From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K–In this rhythmic counting book, a sleeping child's teddy bear falls out of bed and can't climb back up. Three mice invite him to play, racing four cars, counting five stars, sipping tea with six dolls, and so on. Finally, the toys work together to help the stuffed toy build a 10-brick staircase up to the top of the bed. When the inevitable tumble of bricks occurs, the playthings and mice are counted down as they scatter back to their places. The noise awakens the child, who drowsily reaches for Ted and nestles back to sleep. Although no numerals are used, the text and watercolor-and-ink art combine to show the progression to 10 and back again. The toys in the airy illustrations that sweep across the pages are packed with personality. Perfect for storytimes or one-on-one lapsits, this book can be counted on for a gentle, cozy read.
–Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha's Public Library, WI Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PreS-Gr. 2. In a young child's room one night, a collection of toys cavort. After a teddy bear drops from the child's bed to the floor, the other toys invite him to join in their fun. Written in rhyming couplets ("They roar around in four fast cars, / Then sit and gaze at five bright stars"), Donaldson's story frames the concept of counting up to 10 and back down to 1. Currey's watercolor illustrations extend the cozy drama, starting with a quiet double-page spread of the nighttime room. Then the energy picks up in scenes that zoom in on different parts of the room filled with activities. Soon enough, the teddy bear misses bed, so all the toys pitch in to build a tower of blocks that he can climb. The tower crashes and wakes the child, who grabs her teddy bear. Of course, children will enjoy counting along with the text, but this title will also make them wonder what might be happening in their rooms after they fall asleep.
Kathy BroderickCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
