Spots Counting Creatures From Sky to Sea
Carolyn Lesser, Laura Regan
Paperback
(Scholastic, March 15, 2000)
"Spotted creatures wait for you. Snoop and find them -- count them too." From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 2-In this attractive book, children are invited to count a variety of creatures with spots. Each two-page spread features an oil-and-gouache painting of an animal (or group of the same animals) with a few words describing it on the verso and the creature's name and a number from 1 to 10 on the recto, e.g., "Slinking, prowling, hunting spots...two sleek jaguars." While the pictures and text complement one another beautifully, the art is the real scene-stealer here. Spectacular double-page paintings present the animal(s) in dramatic detail, demanding repeated viewings. Although the somewhat sophisticated vocabulary may make this title less accessible to newly independent readers, the lyrical text and repetitive word patterns make it a good read-aloud choice. The endpage discusses the creatures' habitats. A nicely designed, slightly different entry for concept sections that's sure to have tremendous appeal, especially with nature enthusiasts. Arwen Marshall, New York Public Library Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.