You Can Count in the Desert Book

This chunky board book series features bold, blackline illustrations of all the creatures and plants you can count at the lake, desert, jungle and ocean! The books count up to 10, and each page shows the numeral as well as the number spelled out. The simple rhyming text encourages children to join in. These books are a great first introduction to numbers as well as to the many plants and animals found in these habitats.

Marilyn Courtot - Children's Literature

Counting books are plentiful, so there needs to be something to make one stand out from the others. In this case the author has chosen a desert setting and uses the animals that live there as part of the counting lesson. When one thinks of the desert, heat and sunshine come to mind, so opening with one sun is appropriate. Kids then count tortoises, roadrunners, geckos, prairie dogs, and more, up to ten coyotes. In the final spread, day has turned to evening--the progression of time does not really become obvious until the scenes for numbers nine and ten--and kids are asked to count the stars in the sky (there are twenty). The animals have more of a cartoon look than realistic depictions. There is nothing outstanding about this counting book, but it is adequate. 2005, Northword, Ages 2 to 5.