I can see the airport goats and I can see their cases. But can you count the pilot goats with goggles on their faces? This hilarious count-to-ten book features goats of all shapes, sizes, hobbies, and professions—and each spread gives readers a delightful opportunity to count the funny four-legged creatures. Acclaimed author Mem Fox’s renowned humor and infectious rhyme merge with celebrated illustrator Jan Thomas’s bold and brilliant illustrations to make this an instant goat-by-numbers classic. PreS-K–The title says it all. Fox and Thomas draw viewers in through catchy phrases and amusing pictures of goats that appear in a variety of shapes, sizes, and numbers. As they romp across the bright, colorful pages, their antics will make children giggle; more importantly, the text encourages listeners to look carefully at what is happening. For example, the number of goats increases as the pages turn, and the author's questions concerning them will motivate viewers to examine the images and figure out the answers. A clever counting lesson.–Barbara Elleman, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MAα(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Bright electric colors (tennis-ball green, sky blue, and sunny yellow) outlined in thick black create just the right look to attract very young readers, who are also often just learning to count. The silly-looking, appealing cartoon goats sport more natural colors in shades of brown, and they do goaty things, such as eat inedible stuff, but beyond that, reality’s suspended, and imagination takes over. These goats play trumpets, fly planes, throw snowballs, and more. Scenes showing a goat doing something a kid might be familiar with alternate with spreads asking listeners to count a specific set of goats doing a related activity (“Here we see an airport goat looking for her cases. But can we count the PILOT goats with goggles on their faces?”). This is a bit more challenging than some counting books; beginning counters may not yet be familiar with the concept of adjectives, which indicate which goats are to be tallied. But this adds to the appeal, providing a fun learning opportunity for kids with varying skill sets. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Diane Foote "The traditional counting format receives a charming update as playfully expressive goats mimic human behavior...Fox, an early-literacy specialist to the core, gets each rhyme just right...Thomas’s trademark digital spreads provide punch through chunky, dark outlines and zany off-kilter expressions...These wacky goats guarantee a goofy good time."-- Kirkus Reviews "Bright electric colors outlined in thick black create just the right look to attract very young readers, who are also often just learning to count...providing a fun learning opportunity for kids with varying skill sets." — Booklist "This animated counting book uses irreverent couplets and a screwball cast of goats for its humor. As if Thomas's goats weren't entertaining enough just to look at (and they are), Fox (Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes) pairs random and often mischievous goat activities with invitations for readers to count the wide-eyed animals." -- Publishers Weekly "Who could resist the invitation to count goats? Not the audience for this book, who will gleefully follow the rhyming text as it describes goats in various habitats and situations...This will make a spirited step up for those youngsters who’ve mastered counting along and want to show off their independent skills." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books , Mem Fox is an educator and international literacy expert, and her many acclaimed picture books for young children include Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug! ; Hello Baby! ; Baby Bedtime ; I’m an Immigrant Too ; the bestselling modern classics Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes and Time for Bed ; and, for adults, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever . She lives in Adelaide, Australia. Visit her at MemFox.com. Jan Thomas has written and illustrated twenty-one books, including Rhyming Dust Bunnies ; Can You Make a Scary Face? ; Here Comes the Big, Mean Dust Bunny! ; Is Everyone Ready for Fun? ; Even Robots Aren’t Perfect ; Even Robots Can Be Thankful! ; Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy ; Problem Solved! ; and A Scrub in the Tub . She lives in Socorro, New Mexico, with her husband, two dogs, and several thousand dust bunnies.