From Publishers Weekly
Rather than admonish children to eat their vegetables, Martin and Sampson (previously paired for Swish!) urge youngsters to give this food group a listen. An okra, onion and a trio of broccoli trees kick off the party as the vegetables join with the numerals one through 10. The story unfolds through the dreams of a farm boy and girl, who doze in the vegetable patch on a hot summer day. A phalanx of 10 scarecrow guardsmen herald the showstopping arrival of each creamy peach numeral amid the carrots, squash, eggplants and beets: "One rockets through the sky,/ and parachutes down with a pumpkin pie," while "six arrives with an old guitar,/ tells the yams/ he's a country star!" But the conceit does not quite cohere it feels like several ideas stitched together. Those just learning to count may be confused: the numerals do not accompany the corresponding number of vegetables (the numeral five, for instance, arrives with three "broccoli trees"; five yams arrive with the numeral six). Despite the title, the numerals never do line up. Cahoon's characters, however, embody a winning, retro cheekiness; her vegetables and numerals burst with joie de vivre. Ages 3-5.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
reS-K-"On the castle side/of the garden green,/vegetables grow/for the king and queen" begins this rhyming counting book. Children will enjoy the smiley-faced, flesh-colored numbers that dance and cavort with the garden-inspired characters throughout the pages, and the silly verses that go with them, counting to 10 and back again. The computer-generated illustrations in an appealing and hip layout are engaging, with smiling faces for okra and broccoli alike. However, this book does not measure up to the classic status of Martin's titles written for the same audience, such as Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (S & S, 1989) and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (Holt, 1983). The rhythm is occasionally forced, and there are some potentially confusing scenes. Young children will most likely expect the number identified on each page to match the number of objects described there, but this is seldom the case. For example, when "Two flips/into the air,/lands on the back/of a hungry hare," three hares appear in the illustration. Shortcomings notwithstanding, this picture book is quite enjoyable. The "Rock it, sock it,/number line!/numbers and veggies-/party time" refrain is catchy and could certainly be enjoyed in a program about numbers, gardens, or even soup.
Piper L. Nyman, Fairfield/Suisun Community Library, Fairfield, CA
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
