Publisher PatrickGeorge has created not one, but four books based on these basic concepts which do exactly that; they make you curious once more.

All four books share a basic ‘trick’; paper pages are interleaved with partially transparent acetate pages. By turning over the acetate page, the images on the adjacent paper pages change.

For example, in Numbers the reader rescues a fly on each page when counting up the numbers:

Before the acetate page is turned it looks like one fly is about to be eaten by a fish.

The acetate page is turned, and in doing so the fly is rescued from the mouth of the fish, and counting up to six is completed.

How fun for the kid reader to be the rescuing hero! I also like how turning the acetate page focuses attention on counting the final number; rather than the adult or child simply counting by rote, the page turn makes the reader pause to physically add the final fly to the tally.

In Opposites much of the fun comes from optical illusions; a large ball held in the arms of a child becomes a small ball held between finger and thumb, or an arrow seems to move across the page, first missing its target, then hitting it.

Before you turn the acetate page, the tear looks like a drop of water

Turn the acetate page and the tear is no long a drop of water, but rather, a flame

The design is innovative, the bright, bold illustrations are eyecatching, and most importantly, these books make learning about basic concepts a great deal of fun. Not just for the child, but also for the adult reading and re-reading these books with their kids.

The physical play aspect of these books reminded me of one of last year’s most widely acclaimed picture books – Press Here by Hervé Tullet (which I reviewed here). As with Tullet’s book, so with these books by PatrickGeorge: reading becomes an active-ity (forgive the deliberate misspelling) without anything electronic anywhere in sight. These books create conversations and spark interest.

Unfortunately, each book comes with a compulsory EU warning that states it is “Not for children under 3 years” because technically the acetate represents a choking hazard. Given that these books are ideal for parents with very young children, it is such a shame that these books are required to include this warning. I wanted to give a copy of these books to a local playgroup, but this warning means they do not wish to accept them (even though parents with an ounce of common sense will not be worried at all by the risks theoretically posed). PatrickGeorge have assured me that the inclusion of the warning is merely a formality and that the books have all been safety-checked and passed. Perhaps this warning can have a silver lining though? The books are so stylish and beautifully produced they will appeal to readers who have long since learned their numbers and colours. In fact, they’ll appeal to anyone who likes thoughtful, ingenious and smart books.
Read full article here

Opposites by PatrickGeorge
Opposites is just the right topic for this book from PatrickGeorge. 11 pairs of opposites each with a clear, acetate sheet between them which you flip to see the opposite. An apparently simple concept which works remarkably well. I think my favourite has to be the the bus queue for first and last, closely followed by the parrot in (or out) of his cage.The bold uncluttered illustrations are ideal for young children, who will find hours of entertainment in this book.

Sunday Telegraph, 27 November 2011, ‘Books for Christmas: Children’

I have already recommended this to my friends, or I should say it recommended itself as my toddler has been showing it to anyone who has entered my house.
Member review by Lemise – Busy mum of three under fives – review date 30th September 2011

Overall score:
“Gorgeous book”
From the minute we got the book my daughter has not put it down. It is beautifully done with bright colourful pictures that draw the child in (and the parents!!). Very cleverly designed with see through pages that change the pictures on the other pages. would recommend especially with Christmas coming up. Fantastic book.
Member review by Courteney – mum to 3 children with 4th on way – review date 29th September 2011

I had really enjoyed Opposites (see my review here) which introduced me to PatrickGeorge’s beautifully designed books and their utterly original use of acetate paper to create visual tricks and effects. The following titles have just been released and are based on the same principle, making full use of the double page and using acetate paper to transform the illustrations.

Colours
Through the use of specifically coloured shapes on acetate paper, Colours not only introduce colours to young readers but also the notion of colour mixing. For example the use of a blue shape on the acetate in the double spread below not only allows to create a bear and a frog but also to alter the colours on the page – orange becomes brown, yellow becomes green:

There is a lot not only to see but to discuss with young readers, as one discovers how colours interact with one another. It is fascinating and will appeal well beyond the targeted age as a straight-forward introduction to colour mixing.

