1 to 10 and Back Again: A Getty Museum Counting Book [Hardcover]

Getty (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Getty Museum Counting Book

Like its companion volume,A is for Artist: A Getty Museum Alphabet Book, this book provides a unique opportunity to help children learn basic skills while, at the same time, teaching them to look closely at great art objects.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-A well-known portrait of Louis XIV sporting a bright white dialogue balloon introduces this counting book for young sophisticates. "To help you count/from one to ten,/Here's furniture/from France./Eh bien!" Each double-page spread features a number on one side with the object(s) on the other, e.g., one globe, two beds, three desks. Full-color photographs of characteristically ornate 17th- and 18th-century items and furniture found in the Getty Museum collection float awkwardly against white backgrounds. The second half of the book (with Louis XIV announcing, "That was easy,/n'est-ce pas?/OK:/Now count these up./Begin!/Commencez!") contains simple addition examples featuring the objects counted. "How many chairs and how many clocks? le grand total = 10." Some pieces are displayed in miniature, or in odd positions, and often only partially visible (the top of a globe or half of a candleholder). Finally, all of "Les Objets" appear together, each assigned a number that corresponds to a note running along the bottom of the page identifying what it is and a date. Editor's notes provide translation and pronunciation for the French phrases. Unfortunately, most children won't care about any of this, and few of us field requests for counting books catering to period-furniture enthusiasts. Comprenez-vous?-Alicia Eames, New York City Public Schools
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Children may learn as much about the diversity of furnishings as they do about counting." -- Foreword Magazine

"Not only gives young readers a new way to learn their 1, 2, 3they'll get a head start on their design educations." -- Metropolitan Home

"The objects chosen are fascinating, and upscale parentsnot to mention bilingual teacherswill relish the foreign language lesson." -- Children's Literature

Product Details

• Hardcover: 52 pages
• Publisher: J. Paul Getty Museum; 1 edition (August 19, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892365250
• ISBN-13: 978-0892365258
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,436,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique counting book!, April 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: 1 to 10 and Back Again: A Getty Museum Counting Book (Hardcover)

I loved this counting book that combines the French number names (1-10) with French culture in the form of period furnishings. It is simple enough for a child who knows no French to enjoy the book but if someone is available who can also teach the French aspects, then all the better! It is very difficult to find good books that allow multiculturalism to be a part of a math class for elementary students. I use this with my classes for prospective elementary teachers and they love it!

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excerpt from a recently published review, April 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: 1 to 10 and Back Again: A Getty Museum Counting Book (Hardcover)

ForeWord magazine calls this book "delightful": "the extravagant Louis XIV is the lesson master that showcases the Getty Museum's fine collection of eighteenth century French furniture...This is a companion to the Los Angeles museum's 1997 preschool alphabet book A is for Artist, which showcased its collection of painted masterpieces. Both are excellent guides to introduce children to the beauty of art while practicing basic skills."