Babar's Counting Book

From Barnes & Noble

That royally classic elephant and his family are helping kids count from 1 to 20! In Laurent de Brunhoff's book starring Babar, the three elephant kids and their pal, Zephir, are out looking for exciting things. Along the way, the foursome spot plenty of animals, including "1 big bird," "5 alligators" in tuxes running quickly by, "7 umbrellas" with "7 elephants under them," and "10 storks" zooming around. Although Babar is thrilled that the group can count to 10, he shows them with simple addition how to get to 20. Of course their hard efforts warrant a royal certificate, and readers get a Royal Palace proclamation for themselves, too. With familiar friends like these hosting a fun-loving lesson in numbers, young Babar fans will be counting and adding with ease.

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Like so many concept books, Babar's Counting Book exploits a popular character's appeal to sell children (and their parents) on an educational tool. Any child who is already hooked on Babar will naturally be drawn to the book, but it doesn't represent de Brunhoff's best work. The textwhich inexplicably changes tenses twiceis uninspired. (Babar's children go for a walk and count one bird, two balloons, three race cars, etc.) Although the elephant and his extended family are always delightful to look at, de Brunhoff doesn't appear to have given these illustrations a great deal of thought, and the colors look washed out.

Publishers Weekly

Two of Laurent de Brunhoff's tales of Babar, originally created by his father, Jean de Brunhoff, are available once more: Babar's Counting Book (1986), in which Babar counts from "1 big bird" to 10 storks flying overhead (the penultimate spread extends the fun to 20 elephants); and Babar and his family take a rocket past the moon and Mars to an uncharted destination covered with caramel in Babar Visits Another Planet (1972). Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

A pedestrian counting book. In this oversized book, Babar sends his three children and their friend to count everything they see. They count birds, balloons, hippos, alligators, etc., until they have counted to ten. Babar then shows them how to count to 20. The watercolor illustrations are pleasant, the colors clear and pleasing, but there are many better counting books available. Mary Jane Kibby, Amherst Public Library, N.Y.