Tops & Bottoms (original 1995; edition 1995)

An enjoyable look at different types of vegetables that grow above ground and under the ground as Bear tries to outsmart the very clever Hare. The illustrations are engaging and help show the reader where each of the vegetables grow on the plants. ( )

Very cute story about taking responsibility for your own responsibilities. ( )

I enjoyed this book even though it was extremely predictable. It was funny how the hare kept tricking the bear and the bear kept falling for his tricks. I can see how students would enjoy the cleaver tricks of the hare. I was not expecting the hare and his family to open a vegetable stand at the end and I enjoyed how at the beginning the author related this story to the well known tale of the tortoise and the hare. The message readers could take from this text is that hard work and attention to detail are important. Had the bear not been sleeping while rabbit did all of the work, he would not have been tricked so much. Students could also take away a message about forgiveness after hearing that the bear and hare lived as friends just not as business partners in the end. .

The first thing I noticed abouth this book, while reading it, is how the spine of the book runs horizontal and not vertical. Because the book is constructed in this unconventional way it creates the possibility for some very interesting illustration, which is why I can see it was given a Caldecott honor. I like how the illustrations mirror what bear will get out of the crops during each season (When he wants the tops, he is on the top half of the book; when he wants the bottoms, he is on the bottom half of the book). Aside from the illustrations, I also love the message of this book. It demonstrates to children that laziness is not a good thing, even if you do already have wealth, if you want the top, the bottom and the middle, then you need to earn it by doing your own work. ( )

Cute story teaching about plants, but also how bear is outwitted by rabbit. Fun illustrations. I use this in my plant unit.