Feast for 10

Readers go from one to 10 twice in this cozy counting book, as an African American brood prepares a bountiful dinner for the extended family. Mother and the five kids start at the supermarket (``one cart . . . two pumpkins . . . three children''), unload groceries at home (with the father's help), do the cooking and then ``ten hungry folks'' sit down to dinner. Falwell's ( Shape Space ; the Nicky books) cut-paper illustrations are characteristically crisp and colorful--a homey touch is added by each page's numerals being fashioned from floral-print fabric. The family-centered images throughout exude warmth: fresh-baked pies, a baby asleep on its mother's shoulder, carrots being washed and peeled. Even though individual pictures seem a bit bland, the overall impression here is one of reassuring coziness. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)