8

Starred review from June 8, 2015
Skillfully blending counting and matching elements into an animal-themed abecedary, Cooper invites readers to spot eight animals for each letter, nestled alongside other creatures whose names begin with the same letter. The G page is fairly packed with Cooper’s handsome portraits of a gazelle, gerbil, gibbon, giraffe, gnat, goose, gorilla, etc. (plus eight goats). Readers won’t have trouble spotting the eight xeruses, though; they’re the sole representatives for X. The animals’ names run along the bottom of each page, and a closing list offers intriguing details about the more than 150 creatures Cooper includes, while helping identify the less-familiar quoll, uakari, and yabby, among others. Ages 3–7. Agent: Liz Darhansoff, Darhansoff & Verrill.

Starred review from April 15, 2015
A distinctive animal alphabet presents a counting game. The cover displays a large, shiny number eight. What does it mean? The author's explanation on the title page's verso provides the ebullient answer. "Why the number 8? Because 8 is great. Because 8 is round and adorable. Because 8 is fun to count to (move over, 10). Because 8 is not too big, and not so small, but just right. Because 8 is my favorite number." So, if readers look closely at each page of animals, from A to Z, one of them appears eight times. On the A page, nine critters are listed at the bottom; among them is the ant, eight of which roam among single examples of aardvark, abalone, albatross, alligator, alpaca, anteater, antelope, and armadillo. Cooper's loose watercolor images are arranged harmoniously against spacious white backgrounds. The number of animals depicted varies, with the lowest being one (X for xerus). There are surprises, as in the letter I, which presents ibex, ibis, iguana, impala, and inchworm. Readers might expect the animal to count eight times would be the inchworm, but actually, here it's the iguana. A four-page legend in the back identifies each creature with a one-sentence, interesting fact: "Quolls use communal toilet areas." Who knew? The heavy paper will withstand repeated viewings, which are guaranteed. Don't get behind the eight ball: order now; it's great fun. (Picture book. 4-10)

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Starred review from May 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 2-More than an oversize alphabet book (and slightly less than most counting books). Cooper's 8 is filled with playful representations of animals both familiar and exotic. He explains that he chose the number "because 8 is round and adorable...not too big, and not so small, but just right." Each letter features several different animals including one type that's depicted eight times, which is what encourages the counting element of the book. Some may quibble that the animals are not drawn to scale (for instance, a dung beetle should not appear as large as a deer's tail), but the fun of seeing eight varieties of hummingbirds or being introduced to a yabby surely outweighs such petty complaints. All of the creatures are identified in the formidable pictorial "Did You Know?" section at the back. VERDICT Unusual in its conception and scope and illustrated with joy, this is an alphabet book to pore over, worth adding to any collection.-Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Library, NY

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from May 15, 2015
Preschool-G *Starred Review* Why 8? It's Cooper's favorite number! He invites readers to come inside this oversize volume and find out why he has had so much fun researching and creating this unusual alphabet book. Each page has the alphabet letter in uppercase and lowercase and features several true-to-life unnamed animals beginning with that letter. And the 8? There are 8 of one animal beginning with the alphabet letter on each page as well. What might have been just a simple alphabet book becomes a clever find-and-count game as well, adding to the book's delightfulness. From albatross to earthworm, kudu to quoll, uakari to zebu, the realistic drawings of well-known and some lesser-known creatures are representative of the talented Cooper's signature style. These radiant illustrations are done in pencil and watercolor on a generous background of white space. The extensive back matter lists brief facts about the 184 animals portrayed in the body of the book, on the title page, and on the endpapers, inviting children to find out more. It's a feast of fauna!(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)