How Many?

Gwen Zilm was Technical Services Librarian, Okanagan College, Kelowna, British Columbia.

Each title in this four-part series of board books poses a question intended to engage the attention of the young child, and to encourage and develop speech. Each is based on a matching activity: one title focuses on matching clothing and appropriate body part, another on animals and where each sleeps. A third title adds counting activities to the identification of animals and their favorite foods. The fourth title requires matching of jobs and suitable vehicles; does a farmer drive a train, ride a boat, or pilot a space capsule?

Illustrations by Philippe Béha are colorful and amusing. Each title illustrates both correct and incorrect responses to the question.

The books appear sturdy and are small, approximately two inches by two-and-a-half inches. Size may make these difficult for libraries to handle, but for personal use, four titles this size can easily fit into a handbag and be available for those times when toddlers are required to sit for a time.

These books were written for those who wish to promote books as attention absorbing and to develop vocabulary and grammar skills interactively. Use of each of these titles is flexible; there is no written text, yet each requires some explanation or discussion.

These titles will capture the attention of children from one-and-a-half-years to age three over and over again. Each is sufficiently complex and amusing to require many repeat readings.