One, Two, Skip a Few: First Number Rhymes

This collection of jaunty counting rhymes unites the pleasures of rhythmic language and counting with playful collage illustrations that counterpoint the patterned rhythms with repeated shapes. No stranger to counting books, Arenson (illus. of A Caribbean Counting Book) uses festively decorated papers (including the school-art-project look of watercolor over wax crayon) for her textured, free-spirited collages. The spuds of ""One potato,/ Two potato"" sail over the head of a juggling, bespectacled African American boy; for ""Five little speckled frogs,/ Sat on a speckled log,"" an engaging array of gangly frog legs juts out, and the frogs' mouths are open to catch delicious flies. Some of the math would give adults pause (e.g., a rhyme like ""Eighty-eights are sixty-four,/ Multiply by seven. When it's done,/ Carry one/ And take away eleven"" would be gibberish to the target audience), but the naive glee of the illustrations will delight readers for the duration of the book, and parents can often simplify the few rhymes that involve more items than can be pictured. This manages to be both a teaching book and one that's just plain fun. Ages 2-7. (Aug.)