Opposites are a fun story time theme for babies and toddlers that you can use any time of the year. There are great read alouds, fun songs, and simple activities to play and learn about a variety of opposites with little ones. This opposites story time has some of my favorites.
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The Hueys in What’s the Opposite by Oliver Jeffers
There is something about the quirky illustrations and stories of Oliver Jeffers that gets me every time. I think he is probably a love him or don’t get him kind of author, but I for one love him. The Hueys are little blob like characters and they are practicing opposites in this delightful book. Carefully crafted from start to finish, this one will have your preschoolers calling out opposites in no time.
Cat & Dog: A Tale of Opposites
by Tullio Corda
This is simple book with only three characters and two words (opposites) on each page. It is a delightful read aloud for toddlers and preschoolers who are learning their opposites. It has just enough action and quiet humor to keep you turning pages and what to read it again to see what you missed. I love the limited color palate used for the illustrations and the playfully expressive characters.
Exactly the Opposite
by Tana Hoban
This is an interesting pick for a “read” aloud. It is a wordless book illustrated by Tana Hoban’s photographs. Each page has a pair of similar photos and you have to look carefully to see what the difference is – which is an opposite. I’ve used this with toddlers during a group time to engage them in sharing. I like it for a break from a usual storytime pick. You can, of course, name the opposites yourself, but you can also allow the toddlers to share what they see either one at a time or just shouting out the opposites pictured.
Songs & Finger Rhymes about Opposites
- “Open, Shut Them” – I used this daily with my toddlers. You can see a version on Jbrary’s Youtube Channel.
- “If You’re Happy and You Know it” – this is a pretty common song, but I love when other emotions are thrown in there, like this version.
Play with Opposites
Exploring opposites with infants and toddlers can be super simple. Move up and down to music. Put objects in and out of a basket. Here are some of our favorite ways to play and learn about opposites.
More Picture Books about Opposites to Recommend
Polar Opposites
by Erik Brooks
I love, love, love this book. It is about a polar bear and a penguin who are opposites in every way – they even live on polar opposites. This has short, snappy text that works well as a read aloud with older toddlers and preschoolers and the ending is just perfection.
Double Take!: A New Look at Opposites
by Susan Hood
illustrated by Jay Fleck
I love things that make the reader think about a topic a little different. Opposites are not all black and white. They also have a lot to do with perspective. What’s above and what’s below depends on where you are. Who is in front and who is behind depends on where you’re standing in line. That is the sort of twist on opposites Susan Hood writes in this clever book.
