Same Same (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Same Same Elizabeth Bush Jocelyn, Marthe Same Same; illus. by Tom Slaughter. Tundra, 200926p ISBN 978-0-88776-885-9$15.95 R 3-6 yrs A bold graphic apple and globe share a page; facing them is a tambourine. They are "round things." In the following spread the tambourine reappears with two new buddies, a guitar and a bird, "things that make music." The bird then joins an airplane and a swarm of bees, "things that fly." And so it goes until two "red things," a chair and a dress, wait for a page turn and the opening apple to bring the exercise around full circle. This is an attractive and effective romp through pre-math skills, inviting children to explore the rudiments of grouping. Red, yellow, blue, green, black, and white objects and backgrounds are tidy and iconic, crisp enough for group enjoyment and discussion. Patterning is generally consistent, with the last object in one spread becoming the first object in the next, allowing children to make their own predictions about the coming category. The limited vocabulary, visual context clues, and oversized font are collectively a bonus for emergent readers. This should be a top choice not only for public library collections, but for preschool and kindergarten classrooms as well. Copyright © 2009 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois