123 DREAM
by Kim Krans ; illustrated by Kim Krans
What do letters, numbers, and animals have in common? They are all in this book!
Woodland, jungle, and seashore inhabitants are the focus of this evocative ink-and-watercolor collection built around consonance and counting. Realistic, printlike illustrations depict numerals from one through 10 along with animals or plants of appropriate number and whose names begin with the same letter or letters—one owl is followed by two turtles that are followed by three thistles, and so on. There is no text beyond the large numerals, one per double-page spread; the book encourages conversation between children and adults. Both the expected (four foxes) and unexpected (nine narwhals) are present, and young readers will enjoy identifying the animals themselves after realizing the pattern that’s present. Color is used minimally but thoughtfully to frame or highlight different elements of the illustration, such as the numbers or animals inside. While not an entirely original idea, this concept book introduces numbers and words in a manner that is clearly defined and extremely appealing; each spread is full of detail and a feast for the eyes. Children and adults alike will appreciate the striking illustrations and may even decide to extend their new knowledge of alliteration beyond the final pages.
A visual celebration of alliteration! (Picture book. 3-7)