Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Counting Crows by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by Rob Dunlavey

Just when you think all the books that reinforce kids counting skills have been written in every conceivable way possible, along comes Kathi Appelt and proves you wrong.  Counting Crows does presume that young readers have learned to count at least up to 12 and are ready to have some fun with numbers 1-12.

Here we find twelve crows, all wearing bright red and white striped sweaters and, because there's one fashion rebel in every crowd, one crow accentuates his with a red polka-dot scarf.  The twelve black crows frolic across the pages, playing with each other, hanging from trees, sitting on telephone lines, and looking for something to eat, all of it accompanied by humorous rhyming couplets and quatrains in an ABCB rhyme scheme.

Of course, the crows may be the hunt for a tasty lunch, but they aren't the only ones:

Twelve crows hop,
twelve crows sing,
twelve on a park bench, 
wing by wing.

Twelve chewy chips
twelve slimy snails…
One cat counts
twelve crows' twelve tails!

The brief appearance of a calculating gray kitty wearing a red polka-dot scarf will surely get kids counting crows in the end, but they can also count each thing the crows find to eat, and, as kids will discover, they will eat ANYTHING.  For instance, if you look closely at the image below, you will be able to count nine spicy ants, and nine round crackers.  But be warned, as the numbers go up, it get more and more difficult find their tasty(?) treats.  So the book not only is fun with counting but also helps builds observation skills.  



I loved the illustrations done in marker, pencil and watercolor.  The vivid black crows in bold red sweaters are placed against a bright white background while the other features, like the telephone line, the bench, the edible tidbits are all done with light pencil lines (making them harder to find while seeking and counting them).

This is a fun book that will definitely delight young readers, especially those who are comfortable with their numbers already.

Kids can find some fun Counting Crows activities HERE 

This book is recommended for readers age 3+
This book was purchased for my personal library

This is book 6of my 2015 Nonfiction Picture Book Reading Challenge hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy

16 comments:

  1. Looks great, and I don't have it! Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it's lots of fun, and hope you enjoy it too.

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. I love Kathi Appelt, as well. She is so able to produce great books for young and middle grade readers. I always look forward to a new book by her.

      Delete
  3. Great choice, Alex. What fun rhyming and illustrations! Stopping by from the #KidLitBlogHop.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought it was fun, too, The more I read it, the better it was.

      Delete
  4. This looks very cute. I know I always wonder how we can possibly need more counting books, but authors keep coming up with new ways to make counting fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, counting is counting and it seems like it all been done, but it takes a clever lady like Kathi Appelt to show us something new and fun.

      Delete
  5. Will have to find this book. Haven't read any of Kathi Appelt's works yet, but I've been reading a lot of wonderful things.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're in for a treet when you start reading Kathi Appelt. And yes, you have been reading a lot of wonderful things, and I always look forward to your blog posts because of that.

      Delete
  6. I didn't know Kathi Appelt writes picture books as well! This sounds like a delightful one for sure, especially the fashion rebel.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it is delightful. She also published a picture book called When Otis Courted Mama about a young coyote learning to accept his divorced mother's new suitor - another really well done book that fills a real need, I think.

      Delete
  7. Sounds like loads of fun. We will pin it for future reading!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great idea, pinning really is a good way to keep track of what you want to read, and Counting Crows is a fun book.

      Delete
  8. This sounds like a fun book and I just love the illustrations. Going to have to pick up a copy for my grandson. Thank you for sharing this one on the hop!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Crows with sweaters? My son started liking them, by seeing this picture itself. I should get the book for him. We won't be tired wth alphabets and numbers.

    ReplyDelete

 
Imagination Designs