Grandpa Gazillion's Number Yard

In her latest so-quirky-yet-so-clever concept book, Keller (The Scrambled States of America ) takes a fresh look at numbers and some of their more, um, creative uses. Focusing largely on the look and shape of numerals, Keller introduces kindly Grandpa G. and his "number yard rat," who espouse the many ways that numbers come in handy. With its straight-line one and curvy three, 13 is quickly fashioned into a parachute when Grandpa G.'s original plaid one fails. In a jam, 15 can serve as a pair of tweezers. And a "two" is perfect for tooting like a saxophone up on the moon. Though the rhyming couplets here brim with silliness, numbers and counting do get their due. Keller's hand-

lettered asides and visual jokes will not only make readers laugh, they will challenge them to count the items in each scene that total the featured number. For example, the musical "two" spread beckons, "Dig my bongos, Daddy-O?/ Cool, man! Count 'em." Throughout, Keller's fleshy-nosed characters featured in stylized acrylics keep the energy level high. (Eagle-eyes will even spot the star of her Arnie the Doughnut .) Ages 4-7. (Oct.)