May Gibbs 1,2,3

Scholastic, Australia: September 2011

ISBN: 9781742830230

Genres: picture book, board book

Issues: environment

'One special hug; two friends together; three buzzing bugs.'

In a pleasant change from the usual introductory counting books, Scholastic has combined May Gibbs' famous illustrations of gumnut and blossom babies with
early numbers.

Counting books for the very young tend to use basic vocabulary and easily identifiable, solid-outline images. The May Gibbs 1,2,3 acknowledges that parents and caregivers will be doing the reading aloud and recognises that toddlers can mimic quite sophisticated words when given the chance. Conceptually the book is also more appealing than most early counting books as it uses emotive adjectives and adverbs, thus encouraging pre-readers to attempt the same in their beginning language use.

May Gibbs' work is always charming and this counting book is an excellent introduction to her characters, allowing caregivers to perhaps read aloud some of the lighter stories from the Snugglepot and Cuddlepie collection. (Never underestimate just how early your children can begin to absorb complex stories if they are read with expression.) The board book format makes it hardy and easy to handle for small fingers.