Look-Alikes by Joan Steiner

Do you like I Spy books? If so, this is the next generation of I Spy books for kids. Scanning through the children's section of the library, this book caught my eye. Children and adults alike can read and look through this book multiple times and still learn and find something new every time. This book really makes children expand their imaginations and use their creativity to discover this "Look-Alike" world. As notes on the copyright page, "the illustrations in this book are photographs of three-dimensional collages created from found objects."

Accompanied with the pictures are short descriptions of the places at which we stop. A young boy narrator takes us through the book and points out some of the more exciting look-alikes. By looking closely, the reader observes that each item is made up of atypical materials. In this Look-Alike Land, "peanuts look like teddy bears, a balloon is a dress, etc." Stops along the way in Look-Alike Land include the train station, the city, the general store, the city park and zoo, and the circus. Each stop brings out unique features. One of my favorite pictures was of "Stanley's Sweet Shop." In this picture, the ceiling looks like money, the chairs are made from pretzels and Ritz crackers, and the booth's benches are made with Fig Newtons. I also enjoyed the picture of the Look-Alike Fair which included a Ferris wheel made with multiple pairs of scissors and a jumpy house filled with jelly beans rather than the traditional balls.

This would be an interesting and exciting book for students to look through if they finish early. This could also be used as a classroom language arts activity that includes creative writing and drawing in the classroom if children create, draw, and write about their own "Look-Alike" place.

Extra challenges exist at the end of the book such as finding a pencil and penny on every page. The back of the book also goes page by page listing the answers of what each Look-Alike picture contains whether it is a paintbrush, Scrabble tiles, M&Ms, etc. Not only are these books fun to read in print, but these fun Look-Alike pictures have shown up in the New York Times, Nickelodeon, and Sesame Street Magazine. Delving into Joan Steiner's Look-Alike world shows previously uncharted territory. This example of a unique perspective does not appear every day.