Out on the Prairie: A Canadian Counting Book

Mary St. Onge-Davidson is president of the Essential English Centre in
Ottawa.

Cora Taylor’s counting book introduces readers to the prairie animals
of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. It is a skilful adaptation of
Olive A. Wadsworth’s 19th-century poem “Over in the Meadow,” with
a rhythm and rhyme that will encourage young readers to repeat what they
learn about 10 prairie animals. While Out on the Prairie presents
readers with a more challenging count of numbers one through 10, it
provides accurate and beautiful illustrations of both prairie fauna and
flora.

Each animal is presented in a two-page spread; the focus is on counting
the babies in each group, and an additional opportunity to count that
number again is subtly provided by the artist. Any misconceptions about
these prairie animals that could possibly arise from the author’s need
to simplify the text have been resolved with the addition of a final
page, numbering and briefly describing each animal. The top of the last
page includes music for those who chose to sing the counting rhymes. The
only thing that this delightful book lacks is identification of the
prairie wildflowers.

Cora Taylor, winner of the Canada Council Prize, the CLA Book of the
Year Award, and the Ruth Schwartz Award, has clearly made her first
picture book a lovely addition to school and public libraries. Although
Pat Stephens has illustrated other books, this is her first picture
book. Her beautiful artwork using acrylic and gouache adds the color and
detail that make this counting book unique. Highly recommended.