Let's Look at Opposites: Marion Deuchars

My go-to-favorites for readertotz are concept books. That foundational teaching can always be brought with energy and freshness from gifted creators. Best-selling author/illustrator Marion Deuchars offers her take in a series from Laurence King Publishing: Let's Look At. Here's an opportunity to see the world through Marion's hand, with a bit of wry humor. 

Let's Look at Nature presents flowers, leaves, the sun, and more. Little creatures accompany the featured item on each page, and everyone seems to be curious or friendly. The bold, painterly shapes and text are eye-catching for the youngest readers. 

Let's Look at Opposites is adorable in its creative license. A mouse climbs a ladder beside a giraffe: tall and short. An empty fish tank sits beside a content cat with fish bones on his lap: empty and full. 

Often, white backgrounds in both books support the featured concepts. Each book also ends with all the representations on the last spread for review. 

This series is fresh and fun. Enjoy introducing these concepts to your first readers. 

Let's Look at Opposites

Let's Look at Nature

by Marion Deuchars

Laurence King Publishing, 2022

Art Play: Marion Deuchars

It is...as fabulous as I hoped. The off-white paper is inviting; the exercises are fun and interesting. This work-inside-the-book is educational, inspiring, clever, and delightful. Whether they scribble, blow paint, or color a dream, the older siblings of readertotz will be expressing themselves on paper. Pencils, ink, cut paper, and printing are a few of the means for creating. How about pictograph signs, newspaper portraits, tackling perspective, or spinning thaumatropes?

Art Play is aptly titled. Go ahead. You'll want to play right alongside your young artist!

Art Play
by Marion Deuchars
Laurence King Publishing
www.letsmakesomegreatart.com

Bob The Artist: Marion Deuchars

Bob appreciates his FINE legs, until he's teased about them. Unsuccessfully, he tries to change them and eventually just hides them. That is until he visits an art gallery. Inspired, he draws attention to his beak by painting it daily. With affirmation for his creativity, he grows confident and finally accepts his legs. And everyone else does, too.

Refusing to be cowed, the reader is emboldened to express herself further and gain self acceptance, possibly changing others' opinions. This is a fresh look at empowerment. Here is the gift of art to impact another, encourage expression, and change lives.

Marion Deuchars' illustrations are endearing in their simplicity. The color palette pops of Matisse. Publisher Laurence King believes in this book. Top quality presentation in every detail proves it.

This is one of my favorite picture books of the year, so far. I love Bob The Artist. You likely will, too. Skinny legs and all.

Bob The Artist
by Marion Deuchars
Lawrence King, 2016