All it takes to throw a big party is a houseful of kids, animals, birds, and monsters in droves numbered one to ten; Jahn- Clough (ABC Yummy, 1996, etc.) gets the whole event down on the page. One “little house all alone” opens its doors to two little children bringing tea, three barking dogs, and four balloon-wielding kittens in a pint-sized counting book that moves forward from one to ten and back again, with targeted numbers highlighted in red type on each page. All the creatures cavort in open-armed joy, bearing balloons, cakes, and songs, until the little house nearly explodes with merriment in a central illustration that practically bursts at the seams. “10 little monsters leave full of cake,” followed by penguins cooling down and monkeys taking off their party hats. Poster-paint colors—full of short strokes, dips, and dabs—fancifully stray outside the outlines. If pictures can sing, these do. (Picture book. 1-3)
