Six new picture books show numbers in several ways: for use in counting objects, with singing rhymes and as a pattern to display art. Collectively, they are interesting to compare illustrations and contrast the way numerals hold the content together - for the text usually is of secondary interest. What is outstanding about the art in these six picture books is that they are as varied as the use of the number patterns themselves.
ONE RED ROOSTER by Kathleen Sullivan Carroll. Illustrated by Suzette Barbier. Houghton Mifflin.Exotic flat patterns make up the animal shapes illustrating "1. One red rooster went cock-a-doodle-doo. 2. Two black cows went moo moo moo. . . . " For the youngest listener, "One Red Rooster" will be a sure hit because after a reading or two, they will be able to "read" it by themselves.
The natural curves of landscape and animals are framed in bold outlines as each picture contains all the animals mentioned in the rhyme up to that point, and the final is really a sleepy-time view of them all.
OVER IN THE MEADOW: AN OLD COUNTING RHYME. Illustrated by David A. Carter. Scholastic Hardcover.
"Over in the meadow in the sand in the sun
Live an old mother turtle and her little turtle one. . . . "
This ageless rhyme has been sung to countless melodies over the years. Another version with bold illustrations is always welcome; it's too bad that musical notation is not included to make this a completely new version.
The two-page collage spreads are perfectly focused with mother on one side and the children opposite. This will be fun sing-and-read aloud even if it's the traditional tune.
FIVE LITTLE DUCKS Illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey. Crown Publishers.
Most counting books progress upward from 1 to 10; not so with this one, which is from a series, "Song to Read," written and recorded by Raffi.
In this predictable storyline, Mother Duck and five little ones go out one day, and when she calls them back only four return. Each day one less duckling returns until she is a "sad mother duck" indeed. The surprise comes when all five ducklings come with their own families.
Raffi's music is included here with notation for guitar or auto-harp.
ONE WHITE SAIL: A CARIBBEAN COUNTING BOOK by S.T. Garne with illustrations by Lisa Etre. Green Tiger Press/Simon and Schuster Children's Books.
This is an example of what happens when a creative artist uses the pattern of numbering as a vehicle for illustration. Etre, a resident of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, is a gallery owner and art teacher. Her silk screen, watercolor and gouache images are expressionistic images of what she sees in the bright blue surroundings.
The text for each number, when read silently, is only eight words about the pictures; however, when read aloud and with a syncopation are reminiscent of a Caribbean folk song.
PIGS FROM 1 to 10 by Arthur Geisert. Houghton Mifflin.
This is a companion to Geisert's "Pigs From A to Z" where 26 pages of find-the-pig were etched into a book of discovery and fun. Now, equally fun, "Pigs From 1 to 10" protrays the piglet brothers as they return to their origin. In this quest are the mysterious shapes that are said to exist. These patterns are the shapes of the numbers.
Geisert's extraordinary art could overshadow the nonsensical story, but if you don't take it too seriously, it can be a winning combination.
OUT FOR THE COUNT: A COUNTING ADVENTURE by Kathryn Cave.
Illustrations by Chris Riddell. Simon and Schuster.
When Tom is told to count sheep for his insomnia, he does begin with sheep, but soon other animals take over - 100 of them, to be exact.
"Out for the Count" is a fun adventure from inside front cover (which is a game board) all the way through. The artist takes full advantage of the oversize format to include pirates, penguins and pythons in action-packed watercolors accented with silhouettes.
Tom's endearing bunny goes along for the adventure, and his final pose of being the wide-awake sentry for "A hundred shadows big and small, beckoned from Tom's bedroom wall" is a fitting ending.