All Kinds of Things = Todo tipo de cosas

Written in both English and Spanish, All Kinds of Things=Todo tipo de cosas is a word book with a bit of a twist. Its original French version, Des trucs comme ci, des trucs comme ça,, received special mention at the 2022 BolognaRagazzi Awards at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

Plants, animals and everyday objects are grouped by 24 different categories in a unique way with a double-page spread devoted to each category. Some of the groups include things that fly, things that pinch, things that are sticky and things that are fragile. The book not only builds vocabulary but also introduces readers to objects that they might have not seen before, some examples of which are a swallowtail butterfly, a durian and a nettle plant. Though some of the commonalities are quite obvious (e.g. things that illuminate: the sun, the moon, a light bulb, a firefly and a lighthouse), most categories have at least one object whose connection is rather obscure, causing the reader to stop and think. Examples include lightning (things that are fast), night (things that fall), a hedgehog and a hot pepper (things that sting), popcorn (things that jump), a lollipop (things that melt), and bread crust and sparkling water (things that make noise). But since this book is meant for preschoolers, it is likely that an adult will be reading the book with the child and pausing to explain the associations.

There are nearly 200 images, each one created with stencils and brushwork and set on vibrant, solid-coloured backgrounds. The English and Spanish words are printed in a bold, simple font beside the object.

Cleverly done, eye-catching and unique, All Kinds of Things=Todo tipo de cosas encourages readers to think outside the box.