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Have You Seen My Dragon is Steve Light’s ode to city living. A boy solicits help from readers as he searches for his slithery, green dragon. The dragon hops around the city and takes readers on a counting journey. Adults and children alike will love the detailed artwork touched by bursts of color! Don’t be afraid to count along as Steve reads Have You Seen My Dragon on Read Out Loud.
KidLit TV’s Read Out Loud series is perfect for parents, teachers, and librarians. Use these readings for nap time, story time, bedtime … anytime!
Enter a fascinating, ornately drawn cityscape and help a boy find his dragon while counting objects from hot dogs to traffic lights. In the heart of the city, among the taxis and towers, a small boy travels uptown and down, searching for his friend. Readers will certainly spot the glorious beast, plus an array of big-city icons they can count. Is the dragon taking the crosstown bus, or breathing his fiery breath below a busy street? Maybe he took a taxi to the zoo or is playing with the dogs in the park. Steve Light’s masterful pen-and-ink illustrations, decorated with meticulous splashes of color, elevate this counting book (numbers 1 20) to new heights. Maybe the dragon is up there, too.
ABOUT STEVE LIGHT
Steve Light is the author and illustrator of several books for children. When he isn’t writing, he’s teaching pre-k students in New York City. Steve is a collector of fountain pens; he has more than 80. When Steve isn’t writing and illustrating he can be found creating models — some of which are inspired by his books –, or carving storybooks; wood dolls and props that fit in a box, which can be used to tell stories. Steve lives in New York City with his wife.
Ten Zany Birds Written by Sherry Ellis Illustrated by Charu Jain Createspace 5/16/2015 978-1-49740458-4 42 pages Ages 3—5 Ten zany birds, singing in a tree, dance at a party, happy as can be. Five with stripes, fours with spots, one with purple polka dots. “When ten little birds get together, it’s …
Charley Harper’s Animal Alphabet— Count the Birds — Book of Colors Written by Zoe Burke Illustrated by Charley Harper Pomegranate Kids 6/30/2015 978-0-7649-7233-1 — 978-0-7649-7246-1 — 978-0-7649-7261-4 20 pages Age 1—3 Today is not December 8th, but that is the date of Charley Harper Day in Cincinnati, Ohio where Mr. Harper …
Written by Juliette MacIver
Illustrated by Cat Chapman
Candlewick Press 6/09/2015
978-0-7636-7561-5
32 pages Age 4—8
“Yak and Gnu are friends dear and true. Yak has a kayak, Gnu a canoe. Down the river they go, singing:
“No one else But you and me Can float a boat Or sail the sea.”
But wait! What’s that? A goat in a boat, a calf on a raft, and a whole flotilla of gorillas! Now their song is all wrong. With so many other friends afloat, can Yak and Gnu still sing their sea song for two?”[inside jacket]
Review
Best friends Yak and Gnu love to sail the seas. Yak rows a black kayak, while Gnu rows a blue canoe. Together, they row and sing their favorite song. But then, much to Yak and Gnu’s surprise, a goat in a boat yells hello. Yak and Gnu are no longer the only two who sail the seas. The happy-go-lucky pair of friends—best of friends—recover nicely, rationalizing that with the goat in a boat, Yak in his kayak, and Gnu in her canoe, there are only three who can sail the seas. They adjust their song:
“Yippee-ai, Yak! Who-hoo, Gnu! There’s nobody else Like me and you. (Well, only goat.)”
But then, there on a raft is a laughing calf and in that sail boat is a snail. What is going on? Yak and Gnu find more and more animals who can sail the seas, be it in a sailboat, a raft, an outrigger, cruiser, kayak, or canoe. Each new discovery causes Yak and Gnu to reevaluate and adjust their song. Finally, with the seas afloat with dozens and dozens of sea-worthy animals and their vessels, Yak and Gnu must come to terms with the fact that they are not the only ones who can sail the seas. But what about their wonderful song? What happens to that? You must read Yak and Gnu to find out.
