05 Nov / Let’s Count to 100! by Masayuki Sebe, English edited by Yvette Ghione
I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that counting books are ubiquitous on kiddie shelves. And, alas, too many of them are just same old, same old: dressing up the familiar 1, 2, 3, is surely not an easy task. So when something clever and unique comes along, I like to make note …
In Masayuki Sebe’s adorable latest title, every double-page spread features 100 countable objects, whether mice, elephants, kids, ants, cars and trucks, and more … until the last spread which captures a representative convergence of everyone and everything.
Here’s the clever something extra – each spread includes a little challenge that asks the young reader to do more than just rattle off numbers to 100. Among the mice, for example, are some with red ribbons; among the elephants, some are smiling – but how many? In the gathering of 100 kiddies, some have candy, others raise their hands to show they like soccer, while still others are doing handstands. Like the kids, some of the ants carry candy. Amidst the cars and trucks, is a mouse that’s hiding. Young detectives have a little work to do on every page …
Who knew counting to 100 could evolve into a wild sheep chase with a tiny polka-dotted beetle hiding in their midst? Definitely time to do some delightful hunting with your young ‘uns …
Readers: Children
Published: 2011 (United States)