123 Little Donkey

Kromhout and van Haeringen’s Little Donkey, the star of Little Donkey and the Birthday Present and other titles, helps readers count to 10 when his mother brings home a shopping bag of goodies. Little Donkey and his friend Bobby can’t resist sneaking a peek: “2 nosy friends/ What’s inside?/ 3 bags of treats.” Mama puts the treats on a high shelf, but the two friends climb up to reach them (“7 steps on the ladder/ ‘Got them!’ ”), resulting in “8 hooves flying,” “9 fat tears,” and “10 soft kisses” from Mama. Van Haeringen’s characters are rendered with thick ink outlines, minimal detailing, and unadorned features. The story’s tidy emotional arc and gentle mischief should help make this a go-to book for toddlers. Ages 3–up. (Apr.)