One hungry heron,
tall and still,
crooks her leg
and tips her bill.
The scene starts out quietly enough, but soon the lone heron is joined by two lazy catfish and three darting dragonflies. Before you can say ten tiny turtles, the pond is alive with a great array of wetland wildlife. Told in clever rhyme, this is a counting book with a difference. Numbers are spelled out in bold text, decorated numerals adorn each page, and amounts are depicted by groupings of swimming, flapping, paddling, darting pond creatures. Up to ten and down again, the count goes forwards and backwards, as thunder rumbles in the background. Plip, plop, the rain begins and lightning flashes. Everything dives for shelter and stays hidden — until the sun comes out. Then life returns to the pond providing a delightful search and count last page. Rarely is so much delivered in one spectacular counting book.
Carolyn Beck is the critically acclaimed author of Dog Breath and Wellington's Rainy Day. She lives in Toronto.
Karen Patkau is an award-winning author and illustrator of many books for children including Don't Eat Spiders, Python Play and One Watermelon Seed. She lives in Toronto.
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