cover image The Animal Directory: A First Counting Book

The Animal Directory: A First Counting Book

Rodney Peppe. Bedrick, $9.95 (10pp) ISBN 978-0-87226-421-2

In an already crowded field, this spare board book has little to recommend it, save perhaps one rather clever gimmick: adding an amusing ``grown-up'' touch, the numbers one through 10 are thumb-indexed. Each vividly colored spread contains the indicated number of familiar animals--one elephant, two lions, concluding with 10 tortoises. In Peppe's suitably simple artwork, the multiple images of each creature are identical except for the facial expressions--variations in the animals' eyes portray pleasure, surprise, wariness and ire (one of the seven coiled snakes lets youngsters know it's not to be trifled with). The ninth crocodile is shedding a single tear (crocodile variety, of course), a nicety that will certainly be lost on the intended audience. Ages 2-4. (May)