Noni the Pony Counts to a Million (Alison Lester)

January 31, 2023Leave a comment

Hello, friends! Our book today is Noni the Pony Counts to a Million by Alison Lester, a simple and sweet counting book from the Noni the Pony series.

Starting from a simple count of the numbers one to ten, then expanding to concepts of dozens, hundreds, thousands, and millions, the reader follows Noni the pony and her animal pals as they spend a day taking in the nature around them. Racing cows, meeting wallabies, and playing hide-and-seek with puppies are all wonderful ways to practice counting skills, and as the sun begins to set, they can watch thousands of car headlights and admire millions of stars.

Understated, gentle, and charming. The adorably rounded Noni and her pals are sure to appeal to any young bookworm, being affectionate, cheerful, and full of curiosity. Lester’s rhyming text has an uncomplicated cadence that is easy and fun to read aloud, and the easy transition between core counting skills and more complicated concepts of multiples is one that engages without overwhelming. The length is perfect for a storytime, and JJ loved Noni and her friends, and especially counting each of the multiples of animals in the illustrations. Overall, a great basic to get kids curious and excited about counting, and we absolutely recommend it. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Two Dogs on a Trike (Gabi Snyder)

December 29, 2022Leave a comment

Hello, friends! Our book today is Two Dogs on a Trike, written by Gabi Snyder and illustrated by Robin Rosenthal, a fun and irreverent board book of counting from one to ten.

Spotting a lone canine slipping from the garden gate to meet up with a friend, a scowling kitty gives chase as the titular two dogs on a trike continue their journey, picking up more puppy pals along the way. With each new friend, the mode of transportation changes, from trike to scooter to bike, until then ten characters find themselves on a spacecraft with nine dogs… and one cat who has infiltrated their ranks. Spooking the dogs, the cat kicks into active pursuit of the wayward canines, with each friend splitting off from the pack until the original lone dog finds themself back in their home garden, and the cat can set forth on an adventure of their own (with another critter taking up the chase).

Whimsical and stylish. Combining two things that little ones love – vehicles and animals – with a wacky instruction on counting from one to ten, then back to one, this delightful board book makes for an entertaining read. Snyder’s bouncy rhyming text has a wonderful rhythm and snappy cadence, and Rosenthal’s hilariously expressive animals bring energy to every scene. The length is short and best for smaller bookworms, but JJ loved it, especially the grim-faced feline pursuer. Overall, this is a wonderful fun addition to any early library, and we definitely recommend it. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the author in exchange for an honest review.)

Trucks At First Sight (Martha Jaworowski)

July 6, 2022Leave a comment

Hello, friends! Our book today is Trucks At First Sight by Martha Jaworowski, a fun counting and seek-and-find book for young vehicle enthusiasts.

The day the unnamed narrator saw trucks for the first time, it was love at first sight! Taking readers on a visual trip through different types of large vehicles – such as logging trucks, forklifts, excavators, fire engines, and so on – in colorful and visually stimulating illustrations, the audience can find their own “truck at first sight.”

Clever theming with unique artwork. While the “story” and title concept are a little weak, Jaworowski makes up for this with incredibly well-designed visuals and text snippets starring each featured vehicle. The counting elements are well-integrated into the fun-to-read text, and the silhouetted artwork is complex and engaging without being overwhelming (though readers should be aware, due to the color scheme of most of the pages, in which the “findable” vehicles are a simply a darker shade of the same color used for the surrounding objects, this one will be a challenge for those with color-blindness). The length is perfect for a quick storytime, and JJ really enjoyed tackling the text and spotting the trucks. Overall, a great title for young gearheads, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the author in exchange for an honest review.)

10 Hungry Rabbits (Anita Lobel)

March 31, 2022Leave a comment

Hello, friends! Our book today is the 10th anniversary reprint of 10 Hungry Rabbits by Anita Lobel, a sweet and simple picture book of numbers, colors, and vegetables.

Ten little rabbits are very, very, VERY hungry! But there are no vegetables in the house for Mama Rabbit’s soup pot! Papa Rabbit encourages the ten little bunnies to head out to the garden and see what they can find. Each bunny finds a different veggie or berry, in increasing numbers and of various colors, allowing Mama and Papa to fix them all a delicious dinner.

Deliciously delightful. Sometimes the simplest concepts work the best, and this colorful combination of color, counting, and produce identification is a perfect example. Utilizing soft, folksy artwork and approachable text, Lobel creates an easy-to-read story for young bookworms that covers a trio of early-learning concepts. The oversized close-up illustrations of the vegetables are especially cool, as is the fact that both Mama and Papa Rabbit help to prepare the meal for their children. The length is great for a quick storytime, and JJ (an aspiring green thumb) really enjoyed this one. Overall, a lovely read, and we recommend it – Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Mr. Pumpkin’s Tea Party (Erin Barker)

October 26, 2021Leave a comment

Hello, friends! Our book today is Mr. Pumpkin’s Tea Party by Erin Barker, a spooky and sweet counting book with a Halloween twist.

Mr. Pumpkin is having a tea party, a classy soirée with some ghoulish guests. Readers can count along as Mr. Pumpkin prepares the table, greets his guests and their delectable treats, and enjoys an evening of mingling, snacking, and entertainment.

Adorable. Mixing elements of the spooky and refined, Mr. Pumpkin’s tea party is a delightful event to watch unfold. The soft, whimsical illustrations never truly veer into scary or fearsome territory, presenting guests like a giant spider (Madam Silk, who brings seven truffles) or a rather dapper mummy (Dr. Cairo, who comes bearing a bouquet of nine spindleweeds) as festively unusual friends rather than frightening creatures. The rhyming text is simple, with occasional touches of extravagant word choice to keep with the tone. Young readers can count along within the artwork on each page, from one to thirteen (especially amusing to JJ, who gleefully pointed out that clocks don’t REALLY go to 13), as the progression from a fall dusk to evening is beautifully expressed through the color palette and charming characters. This was great for a short storytime, and we both loved it. A Halloween teatime treat, and Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)