Yak and Gnu is hilarious. Young children will love all the animals and the way each sails the seas. Along with Yak and Gnu, children can count the number of animals, helping Yak and Gnu adjust their song. The repetitive song will also help young children as they begin to read and phonetically sound out words. Soon, kids will be singing the song, without the book. More likely, kids will be asking for Yak and Gnu at bedtime, story-time, and most every-time it is time to read. The illustrations are beautifully rendered in watercolor and ink. The rhyming text has that sing-song quality that makes reading a picture book a joy. Yak and Gnu was authored by Juliette MacIver who loves to make young children laugh. Her previous book is entitled, The Frog Who Lost His Underpants (also illustrated by Cat Chapman). That title makes me want to read the book. Yak and Gnu is no different. This hilarious tale celebrates the simple friendships of childhood and the joy of laughter.
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Full Disclosure: Sam & Dave Dig a Hole, by Juliette MacIver & Cat Chapman, and received from Candlewick Press and Walker Books, Australia, is in exchange NOT for a positive review, but for an HONEST review. The opinions expressed are my own and no one else’s. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Series: Back-and-Forth Books Written by Beth Schwartz & Lynn Seresin Illustrated by Luciana Navarro Powell Capstone Young Readers 8/01/2015 978-1-62370-236-6 22 pages 9″x8″ Age 1—4.
. “One two three, how many tigers do you see? Count along as one little tiger turns into ten playful tigers (and their mama!). Then start again by counting the butterflies beginning with ten. Little hands and little eyes will delight to explore these sturdy interactive board books from front-to-back and back-to-front. Award-winning team Betty Schwartz and Lynn Seresin have created charming, tactile two-in-one experiences for the littlest learners”[back cover]
Review Cute little tigers, with big wide eyes and long striped tails, will indeed charm little kids as they count from one to ten and then ten to one (actually, the butterflies begin with eleven, for the smart, observant, little kid). The tiger at number 1 simply walks into the tall grass with one butterfly trailing behind. Turn the page and there are two tigers, greeting one another. With each new turn of the thick and sturdy glossy pages, a new tiger joins in with its siblings. The tigers have a fun morning (or afternoon) doing all sorts of things that will energize young children: climb trees, play in the water, do tricks, play soccer, follow-the-tiger, tumble about, and roar with all the might of a little tiger. These playful tigers will definitely amuse young children.
After a rough and tumble morning (or afternoon), the ten tigers take a nap with mama, making Ten Playful Tigers the perfect bedtime story. Upon waking, kids can count the butterflies from ten (eleven) down to one and then blast off into the rest of their day. Kids will also like turning the pages with the die-cut holes and rubbing Mama-tiger’s orange and black striped fur. Counting from ten to one involves counting the number of holes containing butterflies—on the left side of the spread—and then adding in the one or two butterflies flying elsewhere on the half-spread. Large purple numbers guide kids as they count.
The oversized book may be too large for some little hands, but with help this should not be a hindrance. The illustrations are beautiful, fun, and lively. Even the butterflies change shape and color, seemingly having their own group fun. I especially love the spread with the, wait a minute . . . one, two three, FOUR roaring tigers. They each have four pointy teeth and one large mouth, which when opened wide, makes their nose and eyes seem to scrunch. Ten Playful Tigers is the perfect board book for young children learning how to count.
Learn more about Ten Playful TigersHERE. Meet the author, Beth Schwartz, her website: Meet the author, Lynn Seresin, at her website: bit.ly/LynnSeresin Meet the illustrator, Luciana Navarro Powell, at her website: http://www.lucianaillustration.com/ Find more picture books at the Capstone Young Readers website: http://www.capstonepub.com/
Capstone Young Readers is an imprint of Capstone.
