Ins and Outs

Imagined by Elizabeth Withey

Illustrated by Salini Perera 

Orca Book Publishers

978-1-4598-3835-2

32 pp.

Ages 3-5

March 2025 

 

You'll notice that, instead of indicating Elizabeth Withey as the author above with the words "Written by," I've repeated the words "Imagined by" as they appear on the front cover of Ins and Outs. This is because Ins and Outs is primarily a concept book that reinforces the idea of positioning i.e., being in and out. The text is limited to two words: "in" and "out." But Elizabeth Withey, a Calgary author, journalist and visual artist, doesn't need more words. She has envisioned fabulous pairings of circumstances that many children will recognize to easily pick up on the concepts of in and out.

From Ins and Outs, imagined by Elizabeth Withey, illustrated by Salini Perera

The first combination of in and out involves a child snug in bed, in the house, while outside the bedroom window a cat prowls in the dark and a luna moth takes flight. From a school yard to cycling on the street, playing in a garden or with a playground parachute, a diverse group of children show things that happen outside and inside, and in and out of a wide variety of places and things.

From Ins and Outs, imagined by Elizabeth Withey, illustrated by Salini Perera

Elizabeth Withey gives young children many opportunities to grasp the concept of "in" and "out" from both obvious and not-so-obvious scenarios. The "inside" and "outside" are the obvious like the children who are standing outside the school or the cat that exits the bedroom to head outside. But Elizabeth Withey has also imagined cold breath going in and condensed exhalation going out, and a nail in the road that will soon be "in" a bike tire and allow air out. The use of a hearing aid to allow sound in and the use of sign language to allow words out is a one of the most thought-provoking of circumstances. As such, the learning of the concept of in and out becomes an interactive read with every double-page spread offering chances to find more and more examples than the most obvious.

From Ins and Outs, imagined by Elizabeth Withey, illustrated by Salini Perera

Because the text is so sparse, the illustrations must provide much of the basis for the learning of the concept, and artist Salini Perera's digital illustrations provide that basis handsomely. She ensures that the big idea of "in" or "out" is evident but then provides little details that enhance the messaging about the concept. With art lively both in content and form, Salini Perera, whose illustrations were reviewed in Beautiful You, Beautiful Me, helps children see the ins and outs of our world.

From Ins and Outs, imagined by Elizabeth Withey, illustrated by Salini Perera

It's different to read a concept book that isn't a board book, especially one that focuses on such a basic concept. But I guess all concepts are basic until you understand them.  Still, Elizabeth Withey and Salini Perera have imagined a refreshing way to teach the idea of position and get children to think even more deeply about how it can be demonstrated in the most unusual of activities.

Hide-and-Seek: A First Book of Position Words

Illustrated by Sakshi Mangal
Text by R. D. Ornot

Kids Can Press

978-1-77138-794-1

32 pp.

Ages 3-7

2019

A concept book teaches abstract ideas like numbers or colours or shapes. A great concept book tells a story with the teaching embedded. Regardless of the subtitle and words such as  "among" or "behind" or "through" being in bold font, Hide-and-Seek would still be a great little story about three friends playing a game.

From Hide-and-Seek, illus. by Sakshi Mangal, text by R. D. Ornot

Bear invites friends Fox and Owl to a game of hide-and-seek in a park's fabulous playground. When Fox has to seek out friends Bear and Owl, Fox has to look inside and outside a castle, and beside and in and on the playhouse slide. With the search completed, Bear hugs his friends. Similarly, Owl seeks out the other two at a climbing wall and a bench. Huggly Bear again gives Owl and Fox a friendly squeeze.

From Hide-and-Seek, illus. by Sakshi Mangal, text by R. D. Ornot

But when it's Bear's time to seek, he cannot find them between the swings, among the trees, through the tunnel, across the bridge or around the playground. Saddened and in need of a hug, Bear is surprised when his friends reveal themselves and offer up their own affectionate embrace.

R. D. Ornot's text covers 14 positional words from the simplest of "in" and "out" to the more complex like "through" and "between," and still gives us a story of friendship and play. It's heartfelt fun between three characters who differ in their personalities and hiding and seeking behaviours, making Hide-and-Seek a different kind of story of diversity but with the lightest of touches. Sakshi Mangal's strongly outlined characters and setting elements are perfect for our youngest of readers, while still giving them loads of details in the park playground. Her use of colour energizes the very simple hide-and-seek text generally using a more reserved autumnal palette of greens and golds and saving the bold turquoises and reds for the friends.

From Hide-and-Seek, illus. by Sakshi Mangal, text by R. D. Ornot

Have some fun with your little ones with the reading of Hide-and-Seek and a game of the same to explore some playful learning about the concept of position.