One of these is not like the others

Barney Saltzberg

Book - 2020

"Points out the differences between subjects and celebrates them"--

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Subjects
Genres
Picture books
Published
New York : Holiday House 2020.
Language
English
Main Author
Barney Saltzberg (author)
Edition
First edition
Item Description
"Neal Porter Books."
Physical Description
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 21 x 26 cm
ISBN
9780823445608
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

Did you think all black-and-white animals lived in the South Pole? Three penguins and a panda grace the cover of this humorous concept book, which explores the notion of same and different. Digitally created illustrations challenge readers to spy which "one of these is not like the others." An elephant with three cows? They all get along just fine, shaking trunk to tail happily. Sometimes natural enemies join up, as when three pigs and a wolf form a rock band. Three bug-eyed snails and an alien fly through space together, and a trio of tan cowboy hats adorn the head of a fish. The mounting inventiveness of each new foursome increases the hilarity, and when the final "monster" eats the other cupcakes, it inspires a wow of surprise. A reprise on the last pages shows all the animals and objects getting along famously under a shower of confetti. Abundant white space highlights each comic cartoonlike character and object, bringing out their unique attributes. A perfect read-aloud that celebrates the joy of embracing differences.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Saltzberg (Dog and Rabbit) puts a winsome spin on the spot-the-difference concept while sending, with humor, the missive that diversity and collaboration are to be unequivocally celebrated. Repetition drives home the message, as the titular words introduce three similar--but not always identical--items alongside one distinctly different one (three cows and one elephant, three dogs and a cat), before a flip of the page reveals the members of each quartet interacting happily. The author matches wordplay and pictures; three pigs and a wolf form a band ("And that's the way we rock") and three rabbits pile onto a bicycle ("And that's the way we roll"). Saltzberg inserts subtle--and some not-so-subtle--variations into his depictions of the look-alikes (divergent rolling of eyeballs or positioning of tails), allowing kids to spot what's different even among like images. A scenario revealing all the characters eyeing each other skeptically ("Some of us are a little different") gives way to a final, jubilant spread in which all agree, "And that's the way we like it!"Ages 2--5. Agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. (Mar.)

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 1--Using amusing illustrations and simple couplets, Saltzberg celebrates differences. Each line gets its own two-page spread, and each couplet begins with the line, "One of these is not like the others." and is paired with an illustration of four critters in which one is different: three cows and an elephant; three pigs and a wolf; three bunnies and a bicycle; and so on. The following page finishes the couplet, "But we can still be friends." The matching illustration shows the four characters interacting or having an adventure. It is fitting that there is one couplet that's not like the others, in which a pielike creature eats the pies it's paired with: "And the other three were delicious." The final couplet declares "Some of us are a little different. And that's the way we like it!" as all the critters featured in the book joyously dance amid falling confetti. The generous use of white space lets the humorous cartoon illustrations really pop. VERDICT The title essentially tells you everything you need to know about this book. Purchase as needed.--Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review

Its not a picture-book version of the similar-sounding Sesame Street refrain, but it has a like premisewith a twist. On each of several cleanly designed spreads, one of the things pictured is not like the othersat least superficially. Weve got three cows and an elephant; three dogs and a cat; three little pigs and a wolf (uh-oh); three bunnies and a bicycle; and more. For each example, the first spread sets up the differences using the titular phrase. A page-turn resolves the relationships in lighthearted text (And thats just fine with us And thats the way we roll) and in entertaining digital illustrations showing everyone getting along great (the pigs and wolf are in a band togetherphew!). The art uses plenty of white space to good effect, placing the guileless creatures front and center and allowing viewers to notice variation. Upon not-that-close examination, for example, we see that none of the supposedly matching figures is exactly the same in appearance, behavior, or both, a point that gently underscores the texts welcome be-yourself message. Elissa Gershowitz March/April 2020 p.72(c) Copyright 2020. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

Saltzberg upends traditional spot-the-difference design.A carefully chosen set of four objects is offeredmost similar but not quite the same and sometimes vastly different. Three cows and one elephant? The titular phrase comes in handy. "One of these is not like the others." But the page turn reveals all four clasping hooves and trunk and celebrating: "And that's just fine with us." Three dogs and one cat? "One of these is not like the others." The cat's nervous mien prompts misdirection to assumptions of stereotypical cat-and-dog relationships. "But we can still be friends." Saltzberg goes on to compare more surprisingly visually similar items, such as three cowboy hats and a fish rising from a puddle, mouth agape, to mimic the outline of the headwear. The fish is then wearing all the hats in the following spread: "Because you can never have too many hats." Placed on a blank white canvas, the sets are simple and uncluttered. Young readers will jump at the chance to point out the differences. But those differences are what are celebrated! It's impossible to not hum the Sesame Street song of similar wording, but instead of not belonging, the different objects are accepted and embraced. "Some of us are a little different. // And that's the way we like it!"Subversive and clever, this book challenges readers to change habits of thought. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.