Other Back-and-Forth Books Busy Little Dinosaurs (alphabet) (reviewed here) Puppies, Puppies, Everywhere! (opposites) You’re it, Little Red Fish (colors)
What a wondrous time for the kidlets; so much sparkle, magic, excitement and curiosity in the air. Christmas time is about bringing families together, and what better way to get close to your ‘little’ loved ones than to snuggle up with some adorable books. Here we count through three delightful books that foster a love […]
This whimsical and educational book combines a love for both animals and numbers, which makes it a great way to get animal lovers excited about math while giving them the opportunity to learn more about the individual animals as well.
Book: Ten Eggs in a Nest (Bright and Early Books for Beginning Readers)
Author: Marily Sadler
Illustrator: Michael Fleming
Pages: 48
Age Range: 3-7
Ten Eggs in a Nest is an early reader from the Bright and Early Books collection. In my house, we've found it to be quite educational (and fun) for a pre-reader, too. The premise of the story is that Gwen the chicken and Red Rooster are going to be parents. Out of supersition ("It's bad luck to count your eggs before they hatch.") Gwen won't tell Red how many eggs there are. As the eggs hatch, in increasing size batches (starting with one), Red rushes off to the worm store. Each time, before he gets back, there are more chicks, with a total of ten.
This book works as an early reader. The words and sentence structure are simple (though not boring), and there is plenty of repetition. It also works as a counting and simple addition book. Like this:
"ONE plus TWO makes THREE baby chicks!" said Gwen.
ONE! TWO! THREE!"
And, laterL
"ONE plus TWO plus THREE plus FOUR makes TEN baby chicks!" clucked Gwen.
As a read-aloud, it's enjoyable, though I did find myself skimming by the fourth or fifth read. I think for new readers the repetition will provide scaffolding, and work well. The capitalizing of the text of the numbers helps to highlight those, too.
I think what made my daughter ask to read it again (and again) was a combination of the fun of doing the counting, and the charm of Red Rooster. He's so proud when his babies are born - it's really adorable. Like this:
"Red strutted into Worm World.
He held his head high.
He puffed his chest out.
Pinky Pig was behind the counter."
There's also repeated humor when Red is surprised and says that you could have knocked him over with a feather. That, together with the "don't count your chicks before they are hatched" gives parents a chance to introduce the idea of sayings.
Michael Fleming's illustrations are boldly colored and inviting, with thick outlines and a spare use of texture. The birds are not representational, but they are all cute, especially the strutting red. My daughter noticed that the sign in Worm World is written with worm shapes, and she was quite charmed by this detail.
all in all, Ten Eggs in a Nest is an early reader done well. It's definitely worth a look, and worth adding to school and public libraries.I look forward to trying it again when my daughter is actually ready to read.
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (@RandomHouseKids)
Publication Date: January 28, 2014
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher
FTC Required Disclosure:
This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through Amazon links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).
We just discovered the Dog Loves ... series, and my 3 1/2 year old daughter and I are both hooked. We actually started with the third book, then realized that we had the second one hiding out on our shelves, and naturally had to purchase the first. To be fair, I was vaguely aware of having read the second book when it came out, and I liked it enough to keep it, but I didn't appreciate it until I had actually read it with my daughter. Because it is the interactivity that is beautiful about the Dog books.
These books are of the genre that I would classify as "sneakily educational", and which can totally work if done well. Because let's face it, preschoolers are little sponges, looking to soak up learning wherever they can find it. Give them a cute dog with a vivid imagination and an appreciation for books to help them along the way, and they are all set.
Dog Loves Books is the first of the series. You can't really go wrong with a book that starts out: "Dog loved books. He loved the smell of them, and he loved the feel of them. He loved everything about them...", accompanied by a series of illustrations of Dog glorying in his books.
