NUMBER CIRCUS

At the Number Circus, learning is fun.

Welcome to the Number Circus, where every numeral has a fun and exciting role: 2 is a clown, 6 is an acrobat, and 8 is an animal trainer. On each page of this fanciful and fairly sturdy lift-the-flap book, one simple, cleanly written line of text introduces readers to an anthropomorphized numeral participating in a circus performance. On the bottom or the top of each spread is a series of flaps that have questions on them that guide the reader through literacy and numeracy exercises that are both entertaining and developmentally appropriate. These include counting objects (“How many ribbons is this dancer twirling?”), identifying objects and numerical symbols (is 6 or 4 “at the bottom of the pyramid?”), and understanding relational concepts such as “fewer” and “taller.” The illustrations are busy without feeling crowded, and the palette is soft and inviting. The text—which is mostly questions—is clear and direct, making it easy for children to understand what is being asked of them and to find the answers. It should be noted that this is not a traditional storybook and, until children become familiar with the concepts inside, requires more extensive adult participation than a narrative or nonfiction book might.

An enjoyable way to build pre-K literacy and numeracy skills. (Novelty. 2-5)