Gr. 3-5. This handsome number-themed book of poetry and photography looks to nature for inspiration. Stemple's color photos of animals in the wild represent the numbers from 1 to 10 and the concept many. Each photo fills a wide, double-page spread, forming the backdrop as well as the inspiration for the poems, which are succinct, sometimes witty, and well suited to reading aloud. Words and symbols and numerals related to the number enrich each spread. For example, Nine Swallows: A Haiku (Nine little swallows, / Like notes on a music staff, / Wait to sing their songs) appears against the Wedgwood-blue sky of a photo of nine birds sitting on a high wire. Printed in light blue and white are the words NONET, novena, and ninth and the numerals 9 and IX. Some of the photographs are notable for their clarity, others for their subtlety, but all represent their subjects with sensitivity and finesse. A worthy companion to the author's Color Me a Rhyme (2000).

Creatures from "One Lone Elk" to "Ten Little Crabs" creep, crawl, paddle, and spin their way through this collection of playful verse. The styles of the mostly rhyming poems vary and include a poem for two voices and a haiku. The animals in the handsome photos are clear and countable, making this a good choice for the elementary school math curriculum.

Mother-and-son team Yolen and Stemple follow up Color Me a Rhyme (2000) with this engaging counting book. Throughout, Yolen's verse is matched with Stemple's full-color photographs of animals. The pairings are organic: In "Eight Bighorn Sheep," two, skinny vertical lines of text, side-by-side, mimic Stemple's image of sheep ascending a rocky cliff. "Nine Swallows: A Haiku" is illustrated by nine little birds on a telephone line against a solid blue sky. The numbers one to ten are the focus, but the final poem, "Many," pays homage to the infinite wonder of numbers and nature. Numerals, Roman numerals and related words (e.g., octave, ninth) accompany each poem. Readers will enjoy counting the creatures that appear on each spread. Many, no doubt, will memorize the enchanting verse. (Picture book. 10-12)

Gr 1-5-A beautiful, readable companion to Color Me a Rhyme. Each of Yolen's poems mirrors the subject in tone, rhythm, word choice, or shape. For example, the ceaseless motion of spiders is described as "Six spiders throwing/Out a glistening strand;/Six spiders going/Hand over hand over hand over hand,/Hand over hand over hand over hand." The simplicity of swallows on a line is captured in a haiku, "Nine little swallows,/Like notes on a music staff,/Wait to sing their songs." Throughout, the poet's wry observations surprise and entertain. Stemple's vibrant, full-color photographs give readers much to study and absorb about each animal: mist, silver web strands, the points on an elk's antlers, a mullet's eyes and mouth, a snail clinging to a slender blade of grass. The well-composed images provide a perfect complement to each poem. Roman numerals and words related to the featured number are included in the page design. A joyful collection of unusual animals, appealing poems, and excellent photographs.-Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.