In this installment (the least educational of the three, but the one that introduces readers to Dog's personality and preferences), Dog decides to open up a bookstore. Sadly, no customers come. But once he gets over the initial disappointment, Dog realizes that he's perfectly happy to sit in his bookstore, reading books. A lovely series of pages shows Dog surrounded by dragons and giraffes and spaceships, as he dwells inside of his books. And in the end, all of his experience reading books turns out to be useful, when he finally gets a chance to make recommendations.
In Dog Loves Drawing, Dog still has his bookstore. He is initially surprised when his Aunt Dora sends him a book with blank pages. A note from his aunt tells him that it's a sketchbook. Once again demonstrating his ability to immerse himself in a story, Dog draws several friends, and then travels with them through a series of adventures. Throughout these adventures, Dog and his friends are shown drawing the next steps, coloring things in on their own, etc. At the end, the reader sees Dog with his filled sketchbook, and only then is it confirmed that the adventures were all in Dog's imagination.
My daughter had a bit of trouble grasping the concept here - that the friends weren't real, and the adventures weren't actually happening. But I think it will become more clear on future readings. And she still enjoyed it. She also learned things like what doodling is, and how to make scenery look like it's going by "FAST!". This one is a good companion book to I'll Save You, Bobo! by Eileen & Marc Rosenthal, in which Willy draws similar stories.
Dog Loves Counting is the most overtly educational of the three. But still totally fun. Dog is having trouble getting to sleep, and counting sheep doesn't seem to work. So he decides to count creatures that he meets in his books, like a dodo and three-toed sloth. He marches merrily along, collecting creature after creature.
In addition to there being a running total of the creatures, each creature also has an attribute that Dog can count, like the bands on the nine-banded armadillo. The illustrations show small numbers about each band, encouraging young readers to both recognize the numbers and practice counting. And once the numbers are all counted up to 10, the animals go off for a bit, and Dog has a chance to count backwards, too. We end with:
"When Dog woke up the next morning and looked at his books, he knew that friends and adventures were never far away--that was something he could count on."
The thing about these books, particularly the last two, is that they simply beg for interaction between the reader and the child listener. My babysitter used the first one to teach my daughter how to spell Dog. I used the third one to practice counting to 10 forward and backward with her. I let her count things on each page. She counted things that weren't directly part of the story, like the number of leaves on the ferns shown on one page, etc. Her only disappointment was that the book didn't continue to 11, 12, etc.
Yates' watercolor illustrations are perfect for these stories. Dog is rendered mostly in outline, a white dog against a white background, as counterpoint to the vividness of the animals and settings that he imagines. You can tell from his perky ears and big smile that he's friendly. His eyes are often closed (probably because he is busy imagining things).
The animals with which Dog surrounds himself are colorful and big-eyed. They're not realistic, exactly (how often do you see a dodo anyway?), but they welcome Dog, and the reader, to their fanciful world. The pictures in Dog Loves Drawing are particularly fun, including a big green monster, furry with sharp teeth and four feet clad in red sneakers. It looks exactly (and in the best possible way)like something that a six-year-old would draw.
So we have a series of books that celebrate reading and the imagination, and incorporate concepts like drawing and counting without being even the least bit dull. All with warm, surprise-filled illustrations. No wonder these are a hit with my daughter and with me. I wonder what Dog will love next? We'll be waiting!
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (@RandomHouseKids)
Publication Date: July 2010, August 2012, September 2013
Source of Book: Review copies from the publisher (2/3) and purchase
FTC Required Disclosure:
This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through Amazon links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).
Back-to-school is here! Summer is coming to a close and classrooms are prepping to welcome new students to take the long journey through the next grade. The first day of school can be scary for many children, especially as they enter a new school, or are beginning school for the first time. So, in honor of the first day of school we have compiled a list of Sylvan Dell books that are great reads to prepare for that first day.
The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights – Imagine if the one thing that keeps you safe is what you fear the most. This enchanting story tells of a giraffe who suffers from the fear of heights. His parents worry about his safety and send him to the village doctor for treatment. Along the way he befriends a monkey who is afraid of climbing trees and a hippo that is afraid of water. A life-threatening event causes the three friends to face and overcome each of their fears.
