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COUNTING BOOK 1 2 3

Name: COUNTING BOOK 1 2 3
Author: Connie Snoek
ISBN: 9781605378473

by Connie Snoek ; illustrated by Connie Snoek ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 18, 2023

Rests cheerfully at the intersection of art and (early) math.

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A group of animals help little ones count from one to 10.

Each page of this wordless picture book includes a different number (or two) and animal combination. We see three yellow beetles, each with three black dots, nestled into a tree; the contrast of the red tree against the white space results in the number three. Snoek invites readers to practice numeracy and one-to-one correspondence but also gives the pages extra illustrative depth, cleverly incorporating the shape of the number into the image. On one page, we see angular touches to the birds’ beaks and necks so that they appear to resemble the number seven; the llamas’ bodies and necks evoke the swirl of the number six. Another page features eight spiders, each with eight legs and a figure-eight–shaped body. Unlike counting books that simply provide readers with objects and numbers, Snoek’s version invites lingering with each page turn. Though the palette is limited to primary colors and black and white, the visuals are nevertheless intriguing, each page different than the last thanks to shadowing and inspired color combinations. There are counting books aplenty, but this take provides readers with an intentional, artistic experience. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Rests cheerfully at the intersection of art and (early) math. (Picture book. 1-3)

Pub Date: April 18, 2023

ISBN: 9781605378473

Page Count: 18

Publisher: Clavis

Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

- BOOK REVIEW
WOULD ANYONE NOTICE?
by Joke Eikenaar ; illustrated by Connie Snoek

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SMILE, POUT-POUT FISH

by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 7, 2014

An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.

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This simplified version of Diesen and Hanna’s The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) is appropriate for babies and toddlers.

Brief, rhyming text tells the story of a sullen fish cheered up with a kiss. A little pink sea creature pokes his head out of a hole in the sea bottom to give the gloomy fish some advice: “Smile, Mr. Fish! / You look so down // With your glum-glum face / And your pout-pout frown.” He explains that there’s no reason to be worried, scared, sad or mad and concludes: “How about a smooch? / And a cheer-up wish? // Now you look happy: / What a smile, Mr. Fish!” Simple and sweet, this tale offers the lesson that sometimes, all that’s needed for a turnaround in mood is some cheer and encouragement to change our perspective. The clean, uncluttered illustrations are kept simple, except for the pout-pout fish’s features, which are delightfully expressive. Little ones will easily recognize and likely try to copy the sad, scared and angry looks that cross the fish’s face.

An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to. (Board book. 1-3)

Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-374-37084-8

Page Count: 12

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE WORRY-WORRY WHALE MADE 32 MISTAKES
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

- BOOK REVIEW
THE WORRY-WORRY WHALE AND THE CLASSROOM JITTERS
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

- BOOK REVIEW
POUT-POUT FISH
by Deborah Diesen ; illustrated by Dan Hanna

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LLAMA LLAMA SHAPES

From the Learning With Llama Llama series

developed by Anna Dewdney ; illustrated by JT Morrow ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 7, 2023

An invitation for readers to learn through observation.

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Llama Llama and Mama spot different shapes at the farmers market.

Dewdney’s iconic llama stars in this board book, a part of the Learning With Llama Llama series. The story showcases five shapes: rectangles, squares, triangles, circles, and stars. Rather than simply showing the shapes and naming them, illustrator Morrow embeds them inside scenes from the farmers market. Each page turn uncovers a different shape. Signage and a shopping bag pop as rectangles, while umbrellas, a slice of watermelon, and the peaks of the tents form triangles. Shapes that appeared on previous pages are visible even as the story progresses, and the final page helps readers revisit and recall shapes they’ve already found. There are plenty of engaging details to keep readers looking, including other animal shoppers, kite-flying, and sudden, surprising rain. The text is concise, and each spread features a simple question inviting participation. This title is more captivating than other shape concept books, especially those that show block-colored shapes without context. Llama Llama’s popularity will make this a hit with fans, and readers looking for substance will find it. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An invitation for readers to learn through observation. (Board book. 1-3)