cover image In My Garden: A Counting Book

In My Garden: A Counting Book

Ward Schumaker. Chronicle Books, $13.95 (34pp) ISBN 978-0-8118-2689-1

In this playful enumeration of a garden patch, Schumaker (Sing a Song of Circus) produces another visually delicious work. Using his signature style of pure colors applied to delicate, swooping black outlines, he creates a series of full-bleed, double-page spreads that exude an engaging, off-kilter elegance. One stunner depicts nine doily-like butterflies as a bouquet of rose, peach and chestnut against a backdrop of mint and teal. The garden brims with vivid personalities as well: ""four shady trees"" sport sunglasses, seven bluebirds sing Bach and 40 red-and-green ""crabby"" apples are clearly spoiling for a fight. After counting from one gardening can to 10 snails ""late for dinner"" and on from 20 to 50 (in large, colorful numerals coupled with the name of each), Schumaker ends with the appealingly curious number of 233 peas. The following spread shows the watering can pointing out the peas, which are tagged from one to 233. This is one garden kids can count on. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)