Good Thing Youre Not an Octopus!
(by Julie Markes/ illus. by Maggie Smith, HarperCollins $14.95 Score:) An amusing look at how it would be if, say, you were an octopus and had to put on pants with eight legs. Following one boy through a typical day, Markes makes everyday chores seem quite simple, especially when compared with those of sharks, who would have 200 teeth to brush, or a caterpillar with 16 shoes to tie! 3-7

Age: Preschool,Early School Years. Award Year: 2002.

Turtle Splash
(by Cathryn Falwell, Greenwillow $15.95 Score:) Ten turtles fall into the pond one by one as other pond critters come along. A counting backwards book in verse with a little science stirred into the fun. 4 and up.

Age: Preschool,Early School Years. Award Year: 2002.

Pete and Polo's Farmyard Adventure
(by Adrian Reynolds, Orchard $16.95 Score:) This set out to be a little counting mystery for young children. Pete is looking for the ten missing ducklings on the farm. The problem for the reader is that you can not see all the ducklings that are being counted in the text. There are pages where the text counts ducklings that are not illustrated making it particularly frustrating for beginning counters. For children that are just starting to learn how to count to ten, the relationship between the text and objects being counted need to be literal. The illustrations are charming and would have otherwise been an enjoyable little counting mystery book.

Age: Toddlers,Preschool. Award Year: 2002.

Dinnertime!
(by Sue Williams/illus. by Kerry Argent, Harcourt $16 Score:) A hungry fox reduces the number of rabbits one by one. Told with a repetitive refrain, this seemingly scary tale has a surprisingly happy ending with all the rabbits having escaped the fox. The book ends with all six rabbits cozy in their bed. Some preschoolers may find the sharp- toothed fox and the premise of the story a bit too intense. Others may enjoy the safe scare of the book.

Age: Preschool. Award Year: .

Where Are My Chicks?
(by Sally Grindley/illus. by Jill Newton, Penguin $9.99 Score:) A counting book mystery about a Mother Hen who is looking for her lost chicks. The other animals help her find them one by one. But oddly enough after the first four yellow chicks are found numbers five through eight are much bigger and gray rather than yellow. What a surprise when Mother Goose turns up looking for her goslings. Birds are not always in full view, so the counting is a tad challenging but fun.

Age: Preschool. Award Year: 2002.

Apollo
(by Caroline Gregoire, Kane Miller $13.95 Score:) What a funny way to learn about some basic math concepts, with an adorable dog who can be viewed by halves, from above, below, front, back, vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and with great affection. This offers an introduction to some very abstract words using images to make them concrete, humorous, and memorable.

Age: Preschool,Early School Years. Award Year: 2003.

Catch That Goat!
(by Polly Alakija, Barefoot Books $16.99 Score:) Ayoka was supposed to take care of the family goat. Oh, oh! That runaway goat has gone to the market! In a romp through a Nigerian market, this is a spirited counting book with details to explore on every page, including a sighting of that runaway goat! Lyrical African names and repetitive pattern makes for a fun read aloud! 2-6.

Age: Toddlers,Preschool,Early School Years. Award Year: 2002.

At the Edge of the Woods
(by Cynthia Cotton/illus. by Reg Cartwright, Holt $16.95 Score:) Charming cut-paper art of woodland animals are clear and easy to count. A lyrical refrain makes this a pleasing read aloud with opportunities to develop color and simple math concepts. 2–5.

Age: Toddlers,Preschool. Award Year: 2003.

1 2 3 Follow Me!
(by Philippe Dupasquier, Candlewick $6.99 Score:) Flip the sturdy pages of this wordless book to see a small drama unfold, as an ever-growing number of creatures chase each other. From one to nine the line grows longer until a wee-small surprise turns everyone around at ten. A clever counting book. 2–5.

Age: Toddlers,Preschool. Award Year: 2003.

Carlo Likes Counting
(by Jessica Spanyol, Candlewick $14.99 Score:) Bold paintings with many items on each page with sets of one through ten. This is more than a simple counting book. It enlarges the concept of one-ness, two-ness, and more with multiple things to count and talk about with preschoolers. A worthy sequel to Carlo Likes Reading.

Age: Toddlers,Preschool. Award Year: 2003.