One Little Two Little Three Little Children

PreS-K—Using the same cadence as the familiar nursery rhyme "One Little, Two Little," this text follows children, their parents, and their homes as they build a sense of community. "One little, two little, three little children./Loved little, hugged little, snugged little children./Cry little, shy little, my little children./All children 'round the world." While the families represented vary in racial makeup and structure (for instance, same-sex couples, single-parent households), the emphasis is on the similarities. While this rhyme's racist history is not overtly addressed in the narrative, the visual inclusion of a teepee occurs twice without a defined context. Both mothers and fathers receive positive recognition in this well-paced, repetitive read-aloud. "One loving, two loving, three loving daddies./Smart loving, art-loving, heart-loving daddies./Peace-loving, strong-loving, long-loving daddies./All daddies 'round the world." Cool, soft colors emphasize a tranquil environment in the pencil and watercolor artwork displayed on watercolor paper against clean white backgrounds. The final spread depicts the group's participation in an outdoor picnic as "one BIG family 'round the world."