1, 2, 3... By the Sea: A Counting Book

A child, mother, and their dog, Max, enjoy a lighthearted outing at the beach. Their activities are described in rhymes that count from one to 10: “Jellyfish float in the sea... swishy, squishy./ We find three./ Big waves tumble onto shore.../ crashing, splashing./ We chase four.” Mitchell combines active full-bleed spreads (a dock is crowded with fishermen, the child and mother sneak up on a flock of 10 plovers) with more intimate scenes of the child splashing in the waves or taking an ice cream break. The paperback format is just right to slip inside a beach bag for a day at the shore. Ages 3–6. (Mar.)