Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes

A standout for its beautiful simplicity, this picture-book collaboration between Fox and Oxenbury aims a message of diversity and tolerance at very young children. . . . Clusters of adorable mulitcultural babies from around the world toddle across the pages until just one child receives three kisses on the nose from her loving mom, a sweet gesture that parents will want to act out with their own children. A gentle, joyous offering.

Fox's lilting verse just has to be read aloud, and preschoolers will quickly pick up on and join in on the anticipated refrain. Oxenbury's spacious illustrations, featuring her irresistible round-headed tots (and, of course, plenty of chubby baby digits), emphasize the babies' differences and will engage even the youngest listeners in the on-page action.

Put two titans of kids' books together for the first time, and what do you get (besides the urge to shout, What took you so long?)? The answer: an instant classic. Fox's ("Time for Bed") text works off the simplest premise: babies around the world, even those who seem like polar opposites, have the same 20 digits in common. But there's real magic at work here. Given their perfect cadences, the rhymes feel as if they always existed in our collective consciousness and were simply waiting to be written down: There was one little baby who was born far away./ And another who was born on the very next day./ And both of these babies, as everyone knows/ had ten little fingers and ten little toes. Oxenbury ("We're Going on a Bear Hunt") once again makes multiculturalism feel utterly natural and chummy. As her global brood of toddlers growsshe introduces two cast members with every new stanzareaders can savor each addition both as beguiling individualist and giggly, bouncy co-conspirator. Ages 35. "(Oct.)"

Copyright 2008 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

PreS"There was one little baby/who was born far away./And another who was born/on the very next day./And both of these babies, /as everyone knows, /had ten little fingers/and ten little toes." So opens this nearly perfect picture book. Fox's simple text lists a variety of pairs of babies, all with the refrain listing the requisite number of digits, and finally ending with the narrator's baby, who is "truly divine" and has fingers, toes, "and three little kisses/on the tip of its nose." Oxenbury's signature multicultural babies people the pages, gathering together and increasing by twos as each pair is introduced. They are distinctive in dress and personality and appear on primarily white backgrounds. The single misstep appears in the picture of the baby who was "born on the ice." The child, who looks to be from Northern Asia or perhaps an Inuit, stands next to a penguin. However, this minor jarring placement does not detract enough from the otherwise ideal marriage of text and artwork to prevent the book from being a first purchase. Whether shared one-on-one or in storytimes, where the large trim size and big, clear images will carry perfectly, this selection is sure to be a hit."Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"This gently lilting read-aloud is just right for bedtime, or anytime your child could use a little extra comfort. You'll go ga-ga yourself over the adorable watercolors of babies around the world." —Parenting, September 2008

"Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes gently presents—but never preaches—a satisfying lesson about humanity and international harmony."—BookPage

"In 'Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, ' two beloved picture-book creators — the storyteller Mem Fox and the artist Helen Oxenbury — merge their talents in a winsome look at babies around the world."—The New York Times Book Review

"A witty and winsome look at babies around the world that has a toe-tapping refrain: the words sound easy and familiar, as though they have been handed down to children forever. And the story ends with a pitch-perfect moment: one little baby who is 'mine, all mine.' "—The New York Times Book Review, Notable Children's Books of 2008

"'Light as air and sweet as honey' might be a way to describe this delectable confection about babies, here, there and everywhere."—The Globe and Mail