How many animals can fit in this book?

There's just enough room in this counting book for one ant, but a bevy of animals manage to squeeze their way in, too. As the story opens, the ant prepares to bite into a delicious apple. "You want to know how many animals can fit in this book?" our diminutive protagonist asks. "I'll tell you. This book is perfect for 1 ant!" Suddenly a lion pushes its paw in: "2 lions can fit in here, too!" Despite the ant's reservations, the big cats stick around. Along come three crocodiles, four zebras, and five meerkats. Finally, 10 ladybugs shove in, and the ant shouts, "That's ENOUGH!" The ant bites one of the lions, the bustling scene is cleared as the other animals are frightened away, and the ant is alone again. Readers will love the clever ending, in which the ant decides to find an empty, quiet book, and the crew of animals lumber along, too. Yaskina's simple illustrations serve the dual purpose of engaging little readers in a seek-and-find while also encouraging counting practice. The animals appear in different positions, running, prancing, and hopping with each turn of the page. All have simple block coloring and a two-dimensional appearance; their wide eyes have black centers. Ripe for rereading, the text follows a predictable, repeated pattern of question and answer that's pitch-perfect for the toddler crowd, while the contrast between the curmudgeonly ant and the blissfully unaware animals is laugh-out-loud funny. Playful and silly.(Picture book. 2-4) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.