Underwater Counting: Even Numbers [Paperback]

Jerry Pallotta (Author), David Biedrzycki (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Count from zero to fifty by even numbers and learn about this underwater world.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-Featuring increasing numbers of fish and other ocean dwellers, this colorful book counts from 0 all the way up to 50. Single- and double-page spreads introduce each numeral and show the corresponding number of underwater creatures, along with short paragraphs of anecdotal information presented in a chatty, sometimes humorous style. For example, Pallotta's description of two coral groupers reads: "If you were this fish, people would say you had measles, chicken pox, or really cute freckles." In addition to manta rays, parrotfish, leopard sharks, and many other eye-catching species, there are also whale lice, elasmosaurs (ocean reptiles that lived at the time of the dinosaurs), and fishing bats. The realistic artwork, done in Adobe Photoshop, shows dusky underwater scenes. Some of the illustrations are quite striking; in one, a moray eel looks straight at readers with an intense blue-eyed gaze, and in another, large sailfish leap gracefully above the ocean's surface. Unfortunately, some of the images seem to have slightly blurred edges. As the numbers increase, counting the objects becomes more difficult, as the fish are very small, partially hidden, or mere shadows. Providing only sketchy information, this offering may appeal to browsers interested in aquatic wildlife or to sharp-eyed kids who enjoy the challenge of searching illustrations for minute details.-Joy Fleishhacker, formerly at School Library Journal

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 6-8. The author of The Icky Bug Alpha bet Book (1989) and many other popular books on basic skills returns with this attractive, informative counting book. The text counts from 0 to 50 by even numbers (except for "one Green Moray Eel") and gives some general information (sometimes just a few words) about the underwater creatures that appear in the pictures. A nice variety of water-dwellers is included, many with unusual features, such as the bright blue teeth of the harlequin tuskfish. Younger children may have a difficult time with the concept of even numbers, but they'll still enjoy paging through Biedrzycki's spectacular, computer-generated underwater scenes aglow with neon-colored sea creatures and plants. Kids will also enjoy searching the illustrations for the featured number, which is cleverly hidden in each scene. Use this to complement a unit on the sea and to integrate math, science, and art in a whole-language curriculum. Lauren Peterson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (February 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881068004
• ISBN-13: 978-0881068009
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 10.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Marine Life > Nonfiction

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, Fun, Smart Book!, December 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Underwater Counting: Even Numbers (Paperback)

My 3 year old and 5 year old children LOVE this book. We first checked it out from the Library and read it every single day for three weeks, then renewed it and read it for three more weeks. At that point, they were still asking for it almost daily, so we decided to buy our own copy. The illustrations are breathtakingly realistic, and each one has a "hidden surprise" as well. We've had so much fun discovering all the surprises. My kids have memorized the text -- which is fascinating and filled with unusual facts. Reading this book has not only expanded their understanding of counting, but has also given them a fun glimpse into the amazing diversity of life in our oceans. You will not be dissapointed with this book -- the illustrations alone are worth the price of the book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smart and Beautiful, April 4, 2005

By 

K. Whitt "astronomommy" (Wiscsonsin) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Underwater Counting: Even Numbers (Paperback)

The text is smart: it counts different fish by even numbers and describes them, making it educational in more than one way. The illustrations are not only beautiful but smart too. They look like photographs and you feel that you are right there underwater with them. You count the different fish all the way up to 50, and one page even has a special counting challenge for the keen-eyed. But every page has another challenge, not only do you count the fish but you need to find the cardinal number hidden somewhere on the appropriate page.

Another of Jerry Pallotta's books that I would recommend is the Icky Bug Counting Book - also a smart and educational read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars beautiful illustrations but difficult to count, February 16, 2005

By 

H. Benjamin (TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Underwater Counting: Even Numbers (School & Library Binding)

I agree that this book's illustrations are breathtaking. They are just like looking at beautiful underwater pictures. However, my 4 year old had some confusion about which fish to actually count. Just like any true underwater picture, there are halves of fish and some that are barely noticeable shadows that are included in the total count.

I will say that the text is wonderful and informative about each type of fish or organism. It was very entertaining as a parent to read, and kept my son engaged and attentive. The aspect of a book devoted to even number counting is also a great tool.(although it starts out with one, which surprised me).

Overall I would say that it is worth the price, but is more for kindergarten to first grade kids than for preschoolers. As a Mom of four, our favorite preschool counting book has continued to be Richard Scarry's "Best Counting Book Ever."