP and DOWN on an inner wheel to a trio of sunflowers on a pull tab (SHORT—TALL), a burgeoning BLT (THIN—THICK) on the verso of the sunflowers, and ONE ladybug that becomes MANY, his choices are clear, apt and amusing. Though as several of the moving models are stiff or fragile, his latest offering earns low marks for durability. (Toy book. 3-6)