Night-Time Numbers: A Scary Counting Book (Barefoot Beginners) [Hardcover]

Susan L. Roth (Author, Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this unsettling volume, a mother and child explore their home. Peeking out windows and under beds, they list two dragons, three witches and more: "Who can you see in the closet tonight?/ I can see eight ghosts in the pale moonlight." Though a view of pointy hats through the window hints at the three witches to follow, and eight shirts hanging in a closet foreshadow the ghosts on the next page, many of the connections between household objects and scary apparitions are a stretch. Roth (Cinnamon's Day Out) establishes a satisfying call-and-response rhythm, but her uncharacteristically imprecise fabric-and-paper collages look as ramshackle as an old house, and her facile resolution ("Who can you see shining all around?/ I can see an angel, to keep me safe and sound") may not allay bedtime fears. Ages 2-6. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-Roth uses a variety of papers and fabrics to make the clever, intricate collages that accompany her text. The repetitive rhyme asks readers, "What can you see ?" on the rooftops, in the window, and around the house tonight. The reply is "I can see one monster in the pale moonlight," " two dragons in the pale moonlight," etc. The last spread includes an angel "to keep me safe and sound." Some of the collage creatures could be frightening to little ones, although the constant presence of the mother with the child in every picture is reassuring. Older children will admire the artwork and enjoy identifying the different materials used to make the pictures. They will delight in counting the monsters from 1 to 10 and echoing the rhythmic chant as it is read to them. An unusual book that will fascinate youngsters.
Sarah O'Neal, Salt Lake County Library System, UT
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 24 pages
• Publisher: Barefoot Books (August 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841480010
• ISBN-13: 978-1841480015
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,423,578 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Scariness- 7, Dorky Ending- 1, February 24, 2012

By 

Amy Steele "quirky mama" (Western NC, Land of the Mullets With Tails) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night-Time Numbers: A Scary Counting Book (Barefoot Beginners) (Hardcover)

Pretty cool up-to-ten counting book. Question-and-answer prose ("Who can you see on the staircase tonight?"..."I can see four skeletons in the pale moonlight".) is the basis of this book. Nice rhythm. I disagree with the expert review...I do feel that the scary things seen throughout the house do tie in just fine with the areas of the house. After all, what kid is gonna notice that five wolves do not exactly fit into one corner? Maybe they are baby wolves, or it's an M.C. Escher corner. Besides, he's heading straight for bed...no fridge raids or watching the tube here (i.e. no references to a kitchen or living room). The pics are fabric and paper collage. The faces of the mom and child are never seen, and it adds more allure to the book. The mom and child figures are always very physically close, and juxtaposes well with the scary stuff. My two criticisms are: 1. Some collages are not interesting because they do not offer any contrast. The dragons, the witches, the skeletons, the wolves, and the sharks are all the same cutout. Kids love to talk about differences and details; great conversations are held regarding said subjects. If some of the collages varied a bit in color or texture as the balance of the collages do, I would be in total love. I do want to remind the reader that this is me stating this, not my daughter. (Note: The pages with the questions have awesome collages filled with ambiance and visually appealing tidbits of mediums.) 2. The last page has an angel to ruin all that perennial Halloween-ness. That is why it is just "pretty cool" to me. It does not mesh well with the theme. A hug from Mommy would've been just fine and fit, if indeed you had to include something cheery and bright. See above stars for confirmation.