Comical, partying guinea pigs who encounter one mishap after another allow readers to count down from 10 to one.
From a bump during a conga line to a sadly misplaced pin during a game of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, these poor guinea pigs face it all. “Six little guinea pigs / love to jump and dive! / One bumps his nose, / and then there are… // Five....” Leaving the answer for the page turn allows for audience participation, and between the rhymes, the patterned numerals in the corner and the easily countable guinea pigs, listeners will have no problem shouting out the answers. While the rhythms and rhymes are nothing outstanding ("heaven" rhymes with "seven," "again" with "10"), it doesn’t much matter, since Surplice’s guinea pigs are the true stars. Loaded with personality, the adorable rodents take the party by storm, suffering tummy aches, tantrums and balloon mishaps but, ultimately, celebrating their friendship. A final page features the numerals from one to 10, matching each with its own guinea pig. Simple white backgrounds help the rodents keep center stage and highlight the party paraphernalia that helps set the scene.
Countdown to the next rereading. (Picture book. 3-6)
