A seemingly simple concept book takes a sophisticated turn with every other flip of the page, encouraging young children's critical thinking skills. "Which one is round?" The opening page spread poses this question about a round red apple, and a long-nosed, linear animal (an anteater, perhaps?). The answer is obvious. But with a turn of the page, the apple has been eaten and all that's left is the hourglass shape of the core, while the animal is now curled up into a tight ball, asleep. "Which one is round? What do you think?" The rest of the book asks additional questions about a series of different pairings. Every time, a turn of the page repeats the original question about the pair, but transforms the appearance of one or both subjects. It changes the answer from one that is obvious to one that is open to interpretation, inviting children to consider more than one answer, and to articulate the reason behind their own response. Clean-lined, uncluttered design and art make the subjects of each pairing the visual focus of every spread. But it's the juxtaposition of illustrations and inquiry that energizes this creative offering. (Ages 3-7)

On the first two-page spread of this deceptively simple picture book, the text asks, ?Which one is round?? There are two straightforward drawings showing the choices: an apple or an armadillo. For the child who understands what round means, that's an easy one --- the apple is round. Until you turn to the next spread. There you'll see that the same question is asked, ?Which one is round? What do you think?? But this time, the apple has been eaten down to its (unround) core, and the armadillo is asleep, curled into a (round) ball. Surprise! Though the objects being featured are the same, the answer to the question has now changed.

This interactive concept book, written and illustrated by Mineko Mamada, contains six such pairs, illustrated with appealing, unfussy colored drawings. For each pair, children are asked to compare them based on their shape, size, height, speed or color. As with the apple and the armadillo, at first the answer to the question seems obvious, but then a turn of the page provides an unexpected twist. Young children get drawn in, first to figure out the easier answer, then to laugh when they discover the new way of looking at things. This is a unique, innovative approach to the popular concept of comparatives. It's a terrific tool for promoting school readiness with preschoolers in areas such as observation, critical thinking and creativity. But with its playful spirit, young children will just see it as a lot of fun!