cover image One to Ten Pop-Up Surprises!

One to Ten Pop-Up Surprises!

Chuck Murphy. Little Simon, $13.95 (10pp) ISBN 978-0-671-89908-0

Murphy's clever book delivers ``surprises'' indeed. Behind large numerals-rendered alternately in black on white and white on black-lurk unexpected, vibrantly colored characters, starting with the blue-and-orange frog that hops forth when the ``1'' is pulled forward. Two toucans ``beak'' out from behind (where else?) the ``2,'' while the ``9'' reveals prettily posed parrots (``Polly want a picture?''). Not all the numerals are pop-ups: pulling the tab at ``3'' rotates a flat trio of beetles (distinctly non-musical); in like fashion, a kaleidoscopic tropical fish septet swims out from the ``7.'' And the last numeral only looks like a zero: pulling its tab uncovers a gaggle of capering kids and the missing ``1.'' So the final page is indeed a ``10''-as is, in fact, the whole book. Ages 2-4. (Apr.)