Toes, teeth, and tentacles A curious counting book

Gr 1--4--Fascinating facts are the focus of this concept book: "A banana slug has four tentacles. The upper two are used for seeing, and the lower two are responsible for feeling and smelling." Every spread shows a white number on a circle of color followed by a list of body parts being counted: "4 Fins, pupils, fingers, canines and tentacles." Four or five creatures made of detailed paper-collage are featured on these spreads, each with a small paragraph of information on a white background. The text for their body part(s) matches the color of the number featured. Internal organs are shown in a smaller, detailed picture in a circle below the creature, connected by a line. The story counts from one to 10, then climbs further into the double digits before offering "Even Bigger Numbers," including "A giant African land snail has the most teeth of any snail--up to eighteen thousand." The larger numbers are in their own color circles beside the creature whose body parts are being counted. A short introduction begins the book, and the last few pages have a paragraph with further information on each creature: length, habitat, etc., while a brief bibliography wraps it up. VERDICT A visually stellar, engaging book of quirky facts and creatures, this will draw in readers across grade levels and is a first purchase for all libraries.--Tamara Saarinen

The late Jenkins and his widow, Page, put their scientific minds and significant artistic talents to bear on a counting book that considers the appendages and features of a variety of creatures from the anglerfish to the two-toed sloth. On spreads labeled by numeral, from 1 to 10, the author/illustrators present a series of fascinating factoids, some of which matter to a creature's survival and some that don't. A male Jackson's chameleon has three horns, which "help it defend its territory against other males." Polydactyl cats are born with six toes on each of their front paws, but it's unclear how that helps them adapt to life. The book concludes with sections devoted to "bigger" and "even bigger numbers," which include more jaw-dropping statistics: For instance, the nautilus' 90 retractable tentacles help it feel its way along a reef when hunting for prey. Jenkins and Page offer facts in plain, accessible language, but it's their signature collage illustrations that will grab readers' attention. Each spread showcases a variety of fetching animals that invite young people to pause and consider the wildlife's relation to the number in question; headings ("5 stripes, eyes, legs, vessels, and teeth") make the connections clear. Making some of these smaller creatures charismatic must have been tricky, but Jenkins and Page have managed to do just that. Another delightful exploration of the natural world from an award-winning duo. (further information about the animals, bibliography)(Informational picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.