Publishers Weekly
Teddy bears feature prominently in two photographic books by David Ellwand, Ten in the Bed: A Counting Book and Clap Your Hands: An Action Book. Tucked-in Teddies reach across the opening pages of the first title, but as the bears fall out, they appear against increasingly larger pastel panels on the right. In the second, the bears play along to the popular preschool song ("If you're happy and you know it clap your hands"). (May) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
School Library Journal
PreS-These oversized board books are based on traditional children's songs. In Clap, teddy bears demonstrate the various actions of the song: they stamp their feet, touch their toes, turn around, etc. In Ten, each spread depicts a variety of appealing teddy bears photographed under a white blanket. As each one "rolls over," it falls onto a pastel background on the right. As the number in bed shrinks, the pink, blue, yellow, lavender, or green panel on the right grows wider as more bears join the group. Ellwand depicts the stuffed animals in different poses on each page: heads turned, arms raised, and even reading in bed. The size and uncluttered format of these books make them appropriate for baby, toddler, and preschool storytimes. Guaranteed to delight young listeners.-Olga R. Kuharets, Broward County Libraries, Fort Lauderdale, FL Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Popular children's songs are given a new twist as these lovable teddy bears follow the rhyming actions. Ten teddy bears are tucked into bed under a white blanket, "and the little one said, ‘Roll over! Roll over!' " The well-loved teddy bears, with threadbare paws, smashed noses, and gnawed-on ears, tumble across the pages as they struggle to roll over and make more room in the bed. Wriggly text, mimicking handwriting, describes the bears' activity as they fall one by one out of bed. Finally, when there is only one more little bear in bed, "the little one said ‘I'm lonely!' " So all the bears climb back in bed to snuggle down for the night, inviting young readers to flip back to the first page to start the counting game again. Soft pastel and white backgrounds highlight the teddy bears antics. The oversized board-book format makes for easy lap reading and encourages tiny fingers to turn the pages by themselves. Fans of the bears will also want to look at Clap Your Hands: An Action Book (ISBN 1-929766-50-5), featuring the teddies as they act out another popular song. Irresistible furry fun. (Board book. 2-5)
