Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On [Board book]

Lois Ehlert (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up

Now toddlers can dive into counting with this board book edition of one of Lois Ehlert’s most popular books. With cutout fish eyes to touch and an energetic fish friend to guide them, they’ll have so much fun they won't even notice they’re learning!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"If you could truly have a wish, would you wish to be a fish?" This question, posed at the end of Ehlert's ( Chicka Chicka Boom Boom ) latest, typically tropical-hued offering, will be answered with resounding affirmatives from captivated readers. In deepest ocean waters (midnight-blue pages) swim gaudy denizens of the deep, waiting to be enumerated by the child who "could put on a suit of scales, add some fins and one of these tails." Counting has seldom been so painlessly presented, and each page incorporates a simple arithmetic lesson, as the aquatic voyager adds him- or herself to the marine groupings. Ehlert's sense of fun is surpassed here only by her sense of color: in brilliant greens, purples, oranges and pinks--to name but a few--she presents in lighthearted rhyme an amazing, appealing aquarium. For enjoyment and education, Fish Eyes can be counted on indeed. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-- Stylized fish shapes in flat, razzle-dazzle colors against a dark blue background float across the pages from one to ten, accompanied by one little dark fish who keeps the count going. Cutout circles at the eyes reveal colors on succeeding pages. The slight text, occasionally in rhyme, introduces adjectives through the count, and tries to set a context of wish-fulfillment. It's a slick production, attempting several concepts at once--numbers, shapes, colors, imagining, addition to a value of one--but it doesn't quite hang together, and its result is a little breathless. MacDonald and Oakes' Numblers (Dial, 1988) also uses strong color and stark form to present visually the concepts of increasing quantity and transformations, but in a more thoughtful and well-integrated way, with movement inherent in the design. Another little dark fish, Lionni's Swimmy (Pantheon, 1963), has a more meaningful underwater exploration, incorporating the idea of changing appearances into the story. --Karen Litton, London Public Libraries, Ontario, Canada
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Board book: 40 pages
• Publisher: HMH Books (September 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 015216281X
• ISBN-13: 978-0152162818
• Product Dimensions: 4.6 x 7.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #282,944 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #37 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Fish > Fiction

More About the Author

LOIS EHLERT has created many picture books, including Leaf Man, Pie in the Sky, In My World, Growing Vegetable Soup, Planting a Rainbow, and the bestselling Waiting for Wings. She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book my two year old (and I) can recite from memory!, May 14, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful book that you won't mind reading over and over again. And you will! Both of my children begged me to read it daily. The unusually bright colors and fish "eyes" throughout the book fascinate even the youngest readers; and the counting and adding keep the child interested and challenged as they grow. It makes a great gift book

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a keeper!, April 11, 2002

By 

History_of_Art_Geek (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On (Board book)

Come on a journey deep at sea, to count the many fish we'll see...

I have an affinity for well-written children's books, so when I first read Fish Eyes I was immediately taken by the prose, and the artwork. Years later, after William was born, I realized how intriguing vivid colors were to babies. I started reading to him when he was only a few days old, and every time I picked up THIS book, he was mesmerized. Maybe it was the melodic phrasing, but I think it was the illustrations more than anything.

Fish Eyes is primarily a numbers and counting book that is geared to the very young, 0 to 3 years. This book counts up to 10. In the counting section, the eyes on the fish are punched-out, leaving holes. Children can count fish, or fish eyes. It's an ingenious way of educating kids by interactive means. In addition, there are simple arithmetic lessons cleverly hidden in the sea for older children. In the corner of each spread is a small fish that appears as a shadow. The fish poses a questions like, "3 smiling fish, plus me make 4". Only older children are apt to notice such minutiae, or I should say, they understand it at least. That's why Fish Eyes is so brilliant.

The vibrant colors engaged my son so, that we would study each page after reading the text. Once he was able to hold the book, the die-cut eyes lured him to touch. For a long while, Fish Eyes was one of Will's favorite books. As a result, it has become one of my standard baby gifts. Will is 2½ now, and he knows his numbers, probably in part because of this book. Once he gets around to learning arithmetic, Fish Eyes will surely be one we'll take off the shelf again, and again. ... you won't be sorry!

Happy Reading,
Mary

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Start early!, September 13, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On (Board book)

We love this book! Our son is only 2 months old and as a teacher, I know the importance of reading from the beginning. We read this book to our baby & he loves it. He loves to listen to our voices w/ the different inflections and the bright, colorful pictures are great- he really stares & smiles. I know we will continue to use this book as he grows, with the cute rhymes and the counting practice (even addition: "one fish plus me makes two!"). I will give this book as a baby gift from now on.