Alfie and his little sister Annie Rose are back, this time introducing the numbers one through ten in a playful approach to counting. Hughes (The Lion and the Unicorn. 1999, etc.) uses familiar topics, such as birthday parties and visits to Grandma’s, to capture the reader’s attention while incorporating the numbers into an engaging series of vignettes about Alfie, Annie Rose and their friends and family. Prominently placed in the corner of the page is the featured number. Next to each numeral is the corresponding number of dots, giving readers a visual reference to reinforce the concept. Naturally Alfie leaves his individual stamp on the tale as he and readers count everything from inquisitive pigs and birthday balloons to cows munching in a field. In a novel approach, Hughes also provides more than one example for each number along with some simple addition. “Eight people walking to work up Alfie’s street. Are the same number coming home again? If you add one little dog, that makes nine.” Her winning illustrations feature cherubic children doing what comes naturally: playing in the park, snuggling up with friends, etc. The warmly drawn pictures, brimming with detail, beckon to readers, encouraging them to explore their world. Fans of Alfie will savor this newest adventure while the uninitiated will quickly discover why this series has such enduring popularity with children and adults alike. (Picture book. 2-5)
Pub Date: March 31, 2000
ISBN: 0-688-17705-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2000
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Roly-poly, golden-brown Baby Bear lives with Grandbear (who could be either a grandmother or grandfather bear) in a cozy home with all the accoutrements of modern life. Together they prepare for the arrival of Christmas: making cards, cleaning, baking, finding a Christmas tree, and decorating the tree and house, with time off to play in the snow together, creating a snow bear with sticks for claws. Grandbear explains each step to Baby Bear, who impatiently awaits the big day. The pair enjoys a fireside picnic on Christmas Eve, and the story ends with all the bear relatives arriving on Christmas morning. Prater’s bears are expressive and delightful, especially in the snow scene with Grandbear serving as a sled for Baby Bear. There isn’t much plot here outside the steps of getting ready for the holiday, but parents may find this useful to introduce toddlers and younger preschoolers to the concept of preparing for Christmas gradually. (Picture book. 2-5)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2003
ISBN: 0-7641-5668-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Barron's
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2003
With dreams of dispensing ice cream to all his subjects, Lionel enrolls in King School; upon graduating, he sets out, diploma in hand, to seek a palace of his very own. However, the demand for qualified kings is limited, while the competition is fierce. When Lionel learns that the job of king isn’t something that can be applied for (a detail not discussed during his course of instruction) and even worse, that the school he attended has gone out of business, he’s forced to reassess his career opportunities. Illustrations reminiscent of Bill Peet’s work complement this slim, silly story, suitable for preschoolers who can appreciate the in-joke about kings as well as the ice cream trimmings. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: July 1, 1998
ISBN: 0-7737-3069-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1998
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