SQL - Concatenation of expression error -

i working through book called 'sql queries mere mortals' , having major issue 'concatenation of expressions'.

i trying run simple command follows:

select empfirstname || ' ' || emplastname,        'phone number: ' || empphonenumber    employees

however, sql server 2008r2 , sql server 2005 both giving me same error message:

msg 102, level 15, state 1, line 1 incorrect syntax near '|'.

i bemused because following text of book , should work, not.

you should use + instead of ||

select empfirstname + ' ' + emplastname, 'phone number: ' + empphonenumber  employees

correct concatenation symbol on sql server +.

Brazell