Kid Konnection: Counting Crows

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you a very cute picture book by an awarding winning author who is no stranger to this blog!

Summary: Help hungry crows avoid a feline foe in this clever concept book from the author of The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp and The Underneath.

One, two, three, crows in a tree, bedecked in red scarves and hungry as can be. So they fly out of their nest with snacking in mind, and snack they do. Snack one, snack two, snack three—all the way to a dozen! But before they have time to complain about bellyaches, they have a bigger problem: a cat has been eyeing them… as potential snacks! Can these well-fed crows become well-FLED crows? Read and find out in this counting book from Newbery Finalist and two-time National Book Award Nominee Kathi Appelt, with spot-on illustrations from Rob Dunlavey. It’s the cat’s meow! -- Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Children's author Kathi Appelt, Newbery Finalist and two-timid National Book Award Nominee, has done it again. This time it's with an adorable picture book called COUNTING CROWS which has already received three starred reviews!

COUNTING CROWS is a very smart concept book and a fun way to learn to count. The book begins with three crows who are very hungry (and boy do I mean hungry.) They decide to leave their nest to find some snacks and eat just about everything in site from three roly-poly bugs, to to six salty peanuts, to a dozen slimy snails. After eating a lot and feeling rather full, these crows see a cat just waiting for them! Can they escape from the cat as easily as they devoured their snacks?

This picture book is positively adorable. I loved the fun way it teaches little ones to count, with both repetition and short phrases. The book is short enough to keep kids' attention while also providing enough silliness to keep them entertained. There's even a little suspense when the cat appears in the story. It really is a wonderful picture book for preschoolers!

As cute as the story is, the illustrations are even cuter! COUNTING CROWS is illustrated by Rob Dunlavey and I absolutely loved his black and white... and red drawings of these little crows. They are just precious and totally fit with the whimsical tone of the story. I am almost positive that little ones will adore these silly characters, especially given that they are portrayed in such a fun way.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there are activity sheets associated with COUNTING CROWS. These activity sheets are perfect for youngsters and will enhance their enjoyment of the story. There is a matching worksheet along with a maze, and there is even one of those "spot the differences" pictures.

COUNTING CROWS is another winner by an already accomplished children's author! Highly recommended.

Thanks to Blue Slip Media for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!