From Publishers Weekly
The politically correct concept driving this counting book is that families are not just parents and children; in fact, "every ONE on earth" can be a family "caring for the fragile universe." Huang's clear watercolors, kid-friendly with their simple lines and happy squat characters, depict families ranging in size from one to ten, and then by tens to one hundred. Nuclear and extended families give way to those linked by community ("Sixty is a family sharing a neighborhood street") and finally, by concern for the planet. Ryan's first book rates high on jolliness if low on subtlety. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2-Beginning with the statement that "one is a family finding a place to call home," the text goes on to count to 10, then by 10s to 100, describing various groups as "families": for example, 6 is a family passing bread around, 60 is a family sharing a neighborhood street. The intent seems to be to encourage young readers to feel comfortable and loving with their neighbors and friends, but to call fellow apple pickers a family is to diminish the definition. With all of the literature encouraging children to realize that families come in all shapes-single parents, same-sex parents, mixed races, etc.- this well-meaning book makes the concept a little too broad for the intended age group, who might not yet grasp the idea of a global village. Aside from that, this doesn't work well as a counting book, either. "10 cheering runners round the bases" shows 7 people in the bleachers, one runner, a catcher, and a fielder. All in all, this is one warm-hearted effort that flops.
Christine A. Moesch, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, NYCopyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