Home in the Cave – Baby Bat loves his cave home and never wants to leave it. While practicing flapping his wings one night, he falls, and Pluribus Packrat rescues him. They then explore the deepest, darkest corners of the cave where they meet amazing animals—animals that don’t need eyes to see or colors to hide from enemies. Baby Bat learns how important bats are to the cave habitat and how other cave-living critters rely on them for their food. Will Baby Bat finally venture out of the cave to help the other animals?
Henry the Impatient Heron – Henry the Heron couldn’t stand still! He was always moving, and it drove everyone crazy! His brother and sister yelled at him for stepping on their heads, and Mom and Dad could barely get food into his little baby mouth. But herons have to stand still to catch their food, so how would Henry ever be able to eat on his own? In Henry, the Impatient Heron, Donna Love takes readers along with Henry as he learns a valuable lesson from the King of Camouflage! Hilarious and lighthearted illustrations by Christina Wald complement the important lesson in the text. It is a meaningful lesson for both herons and kids alike, which teaches the importance of just being still!
How the Moon Regained Her Shape – This fascinating story influenced by Native American folktales explains why the moon changes shape and helps children deal with bullies. After the sun insults and bullies her, the moon feels so badly hurt that she shrinks and leaves the sky. The moon turns to a comet and her many friends on earth to comfort her. Her friends include rabbits and Native Americans. Then she regains her full shape, happiness, and self-esteem. The moon also returns to her orbit.
And for the younger siblings just beginning counting and ABC’s
ABC Safari - Let’s search for adventure above in the sky. We’ll scout through the mountains and hills, and then try exploring the forests, the meadows and plains, across the dry desert and through jungle rains. We’ll trek through a swamp, a puddle, a pond, in lakes and the river, the ocean beyond. But, what are we looking for? Who will we see? Find animals on this Safari with me! Once you’ve discovered all the animals, turn to the “For Creative Minds” educational section for sorting cards and animal fun facts.
Count Down to Fall - The summer days get a little colder; the leaves turn from green to orange and red. Fall must be on the way, and while you unpack sweaters and scarves, the animals frolic outside in the crisp autumn air beneath a wide blue sky. In Fran Hawk’s Count Down to Fall, watch the falling leaves tumble all around. The vibrant and detailed illustrations of Sherry Neidigh capture the majesty of the maple, the oak, the linden, and more. Critters play in the time of changing seasons, and remind us that the changes of the earth affect us all-animals and humans alike!
We hope that you have a wonderful first day of school!
0 Comments on Books to get ready for Back-to-School as of 8/19/2013 12:08:00 PM
Vere, Ed. 2012. Bedtime for Monsters. New York: Henry Holt.
Do you ever WONDER if somewhere, not too far away, there might be ... MONSTERS?
This book may be reminiscent of "Going on a Bear Hunt," but you won't be going anywhere; a monster may be coming to hunt you!
And as he crosses the gloopy, schloopy swamp GLOOP GLOOP SCHLOOP do you think he's imagining just HOW GOOD you'll taste all covered in ketchup?
Bright and fresh and silly! I love it.
The fun one
Baker, Keith. 2012. 1-2-3 Peas. New York: Beach Lane.
A follow-up to the popular LMNO Peas, I like this one even better. The digitally rendered and definitely adorable peas count their way to 100 in rhyming fashion.
While it can be read quickly for fun, it's worth savoring to find and enjoy each delightfully quirky pea (can you find the one singing in the shower?) and note the great details. How do peas travel when in a rush? In a Spea-dy Bus, of course.
More peas, please!
The sweet one
Kraegel, Kenneth. 2012. King Arthur's Very Great Grandson. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
I want swordplay! A struggle! A battle to the uttermost, and if you will not have ado with me, tell me who will!
