There are tons of counting books out, so you'd think the market is already saturated. But no other counting book is quite like Tullet's 10 Times 10. Unlike the typical board book that just counts to 10 once, this one does it over and over again with a different twist each time. It starts out somewhat bland with one 1 on a page, two 2s, etc. But then it quickly moves into the realm of the absurd/surreal, with a variety of other ways to depict 10 objects. For instance, 10 fingers morph into a piece of coral under the ocean. At another point, 1 head gains 5 mouths, 6 feet, 7 arms, etc. A section labeled "questions" calls out for interaction as 1 animal, 3 hearts, etc. are hidden amongst a variety of other objects.

This book is certainly creative and the nods to different art styles, particularly cubism, are neat if you are into art history. There is one questionable bit in the part titled "Creation," in which a mostly naked Adam and Eve are depicted. (Questionable for those who object to a biblical story being in a children's counting book as well as to those who object to nudity being shown to children, even if in a somewhat abstract way. These two groups may or may not overlap.)

While I quite enjoyed other offerings from Tullet (Press Here, Mix It Up, and Help, We Need a Title), this one did not quite do it for me. It was a little too "out there" for my taste in a children's book. I can admire the craft and the ingenuity without quite enjoying the product as a whole. ( )

Long book ... lots of topics, ( )

3 ans
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