As a group of Arctic animals gathers together on a hilltop to view the northern lights, this lively book demonstrates how to count by fives with the help of snowy owls, musk oxen, walrus, ermine, polar bears, and more. Kindergarten-Grade 1-Rhymed text describes six different kinds of animals as they arrive in groups of five atop a flat-topped iceberg to view the northern lights. Five snowy owls make room for five polar bears-5, 10-who make room for 5 sly ermine-5, 10, 15-and so on until there are 30 creatures crowded together. After the light show, the groups depart in reverse order and "Perhaps one day, at another display,/they would gather again in the snow." Stylized illustrations have broad black outlines and alternate double pages are black bordered with numerals appropriate to the number of animals in situ. Acceptable for reinforcing the idea of counting by fives as a precursor to multiplication. Virginia Opocensky, formerly at Lincoln City Libraries, NE Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. Ages 5^-7. The concept of counting by fives gets visual treatment in a satisfying story that also introduces children to one of nature's most beautiful mysteries. Five snowy arctic owls land on an ice floe. Before long, they are joined by other animals--bears, walrus, ermine, and more, arriving in groups of five--till the icy perch bursts with friendly, excited creatures. All have come to see the phenomenon known as the northern lights. Thick black outlines and simple, clean shapes give the artwork the distinctive flavor of woodcuts and make the animals easy to count; the singsongy text adds sparkle; and the rainbow-colored spread depicting the northern lights is a fine surprise. Stephanie Zvirin