So says brave and diminutive Henry, who sets off for adventure astride his trusty donkey, Knuckles. He encounters a Dragon, a Cyclops, a Griffin, and a Leviathan. They are no match for him at swordplay, but at chess? Perhaps. Simple pen and watercolor illustrations are a bright and cheery mix of naive and cartoon styles of painting; pairing perfectly with this story of five utterly guileless characters destined to become friends. Enchanting!
I just noticed that each of these was illustrated by the author, or authored by the illustrator. Whichever way you slice it, great talent.
0 Comments on Picture Book Roundup - August edition as of 1/1/1900
So, what to do to celebrate? Fishblanket has been giving me rides around the walled garden in a wheelbarrow. I have had a large slice of chocolate cake.
And now I am going to give away another free Kindle ebook for kids on amazon. I say "for kids", but really anyone can download it. Why not? It's free!
I generally don't read "grown-up" books myself. They are usually boring.
Here is the book I am giving away, it is a Silly Monsters counting book. It is scheduled to go free on Amazon on Friday 27th July and Saturday 28th July.
Baby Lit™ Books take the perennial popularity of classic writers like Charlotte Brontë and Lewis Carroll, in a fashionable way to introduce your toddler to the world of classic literature. With clever, simple text by Jennifer Adams, paired with stylish design and illustrations by Sugar’s Alison Oliver, Little Miss Brontë and Little Master Carroll are a [...]
HELLO A long delayed post! I've had a busy few months regarding life, which has made it a quiet few months regarding drawing :( Still! I have some drawings of animals for you to look at. I'm playing about with my textures a lot, trying to figure out where the point of 'too much' is. I don't think I've found it yet. Perhaps there isn't a too much? Perhaps eventually all my work will disintegrate into abstract planes of textures, shapes & colours. There's an idea. Watch this space for that one!
Until then, numbers 4, 5 & 10 of a series of wildlife/counting illustrations! A whale could fit way more than 10 starfish on his back, but then things were getting a bit intense for the purpose I think...
1 Comments on Counting Dragonflies!, last added: 12/17/2011
Bright and colorful animals and children invite your child to count, count, and count some more as you explore this book full of numerous scenes. Click here to read my full review.
0 Comments on Review: Let's Count to 100! by Masayuki Sebe as of 1/1/1900
Guyku (rhymes with haiku) - illustrated haiku that features boys and things that boys like to do outdoors in each season. My favorite?
Hey, Who turned off all the crickets? I'm not ready for summer to end.
Brilliant! Teachers should be all over this one. Wish there were one for girls (but "Galku" just wouldn't cut it)
Fox, Mem. 2010. Let's Count Goats. Ill. by Jan Thomas. New York: Beach Lane.
Here we see an over goat. And this one's going under. But can we count the crossing goats, terrified of thunder?
Mem Fox, Jan Thomas, silly goats, what's not to like? Great counting book for little ones. (You don't see the word careering very often. Interesting choice.)
Mavor, Salley. 2010. Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Traditional nursery rhymes illustrated in "hand-sewn fabric relief collages." Most of the rhymes are familiar - old classics including Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater, The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, and the like. But a few may be so old as to be new,
I'm dusty Bill from Vinegar Hill. Never had a bath and never will.
The depictions of the exquisitely detailed needlework are simply stunning. Even a child who can't appreciate the work involved will know that this book is something special.
A manic and very funny counting book that will have readers laughing at the antics of the goats that they are trying to count. Can you count the single seaside goat? How about the goats buzzing by in airplanes? How about the loud trumpet goats? Or the ones in the snow? The talents of Mem Fox and Jan Thomas are delightfully displayed here in one of the top counting books of the year.
