One of the great masters of words and pictures for youngest book lovers takes a favorite topic--vehicles--and adds a simple math lesson.
A bus driver named Joe sports a navy-blue uniform and cap, and drives his red bus on a yellow road. "At my first top, one dog gets on my bus," he says, as a spotted, wagging pup climbs aboard. At his second stop, a black cat and purple cat enter the bus. Three more felines get on at the third stop. Youngsters can clearly see the spotted dog at the back of the bus, and the five cats lined up along the right-hand side. Four dogs wait at the last stop, and sit on the left side of the bus, in front of the first dog. Author-artist Byron Barton (My Car) knows children will count the passengers and pulls no punches: "Five dogs and five cats are on my bus." He makes it easy for children to keep tabs on the animals. A magenta boat waits while the bus drops "one dog and two cats" at the dock: "They sail away." Youngsters can see the trio through the boat's windows, and also the seven animals still on the bus.
Children will grow in confidence as they keep tabs on the whereabouts of cats and dogs and a running tally as they board the train and plane--until one sole pup remains on the bus. Not to worry! We soon discover where that last pooch belongs. --Jennifer M. Brown, children's editor, Shelf Awareness