FICTION

Goodnight, Numbers

by Danica MCKELLAR
illus. by Alicia PadrÓn. 32p. Crown. Mar. 2017. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781101933787.
COPY ISBN
Toddler-PreS—This clever picture book celebrates bedtime and math. A diverse group of toddlers and adults are counting their way to bed in different rooms of the house. Each spread introduces a number as a child bids familiar objects good night. For example, for the number three, the text states, "Goodnight three wheels./Goodnight, three cans./Goodnight, all trucks/and pots and pans." The watercolor and digital illustrations elevate this title above most concept books by providing multiple examples of the number in question. For instance, for the number six, there are six snaps on the child's pajamas, six dots on the lampshade, and six blocks. Detail-oriented readers will love poring over these small nuances and counting everything on the various pages.
VERDICT A winner for bedtimes or storytimes focusing on counting. A first purchase for libraries.
Reviewed by Brooke Newberry, La Crosse Public Library, WI
Each spread introduces a number ("Good night, four paws. / Good night, kitty cat. / Goodnight, four froggies / on the bathroom mat"), while soft bedtime scenes contain what's described plus corresponding sets of objects (four rubber ducks, four towels, etc.). Though the rhyming text is lackluster, kids may enjoy scouring the pictures for items to count. Notes provide adult-aimed tips for using the purposeful book.
 , Apr 01, 2017

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