Some counting books suffer from trying to maintain counting on each and every page. Part of the success of this book is that Fox has written other silly goats into the book that do not needed to be counted. So the book has a nice flow that really works well. It feels much more like a picture book than a counting book. Fox’s rhymes are simple, offering Thomas a grand place to build from with her illustrations. Thomas takes innocent words and transforms them into scenes where her goats munch on the props. The book is filled with goats doing all sorts of things, drawn in Thomas’ wonderfully simple style that children will immediately relate to.
Highly recommended, this is a counting book that could be used very successfully in a story time. The illustrations are large enough to work with a group and the text is readable as well. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
Reviewed from copy received from Beach Lane Books.
Click, Clack, 123. Doreen Cronin. Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. 2006/2010. Little Simon. 22 pages.
1 farmer sleeping. 2 feet creeping. 3 buckets piled high. 4 chickens standing by. 5 cows type a note.
I don't know about you, but I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these spirited books by Doreen Cronin. Have you read Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type? How about Giggle, Giggle, Quack or Thump, Quack, Moo? Then there is Dooby Dooby Moo and Duck for President!
Like the previous books in the series, this one offers a few surprises!
One Pup’s Up by Marsha Wilson Chall, illustrated by Henry Cole
Count along to ten with adorable puppies in this picture book. It all starts when one puppy wakes up, then more puppies join in on the fun. They tumble, roll, drink, piddle, chase, and much more. Another puppy joins in the fray with each new activity until dinner time. Then they slowly head to sleep, one at a time, counting down until they are all asleep. Of course, then it starts again the second one pup is up.
A very simple premise and simply told story, this book is filled with toddler appeal. The ease of the story along with its galloping rhyme and rhythm make it irresistible. Chall’s grace with so few words is evident on each page, allowing the images to tell the story. Cole’s puppies are playful balls of fun, that young readers will be drawn to and relate to. The illustrations are wonderfully large and bright with plenty of white space, making them ideal for use with a group.
Get those toddlers counting with these puppies and be ready for giggles when the piddle line appears. A delightful, light-hearted counting book appropriate for ages 2-4.
I Like Bugs. Lorena Siminovich. 2010. March 2010. Candlewick. 10 pages.
I'll be honest. I don't like bugs. But. I do like I Like Bugs. I like it so, so much! I Like Bugs is a touch-and-feel book and a counting book. What are we counting? Bugs, of course!
1 one dragonfly 2 two butterflies 3 three beetles
I liked the different textures. I especially liked the texture for the beetles. I liked the bright, bold colors. The bright blue butterflies and the red flowers especially. Overall, I really enjoyed the art, the illustrations. The collage aspects made this board book extra special.
Cats’ Night Out by Caroline Stutson, illustrated by J. Klassen
A clowder of cats fill the pages here, counted up one by one all the way to twenty. (Don’t you love the term “clowder" for a group of cats? It’s very appropriate here because it sounds so much like “louder.”) On each page, the cats appear in different dance costumes and a different type of dance is shown. Line dancing with rhinestones, tangoing in red capes, and polkaing in flip-flops are just some of the great matchups of costume and dance. The cats dance until the people in the apartment buildings can’t take the noise anymore. Readers will love dancing to dawn with these delightful felines.
Stutson has created a counting book that is a pleasure to read aloud. Her rhymes are unforced and natural, with the vowels rhyming but rarely the full word, creating a more flowing verse. The illustrations take this book to another level. Done in subtle browns and grays, the setting is clearly urban and has the feel of an intimate club that morphs into an almost Broadway show effect as the cats become more numerous. Klassen evokes a timeless feel with her illustrations but they are definitely modern with a hip, suave tone perfect for these confident dancers.
Highly recommended, this book is one of the hippest counting books to come along. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Reviewed from copy received from Simon & Schuster.
After reading Cindy’s contribution last month concerning birthdays, my mathematical mind took off on its own musings about numbers and age.
