¡Montones de mariquitas!/Lots of Ladybugs!

May 1, 2011

PreS-Gr 1-A boy counts the black spots on the ladybugs he finds in his front yard. Each one has five spots on its "red, red shell." One more ladybug appears on each page, adding 5 more spots to count until the number reaches 50. This colorful and animated story is a good way to reinforce counting by fives, and the repetition of phrases will help beginning readers enjoy it. The accuracy of the Spanish translation makes this title a solid choice for bilingual children to practice their skills. The simple vocabulary follows the same rhythm and patterns as the English version. The full-bleed digitally enhanced illustrations work in perfect harmony with the action. The illustrator adds dominolike rectangles with each number increasing by five to support the mathematical skills. The last page offers fun facts and an activity.-Patricia Bashir, The Brentwood Library, TN

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