The Oreo Cookie Counting Book

A companion to the Reading Together series, Math Together offers young children and their parents an integrated approach to mathematical concepts. Each of the two boxed sets--the Yellow Set is for children ages three and up, the Green Set for children ages five and up--contains six paperback books by as many different illustrators and authors (among them Cynthia Jabar and Russell Ayto). Many of the books have been previously published, but here each appears with endnotes directed to parents, identifying the mathematical concepts introduced in the story and suggesting ways to reinforce those concepts with children. For example, Jez Alborough's lift-the-flap tale Clothesline, in which readers are asked to guess the animal owners of different items hanging out to dry, is said to introduce the idea of probability; parents are given tips to help children articulate their reasoning as they make choices and decisions. (Candlewick, $19.99 each Yellow Set ISBN 0-7636-0947-1; Green Set -0954-4; Aug.) ~ The author and one of the illustrators who served up The Cheerios Counting Book, Barbara Barbieri McGrath and Frank Mazzola Jr., now perform a similar service for another cereal and its fans in Kellogg's Froot Loops! Counting Fun Book. The diecut board book features Toucan Sam in a tropical setting; rhymed text focuses on numbers one through 10. Cutouts on right-hand pages invite children to place the called-for number of Froot Loops right in the book. (HarperFestival, $5.99 16p ages 2-5 ISBN 0-694-01506-7; Aug.) ~ Another number book with a grocery store tie-in, the diecut board book The Oreo Cookie Counting Book by Sarah Albee, illus. by Victoria Raymond, begins with 10 Oreos all in a line (""Dunk one in a glass of milk, And now there are... 9"") and continues until ""there are... none!"" The art, made of molded clays, prominently features the cookies; the final spread also displays an Oreo package. A coupon for Mini Oreos is included. (S&S/Little Simon, $5.99 22p ages 2-5 ISBN 0-689-83489-6; Sept.)