A Number of Animals

Elegant woodcuts lift this simple counting book far above the ordinary. A minimalist tale follows the travels of ``one little chick, lost and alone'' around the farmyard on a search for his mother. On his way, he encounters two horses, three cows, four turkeys, six geese, seven sheep and so on, pausing to ask each group if they've seen his mother. Finally he joins up with his nine brothers and sisters, and with mother hen. Like Christopher Manson, another outstanding artist who specializes in sophisticated woodcuts, Wormell ( An Alphabet of Animals ) uses bursts of color and bold black shadows to give his artwork depth and perspective. As a further enhancement, the book's beautiful design and classic proportions are set off by generous amounts of white space, creating a stylish frame for the illustrations. Who says fine art and preschool concepts can't go hand in hand? Ages 2-5. (Nov.)