Countablock (Alphablock)

Franceschelli and U.K. design team Peskimo follow 2013's Alphablock with this equally clever numerical companion, which counts to 10 before leapfrogging up to 100 in increments of 10. Each featured number gets two spreads that have a certain cause-and-effect relationship, with diecut numerals giving a peek at what's to come. Early on, two smiley snowmen in winter become (sad, but true) "two puddles" during warmer weather, and subtle humorous touches keep things lively ("forty eggs become... thirty-nine chicks and one dinosaur"). Stylish silkscreenlike illustrations and opportunities for both counting and guessing what happens next should keep copies of this chunky book well-loved. Ages 1-4. (Aug.)

PreS-Gr 1--This follow-up to Franceschelli and Peskimo's Alphablock (Abrams, 2013) explores numbers with similar skill and creative verve. With board pages featuring cutouts in the shape of the numbers, each spread introduces items or characters with the following spread showing their sometimes unexpected growth or transformation. "One acorn becomes... one oak tree!," "four babies become... four children!," and "Forty eggs become...thirty-nine chicks and one dinosaur!." The text is peppered with memorable associations for each number and is appropriate for sharing with preschoolers and older children alike. Children will enjoy exploring details of the illustrations highlighting the numbers 1 through 10, with 20-100 counted by 10s. The clever, nostalgic art is reminiscent of Sara Gillingham's work in Stephen Krensky's I Know a Lot (Abrams, 2013), and the title provides an unusual exploration of concepts appropriate for many age levels.--Sarah Westeren, Richland Library, Columbia, SC