Basking in the beauty of spring, the animals are out to play and ready to be counted in Schulman's (You Read to Me and I'll Read to You) simple story. "It's spring!" the bold oversize type seems to shout in the opening spread. Then, above a field of flowers comes a question, "Do you think the children who live here will remember their animal friends on this special day?" The next spread reveals "10 Ladybugs" dotting deep blue and butter yellow blossoms. Readers are asked to count the creatures "crawling/ all/ around/ the/ crocuses." Nine butterflies "flutter by," and eight birds sing "cheep, cheep, cheep" until the final page reveals the seasonal bounty bursting forth from "1 Easter Basket filled with treats for all the animals." The illustrations provide the sweetest treat; laid with luscious brush strokes, So's cheerful, delicate watercolors delight the eye. Ages 2-6. (Jan.)