People use numbers to represent age in a way that is not only different from the way we are taught to round numbers, but also conflicts with the linear relationship age has with time. When else would someone round 23.95 to 23 instead of to 24? *
Contrary to the way we were taught to round numbers, we all represent age by rounding down to the last year. Now, I’d be the first to admit that it would be impractical, not to mention irritating, to hear a grown person saying, “I’m 32 and a half.” Think about it: in just one day, your 40th birthday, you go from rounding down to 39 to rounding down to 40. Really you just aged one more day, or several more minutes.
Time is continuous, but we treat age as though it is discrete. If you graphed age as a function of time, it would not be a straight line, but instead a floor function. And birthdays are the points of discontinuity, (points where the graph is not connected). In English, we say “I am 25,” to mean “I have lived 25 years so far.” Other languages, such as Spanish and French, approach age slightly differently by phrasing it, “J’ai 40 ans,” (which translates from French to English as “I have 40 years”). “Having 40 years” really means you have lived for 40 years, but you’re experiencing your 41st year of your life! "Being 25" means you're in your 26th year.
This is different from the way we approach years as a function of time. When we say the year 2010, we indicate that it is the 2010th year since we started counting. When we say it’s June 4th, we indicate that it’s the fourth day in the month of June. However, if I were to say I’m 11, I’m really living the 12th year of my life.
Of course I understand the motivations behind common age-naming practices. You could call it vanity. You could call it fear of aging. We want our age to be represented by the smallest number possible, and for practical purposes, we need it to be a cardinal number. But if we’re already rounding down to the nearest year, why not take it further? Why not round down to the nearest 5 years? Try it! If anyone accuses you of lying, tell them you just round differently.
This piece was written for my brother Matthew, who this week switches from rounding down to 29 to rounding down to 30. Don’t worry. I’ll remind him that he’s really living his 31st year!
*I would love more examples of instances when we do round down like this. Please use the comment section to share them.
1 Comments on Birthdays as Next Steps, last added: 6/5/2010
Have You Seen My Dragon?
Ten Eggs in a Nest is an early reader from the Bright and Early Books collection. In my house, we've found it to be quite educational (and fun) for a pre-reader, too. The premise of the story is that Gwen the chicken and Red Rooster are going to be parents. Out of supersition ("It's bad luck to count your eggs before they hatch.") Gwen won't tell Red how many eggs there are. As the eggs hatch, in increasing size batches (starting with one), Red rushes off to the worm store. Each time, before he gets back, there are more chicks, with a total of ten. 
Dog Loves Books is the first of the series. You can't really go wrong with a book that starts out: "Dog loved books. He loved the smell of them, and he loved the feel of them. He loved everything about them...", accompanied by a series of illustrations of Dog glorying in his books.
In Dog Loves Drawing, Dog still has his bookstore. He is initially surprised when his Aunt Dora sends him a book with blank pages. A note from his aunt tells him that it's a sketchbook. Once again demonstrating his ability to immerse himself in a story, Dog draws several friends, and then travels with them through a series of adventures. Throughout these adventures, Dog and his friends are shown drawing the next steps, coloring things in on their own, etc. At the end, the reader sees Dog with his filled sketchbook, and only then is it confirmed that the adventures were all in Dog's imagination.
Dog Loves Counting is the most overtly educational of the three. But still totally fun. Dog is having trouble getting to sleep, and counting sheep doesn't seem to work. So he decides to count creatures that he meets in his books, like a dodo and three-toed sloth. He marches merrily along, collecting creature after creature.
![SafariCOVER [Converted]](http://sylvandellpublishing.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/abc_187.jpg)
In English, we say “I am 25,” to mean “I have lived 25 years so far.” Other languages, such as Spanish and French, approach age slightly differently by phrasing it, “J’ai 40 ans,” (which translates from French to English as “I have 40 years”). “Having 40 years” really means you have lived for 40 years, but you’re experiencing your 41st year of your life! "Being 25" means you're in your 26th year.
Really like the whale with the starfish! And I like the texture level. :)