TEN ROSY ROSES

PLB 0-06-027888-9 Hot pink and lipstick red swirls on the endpapers set the tone for this eye-catching counting book. Drawn in by colors that leap from the page and boldly printed, chant-along couplets, readers join ten young students as they collect a flower each for their teacher’s bouquet: “Ten rosy roses standing in a line,/Jan picks one and now there are nine.” In an unexpected finish, twins pick the last roses, taking the count from two to “none.” A dramatic use of close-up perspectives makes the children appear huge; in some cases, they spill over the tops of the page. The illustrations have a retro feel to them that charmingly highlights every character’s unique physical appearance. Readers will delight in the antics of a bright yellow butterfly that joins the class on the eighth rose and remains on hand until the bouquet is presented to Ms. Jones. (Picture book. 3-6)