Bear Counts
(Bear Books)

Toddler-PreS--Bear and his woodland friends are enjoying an idyllic summer day, culminating with a swim in the pond. Bear counts "five!/Five ducks in the water./Five lively river otters./Five lovely lily pads./Five pinching crawdads./Numbers, numbers everywhere./Now YOU can count, just like BEAR!" Learn to count with irresistible furry creatures and fun things to point to and name.

PreS-K--Following on the heels of Bear Sees Colors (S. & S., 2014), this concept book introduces the numbers from one to five. As Bear and Mouse's day unfolds, the friends have various encounters that allow Bear to count. A pattern of set-up and reveal is used throughout the book. "Bear hears funny sounds coming/from an aspen tree./ It is Raven, Owl, and Wren, /and the bear counts... [next page] "three!" Wilson's easy-to-read rhyming text is enhanced by Chapman's acrylic paint illustrations which feature bright colors, apt expressions, and perfect detail. The set-up page is a full spread with many grouped items of the number to be revealed--great for close inspection. The reveal page contains four of those items (with text) and plenty of white space between to make it easy to spot and count the items. VERDICT An enjoyable choice for group or individual use; purchase where Wilson's "Bear" titles are popular or additional counting books are needed.--Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH