Edible Numbers

PreS-Gr 1—An appetizing array of fruits and vegetables are counted from one to 12, accompanied by gorgeous, full-color photographs. The foods include apples, potatoes, squash, cucumbers, and eggplant, to name just a few. What distinguishes this counting book from others of its kind are the vast subvarieties of produce in each category, in many different colors. Readers may already be familiar with different types of apples, such as golden delicious, granny smith, pink lady, and golden russet, but far fewer will be aware that a pepper can be also be brown or purple (sweet chocolate and islander, respectively). There is a great deal to digest here for young children, especially when the author goes from listing specific types of fruits and veggies to the final category, citrus fruit, a fairly broad group. A well-planned trip to the farmer's market would enhance this lesson. Pair with other books on this succulent topic, including Emily Hruby's Counting in the Garden (Ammo, 2013) and Lois Ehlert's popular Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z (Houghton Mifflin, 1989).