Review by Booklist Review
It's notoriously difficult to create a funny picture book, but Salmon and Hunt make it look easy in this very basic guide to counting. The title itself will amuse young children. As the pages turn, the unseen narrator, though trying hard to reassure kids, makes things more confusing and, to compensate, develops a new rule: "The answer will always be ONE." But even that is challenging when there are seven assorted animals on a double-page spread but only one giraffe. And then he adds, "Hey, what number comes after one?" Given kids' delight in shouting out answers, they will inevitably respond before he can say, "Just kidding! Don't say it!" His final gaffe leads him to offer an apology, a trophy for the audience, and the question "Would you like to count it?" The upbeat mixed-media illustrations, digitally enhanced collages of hand-drawn and painted elements, begin with simplicity and restraint: a red apple with a green leaf against a solid white background. But as the narrator becomes more agitated, the pictures become increasingly crowded with small pictures of things that must not be counted. First published in England in 2022, this delightfully silly counting book is sure to leave children laughing wherever it is read aloud.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"Hello! Welcome to a fun new counting book," chirps the omniscient narrator of this amusing concept title. "Are you ready to start counting?" Almost immediately, however, it's evident that Salmon, making his picture book debut, has created a narrator with an obsession: never counting above the number one. See the two big purple whales cavorting in the water? The narrator invites readers to count only the single sausage that's improbably bouncing from one whale's waterspout. On a page showing five mallards engaged in various anthropomorphized activities, the narrator insists on counting solely the inline-skating fowl: "No counting the other ducks, please!" Via shape-driven characters and washes of bright color, illustrations by Hunt (the Little People, Big Dreams series) exude a mid-century modern playfulness. But what drives the book forward is the comic gold of an authority figure gone wild: "What?! Did you think you would learn to count to big numbers like a HUNDRED?! WELL, NO!" When this solo interest propels readers through to the end, they should be inspired to go back through, counting everything in sight: 100 items in all. Ages 3--6. (June)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K--Counting concept books are a dime a dozen, but this one has a twist--readers only have to count to one! While that might sound easy enough, the narrator has tricks up his sleeve. Despite the "nice and easy" warm-up pages with just one apple and one elephant, further spreads include several items, such as dinosaurs, ducks, and whales. Readers learn to look and listen closely as the narrator doesn't ask to count everything on the page--just one specific item. The interactive experience will keep toddlers, preschoolers, and even kindergartners on their toes and will make for a very fun read-aloud. The very last page gives children the opportunity to stretch their skills and count all the way to 100. VERDICT An outright delight for picture book collections.--Carrie Voliva
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A witty challenge using reverse psychology: Count only one item on each spread. An unseen narrator presents one red apple, then one gray elephant. But now there are two large blue whales. Nevertheless, the text firmly instructs us to count only the one sausage held aloft by the whale's spout. Bowls of red, green, and yellow soup tempt us to cry "three," but the task is to count the one fly in the green soup. With deadpan encouragement, the narrator admires our progress: "You are really getting the hang of counting to ONE." But then we are warned that "This is a bit more tricky": There are four objects--one dinosaur in an astronaut helmet, one molded pink jello, one flaming meteor, and one pair of tighty whiteys, all floating in starry space. Pick one and count it! On another spread, 14 animals (including seven green snakes) and a few insects are arranged across a spread, with categorical instructions: "Using your counting skills, please count the giraffe." Rashly, the narrator blurts out, "Hey, what number comes after ONE?" but quickly retracts the question: "I'm kidding! Don't say it!" Finally, the last spread offers a challenge: Count the 100 objects arranged. Salmon manages a difficult task--a wholly original counting book that will have little ones gleefully defying the narrator's instructions. Delightful, deceptively simple, collagelike illustrations show mastery of color and clever composition. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Catnip for teachers or anyone leading a storytime and sure to tickle kids. (Concept book. 2-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
