cover image Cock-A-Doodle-Doo: 0a Farmyard Counting Book

Cock-A-Doodle-Doo: 0a Farmyard Counting Book

Steve Lavis. Dutton Books, $13.99 (32pp) ISBN 978-0-525-67542-6

Here's a book with clear-cut appeal, capitalizing on two major toddler obsessions: counting and animal sounds. A rooster's wake-up call sets off a chorus of barnyard noises and a flurry of numerically orchestrated activity, including ""Four frisky dogs looking for some fun"" and ""Ten clucking chickens roosting in the barn."" A scampering mouse, appearing on each spread, provides continuity; a final scene brings the entire noisy chorus together. First-time author/artist Lavis's illustrations are, for the most part, accomplished-rendered in warm, autumnal tones, every watercolor virtually pops off its spread, while bold, playful typography makes each animal sound come alive. A minor drawback is that Lavis's draftsmanship and composition can lack consistency: some of the bright-eyed, smiling animals are more cartoon-like than others. But from the cows' bovine charm to the merry pigs and grinning cats, the animals' energy and joyful cacophony of sounds make this a lively counting book, and an especially fun one to read aloud. Ages 2-6. (Jan.)