There's something fishy about this book . . . Facts and figures to fill an ocean! Learn to count from zero to fifty, counting even numbers by two. Sound complicated? Not so, with page after page of unique and fascinating sea creatures to discover. Four odd-looking Clown Triggerfish help make counting fun and, although they have been extinct for millions of years, you can count thirty-two fierce-looking Elasmosaurs. Jerry Pallotta's signature kid-friendly text, packed with fun facts, makes learning a kid's favorite pastime. With fun and informative books such as UNDERWATER COUNTING, kids--like fish--are sure to stay in school. Breathtaking and distinctive illustrations bring the vivid hues of the deep sea and the gentle green-blues of the sun-lit ocean's surface to life. UNDERWATER COUNTING will spark the interest of budding oceanographers and mathematicians. K-Gr 3-Featuring increasing numbers of fish and other ocean dwellers, this colorful book counts from 0 all the way up to 50. Single- and double-page spreads introduce each numeral and show the corresponding number of underwater creatures, along with short paragraphs of anecdotal information presented in a chatty, sometimes humorous style. For example, Pallotta's description of two coral groupers reads: "If you were this fish, people would say you had measles, chicken pox, or really cute freckles." In addition to manta rays, parrotfish, leopard sharks, and many other eye-catching species, there are also whale lice, elasmosaurs (ocean reptiles that lived at the time of the dinosaurs), and fishing bats. The realistic artwork, done in Adobe Photoshop, shows dusky underwater scenes. Some of the illustrations are quite striking; in one, a moray eel looks straight at readers with an intense blue-eyed gaze, and in another, large sailfish leap gracefully above the ocean's surface. Unfortunately, some of the images seem to have slightly blurred edges. As the numbers increase, counting the objects becomes more difficult, as the fish are very small, partially hidden, or mere shadows. Providing only sketchy information, this offering may appeal to browsers interested in aquatic wildlife or to sharp-eyed kids who enjoy the challenge of searching illustrations for minute details.-Joy Fleishhacker, formerly at School Library Journal Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Jerry Pallotta is an award-winning author of children's alphabet books and imaginative fiction. His books combine interesting facts, detailed research, humor, and realistic illustrations that mesmerize children everywhere. Jerry lives in Boston, Massachusetts. There are zero fish swimming on this page. Maybe they were chased away by a shark. Or maybe you scared them off when you opened this book!