The Pigeon won't count to 10!

Toddler-Gr 1--Every young child will fall in love with the pigeon's version of events. Like a child who refuses to go to bed and falls asleep in place, this pigeon has so many excuses, enumerated one at a time up to 10. The crushing admission is that the pigeon hates counting to 10 because number nine is elusive. Emboldened by success, the pigeon counts to 11. Children will find their own excuses to keep on counting even after the book is closed. VERDICT The pigeon will count to 10 in classroom counting units; children can certainly take it from there. Bold and funny.

There's no possible way the Pigeon is going to count to 10! Well…maybe. Sometimes a bird just doesn't feel like counting to 10, OK? Featuring the Pigeon in his customary capricious state, this board book directly addresses audiences just like previous installments, but this time our hero is refusing instead of requesting. He's got plenty of good reasons not to count, including number five ("'cuz!") and number six ("Double 'cuz!!!"). But the Pigeon conveys real, relatable emotion when he admits that he's scared of failing: "SOMETIMES I FORGET WHAT NUMBER COMES AFTER NINE!!!" All readers will snicker at the over-the-top antics, but preschoolers in the know will especially revel in the joke--the Pigeon is so busy naming the reasons why he doesn't want to count to 10 that he winds up counting to 10 despite himself. Not to worry; the stubborn bird always gets the last word: He's counting to 11! For the most part, there's nothing to actually count, making the book as much about emotions as math. Illustrated in Willems' signature minimalistic style, even small details like a rounded eye or shed feather are as emotive as ever, and pages pop with frenetic, barely contained chaos. Rich, jewel-toned backgrounds highlight the Pigeon's melodramatic expressions, and extravagantly multilayered debossing adds a perfect amount of tactile interest for little fingers. Everyone's favorite recalcitrant pigeon is back and funnier than ever! You can count on it.(Board book. 2-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.