What's Up, What's Down?

by Lola M. Schaefer, Barbara Bash

Pretend you're a toad.
Look up.
What do you see? Imagine you're a whale.
Look down.
What do you see? Now, come along on a picture book journey that invites you to see the world from many different perspectives. Look up, down, and everywhere in between. What do you see?

Genres: Picture Books, Science, Childrens, Nonfiction, Nature, Animals, Earth

32 pages, Library Binding

First published August 1, 2002

About the author

Lola M. Schaefer is an educator, writer, and gardener, and the author of many acclaimed books for children about math, art, science, technology, animals, and nature. She uses shovels, hoes, rakes, and scissors when she works in her garden. Lola M. Shaefer grew up in Indiana, and now lives in northern Georgia.

Reviews

[J]

This is a unique book that presents its content in an interesting way. I asked the kids I was reading it to what they thought would come next before I'd turn the page. This book helped me work some science into one of my storytimes.

[Amy]

Oh, What's Up, What's Down is not a bad little book, I suppose. It's short, and it's different in its layout, which makes for a little bit of a different reading experience. The problem, I thought, was that there wasn't much meat to this story, so it really requires the readers to give the story some substance. I chose to do this with my niece and nephew by having them guess what the next page would show. That sparked their interest, and made their little wheels turn, but the book was done so quickly, that I don't know that they even had time to really appreciate the grace of it. Still, the book can lend itself to interactivity, so it certainly can be as fun/interesting/educational as the reader chooses to make it.

[Emily]

Another simple, yet fantastic book that I will buy because of it's multiple uses in the classroom. It could be used for an earth science lesson, in a lower grade classroom, to pull together all the earth's spheres (hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere, etc.) It could also be used in a writing lesson, in any grade, as an excellent example of the power of description.
-"...spreading leaves into umbrellas of shade."
-"Whisper thin butterfly wings..."
-"...flashing and flickering in the ink-black waters."
-"Proud, new grass pushing emerald blades toward the sun."

[Ana DeLoreto]

The way that this story is presented and told is such a unique way to engage readers in the book. Readers have to connect with the book in order to read it, reading the words from top to bottom or bottom to top. This book brings elements of science into the story, which makes those that are interested in the topic of science want to pick up the book. Not only is the book fun to read, but the colorful pictures also makes the book a great read aloud.

[Miss Sarah]

starting from a mole the book continues up and up and up until it begins to come down and down and down introuding readers to many concept and animals along the way. liked the books orientation. elementary or right preschoolers.

[Michelle Farella]

Interesting format but not popular at the library

[Michelle]

A bit long, but it's cool that you read the book sideways to simulate up and turn it around to simulate down.

[Mrs Heet -Librarian]

Great for a one on one read, not great for a storytime

[Dolly]

This is an interesting and entertaining book that combines science and imagination. I have to admit that I picked this book out because I thought it would be cool, but I didn't exactly 'get' how to read the book at first. Perhaps I was just tired, but our girls and my nephew set me straight rather quickly.

It's a unique style of book, with pages that are read from top to bottom and bottom to top and show a constantly changing perspective of the world. The narrative is quite simple and the illustrations are colorful. It's a fun book to read aloud and we enjoyed reading it together.

[Robin]

The reader starts out digging with a mole, going up to the roots and then green grass, and continuing all the way to the moon, when you turn the book over and go back down . . . through the clouds, then the waves, and eventually to the dark, murky bottom of the sea. Spare and lyrical text accompany the paintings. Arrows help direct the reader -- you turn the book to read it from bottom to top, then top to bottom, so a great choice for the concept of print awareness. Used in storytime (Move with Music) January 2011 and blogged about it here: http://bookmuse.wordpress.com/

[Katie Jackson]

This book starts underground as a mole and continues to look up to see what is above them. The mole sees the roots which sees the grass and so on. Half way through the book it begins to go back down. When the moon looks down it sees the clouds, the water, the whales and so on. This book is great for kindergarten age kids to get a small understanding of what is up and what is down. It doesn't go into much detail though.

[Susie]

Lots of uses for this book. I like the fact that it can be used with a group, but would also be great for a single student to sit down by himself and read it, and turn it, and turn it....and read it again.

[Paula]

This one-of-a-kind picture book can be read from bottom to top, and from top to bottom, as young readers are introduced to the unique perspectives of everything from sea urchins to clouds to wildflowers.

[Madeline]

SUPER clever book! Just like "The Round Trip" - this book is exciting in it's new and interactive format, but not so crazy that it's difficult to read. A simple and informative story that's easy to read at bedtime.

I'd suggest it to all.

[Jen]

A great book on perspective.

[Sherry]

fascinating and abstract. enjoyed by my child.

[Gail]

I would like to use this book as a read aloud to a group of 4-5 year olds. I like the way holding the book like a calendar opens the mind to thinking about space creatively.

[Beverly]

an interesting book that will help children learn to see things from another perspective. lovely pastel illustrations

[Rachel]

Unique and different. Liked the perspectives.

[Carol]

This book is fantastic with its clever physical design. Ingenious in multiple ways with the way one holds the book, the approach to the subject matter, and the beautiful language. I've even successfully used it with preschoolers.

[Vicki]

A most lovely book with soft colorful illustrations with an interesting message/idea and layout.

I read this to a preschool group. The older preschoolers (age 5) got this, but not the younger ones so much.