Anno's Counting Book

I like this book for my kindergartner, who is still learning #1-10, but my older kids are also attracted to the detailed illustrations. It is a lovely and interesting way to introduce 1-10 and also there is a ten frame being filled in the left margin that inspires discussion. My five year old often brings it to me to "read".

THis is a must have for young children. There is no text and only one number on each page. However, this book is a delight. On page one exactly one of everything appears, on page two you two of more things and on page ten you see ten of many things. As the numbers grow higher the little town grows and the seasons change. THis enables you to discuss counting with your child as well as tell a story about the little town. You can also talk about seasons. What a wonderful multi use book. The illustrations are gentle and are not garish. This is truly an excellent book. Well worth the money.

Mitsumasa Anno creates graceful children's picture books that are more evocative than prose and more elegant than poetry. In this counting book, the author/illustrator allows the concepts of number, sets and arithmetic progression to unfold in pages, numbered one to twelve, that also correspond to the first through twelfth month.Seasons evolve as a little town grows, children play, trees appear, animals pass through, and the clock marks the hours.Like Anno's other books, this little gem can be enjoyed year after year as children (and adults) continue to find more complex concepts as their cognitive understanding matures.

I picked this book up at the library for my 2 year old who is quite speech delayed. I had never seen it before and as we turned the pages we were thrilled at the marvelous pictures. She practiced animal soundss and found plenty of new words to try along with the counting. Wonderful. When my 4 year old read it with me she noticed a mistake. I don't know if Anno did it on purpose but my daughter noticed it immediately. Here's a hint. On one of the pages the number of animals is incorrect. Have fun!!

Unlike some counting books which just give a given number of objects matched with the numeral, this book presents numbers in all sorts of ways--the numerals, counting blocks, and many different sets to count on each 2 page spread. The book also teaches progressions---it goes from 1-12 and each page corresponds to a month starting with January---something I didn't even notice until a few readings with my kids, and each page also moves ahead in time, from a village just started to a village with all sorts of buildings, from a track being built to a track that looks like it's no longer being used. There is so much to see and think about, all done wordlessly so you are really able to use the number part of your brain instead of the verbal part---and that is great for some kids that might not be as verbal as others, but who has number skills!

I was given Anno's counting book when I was just a baby,(naturally,I don't remember) and I apparently loved it so much that I literally wore the book out. I still enjoy browsing through it as a memoir and it brings back fond memories. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has recently had a baby or knows someone who has.