100 Bears

PreS-Gr 2—A counting book that sustains a story line of sorts for every digit from 1 to 100 is a challenging concept, and Bardos has clearly accepted it. When a group of bears in the forest is pursued by hunters, the action and counting escalates into a merry chase across city and countryside. All the while, both hunters and bears participate in celebrations, concerts, and time spent in exotic locations as the numbers tick upward. Bardos simplifies the increasing complexity by grouping objects to be counted or, in a few cases, simply using the numerals. Her bold lines and graphics and a liberal use of silhouettes make this confection, awash in pink, red, purple, blue, and orange colors, visually arresting. Children will pore over the pictures and counting opportunities. The brief text on each page invites additional conversations about the state of the chase and how one page links to the next in this madcap mathematical romp.—Marge Loch-Wouters, La Crosse Public Library, WI