Underwater Counting

April 1, 2001
K-Gr 3-Featuring increasing numbers of fish and other ocean dwellers, this colorful book counts from 0 all the way up to 50. Single- and double-page spreads introduce each numeral and show the corresponding number of underwater creatures, along with short paragraphs of anecdotal information presented in a chatty, sometimes humorous style. For example, Pallotta's description of two coral groupers reads: "If you were this fish, people would say you had measles, chicken pox, or really cute freckles." In addition to manta rays, parrotfish, leopard sharks, and many other eye-catching species, there are also whale lice, elasmosaurs (ocean reptiles that lived at the time of the dinosaurs), and fishing bats. The realistic artwork, done in Adobe Photoshop, shows dusky underwater scenes. Some of the illustrations are quite striking; in one, a moray eel looks straight at readers with an intense blue-eyed gaze, and in another, large sailfish leap gracefully above the ocean's surface. Unfortunately, some of the images seem to have slightly blurred edges. As the numbers increase, counting the objects becomes more difficult, as the fish are very small, partially hidden, or mere shadows. Providing only sketchy information, this offering may appeal to browsers interested in aquatic wildlife or to sharp-eyed kids who enjoy the challenge of searching illustrations for minute details.-Joy Fleishhacker, formerly at School Library Journal

Copyright 2001 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2001
Ages 6-8. The author of "The Icky Bug Alpha"bet Book (1989)" "and many other popular books on basic skills returns with this attractive, informative counting book. The text counts from 0 to 50 by even numbers (except for "one Green Moray Eel") and gives some general information (sometimes just a few words) about the underwater creatures that appear in the pictures. A nice variety of water-dwellers is included, many with unusual features, such as the bright blue teeth of the harlequin tuskfish. Younger children may have a difficult time with the concept of even numbers, but they'll still enjoy paging through Biedrzycki's spectacular, computer-generated underwater scenes aglow with neon-colored sea creatures and plants. Kids will also enjoy searching the illustrations for the featured number, which is cleverly hidden in each scene. Use this to complement a unit on the sea and to integrate math, science, and art in a whole-language curriculum. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)