Round Trip
By Ann Jonas
The Story
A family travels from the country into the city for the day, then the very same black-and-white pictures flip upside down to become an entirely new journey home.
Why It's Special
For the kid who begs to hear the same book again immediately — this one actually gives them a different story the second time through.
- Big idea: A single image can hold two truths at once, if you're willing to look at it upside down.
- Vibes: quiet, clever, visually puzzling — more art gallery than storybook, in the best way.
Perfect For Kids Who
- love optical illusions and hidden pictures
- like to turn the book around and inspect it from every angle
- are working on noticing how shapes can become other shapes
- enjoy looking closely instead of listening to a fast-moving plot
Ask Your Little Reader
- Imagination: When you flipped the book over, what did the same picture turn into?
- Observation: Which picture surprised you the most when it changed upside down?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever taken a trip from the country to the city, or the city to the country? What did you see?
- Art & illustration: Why do you think Ann Jonas made the pictures in black and white instead of color?
- Story & problem-solving: Can you find a shape in one of the pictures that looks like it could be something else if you turned it around?
