Winter Visitors

From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 1. In this rhyming counting book, a little girl and her cat walk through the winter woods. Upon returning home, they find that their house has been overtaken by a plethora of animals?"Ten wild turkeys," "Nine feisty chickadees," "Eight hungry snow hares," etc. The creatures wreak havoc in various rooms until one single skunk sends the others fleeing. This is a promising idea that doesn't quite reach its potential. The text is often forced and awkward. Large, colorful, double-page spreads featuring the mischievous animals will appeal to children; however, they appear a little too precious and posed. With the abundance of counting books available, this one won't be missed.?Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WICopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Kirkus Reviews A treacly counting book in forced rhyme. A small girl and her cat go out to find woodland animals, returning home just in time to see ``Ten wild turkeys are gobbling through our door!/Nine feisty chickadees splutter from the floor,'' and so on. Last to come into the kitchen is a skunk, who sprays the cat, the child, and the wild animals, causing a hubbub, and providing the opportunity to reverse the countdown of animals with more limping rhymes. The marginal story makes clear its author has probably never been skunked, for the girl is serene only moments after the spray; the wild animals are greeting-card cuddly, poorly proportioned, and awkwardly posed. (Picture book. 3-6) --