Countablock (Alphablock)

by Christopher Franceschelli (Author)

Countablock (Alphablock)
Reading Level: K − 1st Grade
Series: Alphablock
Following on the heels of a successful abecedary, Countablock features thick pages cut into the shape of each numeral, creating a peek-through guessing game around the number form itself. One acorn becomes . . . one oak tree! From snowmen to puddles and eggs to chicks, quantities are illustrated twice: both before and after their "transformations." As children interact with the pages, they will familiarize themselves not only with the numbers 1-100 and associated quantities, but with each numeral's physicality--angles, holes, and curves, both front and back. Die-cut numerals include 1-10, and 20-100 by tens. Illustrated by hip British design team Peskimo, this fresh take on the 1-2-3s encourages readers to manipulate numbers in a whole new way.
Note: illustrations are in the style of vintage screen prints, with imperfect variations in color and texture.

Also available: A BOX OF BLOCKS, featuring Alphablock, Countablock, and Dinoblock.

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NAPPA Silver Award Winner
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Publishers Weekly

Franceschelli and U.K. design team Peskimo follow 2013's Alphablock with this equally clever numerical companion, which counts to 10 before leapfrogging up to 100 in increments of 10. Each featured number gets two spreads that have a certain cause-and-effect relationship, with diecut numerals giving a peek at what's to come. Early on, two smiley snowmen in winter become (sad, but true) "two puddles" during warmer weather, and subtle humorous touches keep things lively ("forty eggs become... thirty-nine chicks and one dinosaur"). Stylish silkscreenlike illustrations and opportunities for both counting and guessing what happens next should keep copies of this chunky book well-loved. Ages 1-4. (Aug.)

Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1--This follow-up to Franceschelli and Peskimo's Alphablock (Abrams, 2013) explores numbers with similar skill and creative verve. With board pages featuring cutouts in the shape of the numbers, each spread introduces items or characters with the following spread showing their sometimes unexpected growth or transformation. "One acorn becomes... one oak tree!," "four babies become... four children!," and "Forty eggs become...thirty-nine chicks and one dinosaur!." The text is peppered with memorable associations for each number and is appropriate for sharing with preschoolers and older children alike. Children will enjoy exploring details of the illustrations highlighting the numbers 1 through 10, with 20-100 counted by 10s. The clever, nostalgic art is reminiscent of Sara Gillingham's work in Stephen Krensky's I Know a Lot (Abrams, 2013), and the title provides an unusual exploration of concepts appropriate for many age levels.--Sarah Westeren, Richland Library, Columbia, SC

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"The clever, nostalgic art is reminiscent of Sara Gillingham's work in Stephen Krensky's I Know a Lot, and the title provides an unusual exploration of concepts appropriate for many age levels."—Sarah Westeren, Richland Library, Columbia, SC"School Library Journal" (09/01/2014)
Christopher Franceschelli
Christopher Franceschelli is a seasoned publisher, editor, and creator of children's books. He currently runs Chronicle's Handprint imprint and the SmartInk packaging company. A born-and-raised New Yorker, Franceschelli lives with his family in Brooklyn. His books include the Hello City! Series and the Abrams Trail Tale series.

David Partington is an illustrator based in Bristol, UK. His influences range from mid-century design to Saturday morning cartoons. As part of Peski Studio (formerly Peskimo) he enjoys screen printing, a process which often informs his approach to illustration. David's work can be seen in kids' books, food packaging, and jumbo floor puzzles around the world. He especially enjoys creating characters, drawing friendly robots, and sending them on incredible adventures. His books include the Abrams Block Book series and the Hello Dinosaur series.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781419713743
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Harry N. Abrams
Publication date
August 20, 2014
Series
Alphablock
BISAC categories
JNF013030 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Concepts | Counting & Numbers
Library of Congress categories
Counting
Board books
Numerals
Counting games
Number games

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