Review - Panda Opposites

Panda Opposites
by Suzi Eszterhas
Date: 2019
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 18
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Pandas are black and white, but that’s only the beginning of this adorable book of opposites! Whether climbing up a tree or resting down in the grass, awake or asleep, near or far, with mouths open or closed, and with their fur dirty or clean, these contrasting pairs of pandas will steal your heart in this one-of-a-kind board book.

Stunning color photography by award-winning wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas shows pandas in their natural habitat at three different panda nature reserves and research centers in China. Designed with simple black and white elements and with one set of opposites per spread, this is a sweet and accessible book for the earliest readers that pairs cute animal content with early learning concepts.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

If I had to describe this book in one sentence, it would be: "Perfectly adequate but not very exciting."

Panda Opposites is a simple book of few words. The concept of opposites is explored throughout, with pairs of single words accompanied by illustrative photographs.

The audience is mainly going to be very young children (and perhaps panda-obsessed older readers). There's no story, so it's more likely a book that kids are going to want to peruse themselves just for the pictures. Each photo is clear in its concept, making the meanings of the words and concept of the opposites clear.

I prefer more story in the picture books I read (either that, or the illustrations have to be absolutely spectacular), so I can't get that excited about this. It would be a good book for building a child's vocabulary, though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Owlkids Books for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5