One of These is Not Like the Others

February 1, 2020

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

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 15, 2020
Saltzberg upends traditional spot-the-difference design. A carefully chosen set of four objects is offered--most 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)

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February 15, 2020
Preschool-G 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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

December 16, 2019
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.

January 1, 2020
It's not a picture-book version of the similar-sounding Sesame Stree refrain, but it has a like premise--with a twist. On each of several cleanly designed spreads, one of the things pictured is not like the others--at least superficially. We've 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 that's just fine with us" "And that's the way we roll") and in entertaining digital illustrations showing everyone getting along great (the pigs and wolf are in a band together--phew!). 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 text's welcome be-yourself message.

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

March 1, 2020
It's not a picture-book version of the similar-sounding Sesame Street refrain, but it has a like premise�? with a twist. On each of several cleanly designed spreads, one of the things pictured is not like the others�? at least superficially. We've 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 that's just fine with us" "And that's the way we roll") and in entertaining digital illustrations showing everyone getting along great (the pigs and wolf are in a band together�? phew!). 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 text's welcome be-yourself message. Elissa Gershowitz

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)