100 Bears

An escalating conflict between six bears and eight hunters (“9 gunshots” are fired) propels the loose narrative of this counting book as it proceeds to 100. Along the way, French author-artist Bardos follows the bears’ attempt to get back at the hunters (they climb 21 ladder rungs to crash a feast that includes “18 roasts” and “19 hot potatoes”), the groups’ subsequent run-ins, and their eventual reconciliation over “91 slices of gingerbread.” While there are a few shortcuts where counting is concerned (some numbers, like 83 and 98, simply appear as labels on T-shirts and flags), Bardos’s bold, matte illustrations steal the show, making each increasingly chaotic scene worth poring over. Ages 3–7. [em](Mar.) [/em]