Shapes
Rather than be a series of unconnected double-spreads, Shapes offers a narrative, as we follow a gift (a red square) from the airport all the way to its recipient and the discovery of what is hiding inside. The use of shapes on acetate here facilitates, and is part of, the storytelling. For example in the double spread below, we can see the truck transporting the gift driving past a pyramid, created by a triangle on the acetate, which then turns into a tree as the landscape changes on the next page:

This works beautifully and the story really needs no words. If anything, it encourages further interaction with the artwork by allowing young audiences and adult readers to make up their own stories. Shapes will also be a real treat for little readers who are keen on transport vehicles as there is a whole selection in this book.

Shapes and Colours might be suitable for 3+, but as with Opposites, their appeal goes way beyond that. Both my children are mesmerised by the visual tricks that the acetate paper facilitates. The combination of contemporary graphic design with child-friendly themes make these books particularly successful. They are beautiful enough that older children and adults will be find them attractive but the use of teddy bears, ice-cream and others will allow them to appeal to the targeted audience. Both books very much encourage interaction between adult and child and although many children will enjoy reading the books and experimenting with the acetate on their own, I think they also offer a great sharing experience.

I don’t think there is anything else quite like PatrickGeorge’s books. This is one independent publisher which will go a long way.

At just a little over A5, this book is perfectly sized for small hands, and explores almost wordlessly, the concepts of opposites such as hot, cold, big, small, up, down, first, last etc. illustrated in large flat areas of colour, clear simple diagrammatic drawings with just one word in bold on each page, creates a vibrancy of design and colour which is most attractive.

To allow the reader to explore and interact with the ideas in the book, the authors use see through pages imprinted with objects such as a tear drop shape which, when flipped over the candle page, translates into a flame, or, flipped over the opposite tap page, translates into a drip of water, thus creating endless points for discussion and interaction. This is an inspiring book, imaginatively produced and developed to engage and enrich young minds, don’t miss it!

Children’s books
Peter and Ann Scott, who work as PatrickGeorge, are a creative husband and wife team who publish their own children’s books from an office in Ramsgate, Kent. Past efforts include the self-published A drove of bullocks and A filth of starlings but it’s their fifth and latest title, Opposites, that has seen them put a different visual twist to the PatrickGeorge approach. The book contains 11 double-page spreads of simple opposites or contrasting ideas (for example up-down; big-small; girl-boy; land-sea) with a 0.12mm clear PVC acetate sheet between each spread with a simple graphic printed onto it. That graphic, flipped from left to right, reveals the opposite. For example, the cover shows a candle (hot) and a tap (cold), with a blue tear shaped drop printed on the acetate. When flipped to the left, the drop becomes a candle flame and, against a deep orange background, the drop turns a warm colour. Flipped to the right, against a white background, it becomes the drip of water from a tap. The pair printed 5,000 litho copies of the book in China through World Print.

The latest title ‘Opposites’ makes excellent use of the double page spread and flip over acetate to delight readers with a clever take on the concept of ‘opposite’. A big ball larger than a child becomes a small ball held between thumb and forefinger; an arrow pointing to the left becomes an arrow pointing to the right; a hot flame on a candle becomes a cold drip from a blue tap.

As a concept book, I would perhaps question some of the concepts: is rain actually the opposite of sunshine? But the effects are so cleverly achieved that I was more intrigued by the visual playfulness, than concerned about the conceptual accuracy. In truth I would be most inclined to share this book with older readers(9+) with a view to talking about colour, design and typography.

It’s good to see novelty features adding value to the text: the use of acetate is particularly apposite to the subject of this book. Too often flaps, pop-ups and other novelties are used routinely and unimaginatively. I look forward to seeing what Patrick George produce next. I hope they will continue to surprise and delight by finding innovative ways of expressing their ideas.

Nikki Gamble, Write Away