Ten in the Den

by John Butler

Adorable animals make room in their den for sleepy friends.
Deep in the den, ten sleepy, cuddly animals snuggle up together for the night. But as the animal friends roll over to make more room, one animal after another gently tumbles out of the cozy den…until Little Mouse is left all alone. But Little Mouse misses his friends, so he comes up with the perfect solution to his problem.
John Butler’s charming version of a children’s favorite countdown to bedtime features a simple but playful text and soft, pastel-colored illustrations of bright-eyed baby animals. The result is an irresistible read-aloud story that will invite delighted responses from young children.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Storytime, Childrens, Counting, Number, Mathematics

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 30, 2005

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

writer and illustrator - lives in Kent, South East England.

Reviews

[Sarita · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the words of my four year old...this is my Favourite!!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down cutest illustrations ever! My son loved this book and I did as much as he did.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The classic song "Ten in the Bed" but with adorable forest animals and bonus sound effects as they each roll down a hill (safely). My almost-3-year-old loves it.

[Shaunterria · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reiteration of the "10 in the Bed" song with impossibly cute forest animal babies, Ten in the Den served its purpose for a counting storytime. The happy ending and simple words make it perfect for preschoolers.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute, although the animals are hard to recognize, in my opinion. I thought the fox was a red panda :P

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of repetition, lots of potential actions, fun illustrations - all this combines to make the perfect toddler story time read aloud!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute! Read it for my library story time, kids loved it, I really liked the illustrations too

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably short and repetitive enough for storytime

[Maki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to the story of “The Mitten” and a very cute story.

[Milton Louie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mouse says, roll over! B

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toddler Time 2/22/22

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love reading this to kids: all those fun sounds to say and act out!

[Library To-Go · Rating 4 out of 5]

04/26/23 PediaTrust story time - JC

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten animals in the den for sleep, but as the smallest one convinces the others one by one to roll over and make more room. This counting tale provides the countdown.

[Starbubbles · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was O and I's first dip into storytime at the library. it was a cute rendition of the little kid hogging the bed. The illustrations were adorable.

[AJ Easterday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't get over how adorable the art in this book is. I want all these animals as plushies, STAT!

[Amanda Megee]

Title: Ten In The Den
Author: John Butler
Illustrator: ----
Genre: Counting book
Theme(s): Animals, numbers, sounds, friendship
Opening line/sentence: “There were ten in the den and the little mouse said, “Roll over! Roll over!” So they all rolled over and…”
Brief Book Summary: There are ten animal friends in the den, and one-by-one they roll out onto the grass. Each friend rolls out, so the number decreases from 10 to 1. When there is one animal friend left, he realizes he misses his friends so he rolls outside and snuggles with them all under the moon.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Lisa Nuss (Kutztown University Book Review, Spring 2007)
“This book provides a new take on the classic children’s rhyme, Ten in the Bed. The countdown begins when the little mouse tells his nine other friends to roll over. One by one they all tumble out of the den and down the hill until Little Mouse is all alone and realizes he really does want to be with his friends. This is a cute and clever adaptation of Ten in the Bed. Butler’s illustrations of cute and cuddly baby animals make this a great bedtime story. It could also be used with an early math lesson to teach counting backwards from ten or basic subtraction. The variation between full-page illustrations when they’re in the den and the panels/circles when tumbling down the hill help to move the rhyme along. Highly recommended for young children.”

Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
(5) PS Whenever a little mouse says, "Roll over! Roll over!" his nine friends do, and one by one they roll out of the den. Left alone, the mouse realizes he misses his companions and joins them. This adaptation of the old rhyme lacks the cadence of the original, and although the fuzzy pastel-colored animals are cute, their expressions are wooden.
(Horn Book)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree with the first review as I think the illustrations of the animals create the imagery of an appropriate bedtime story. I think this book is a great twist on the common “Monkeys on the Bed” and would recommend it for young children. I disagree with the Horn Book review on the lack of cadence in the story, and the wooden expressions on the animals. I think the cadence is apparent throughout the story and the animals’ expressions are appropriate and effective for the plot.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The plot of the story is similar to the original “Monkeys on the Bed” although it does differ in characters. The style of the story is appealing to young readers as it is easy to follow and allows for reader involvement (“roll over!”). The gentle tone of the text tied in with the pastel-colored illustrations makes this book a great one for a bedtime story.
Consideration of Instructional Application: Even though I said that this book would make a great bedtime story, I think it can be used in the classroom too. This book can be used to teach counting backwards in a math class, for example, or can show how to make predictions of what will happen next in a reading class. For the more kinesthetic learners, this story can also be “acted out” in a simple way which will keep the students engaged, while learning how to count backwards!

[Vera Godley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last summer I feel in love with the books and artistry of John Butler. He is a gifted story-teller and illustrator of books for the very young. I reviewed Hush, Little Ones back in July (Read my review) and recently While You Were Sleeping (Read my review).

"Ten In the Den" is a large, hardcover picture book that takes young children through counting to ten. Butler has a delightful re-take on "there were 10 in the bed and the little one said, 'Roll over, Roll over." Each page is illustrated with a clutch of a variety of critters tucked in the den. Each page has one less because one rolled out (or rather was pushed out by tiny mouse).

Butler's illustrations are again beautiful and will entertain and draw the young child's interest. Soft colors and edges of pictures create a lulling that is suited for bedtime or nap-time reading. Of course, it can be read at any time; and I can just hear the giggles as the reader sings along the "roll over, roll over" as each critter is pushed out of the den.

But this time, when the little one (mouse) is left all alone in the den, he is lonely and rolls out to seek his friends who are now outside the den. The book teaches the concept that just because you are crowded, it is not always best to "un-crowd" your circumstances. Life can be lonely when there is only you.

Counting: In this book the reader can engage the young child to count how many are actually in the den and then at the end of the story the child can count to see that all 10 are together again.

I encourage the purchase of John Butler's book and think you and yours will treasure it.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ GIVEAWAY ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Graciously, Peachtree Publishers is providing a giveaway copy to one of Chat With Vera's readers. Open in USA addresses only.
Begins November 20 & ENDS December 4 at 12:01 a.m. EST
Enter at http://chatwithvera.blogspot.com

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy of Ten In the Den by Peachtree Publishers on behalf of the author for the purpose of my rending an honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own and I was not obligated to give a positive review. The giveaway copy will also be provided by Peachtree Publishers and shipped directly to the winner.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ten in the Den" is a very cute counting book that counts animals backwards from 10 to 1. Originally ten animals are cuddled up in a den getting ready to go to bed, but the mouse on the end cannot get comfortable and keeps telling everyone to roll over. Each time the mouse makes this demand, one animal rolls out of the den, down the hill to the tree. The book counts how many animals are in the den after each animal rolls out until the mouse is the only one left. The mouse is lonely with no friends in the den so he rolls out as well and rejoins all of the friends at the tree where they finally go to bed. The illustrations are very colorful and portray the animals as cuddly stuffed animals rather than realistic ones. There is an image on the left of every page of the remaining animals in the den and an image on the right of one of the animals rolling down the hill with cute rhyming sounds to accompany it such as "bumpety, thumpety" or "swirly, whirly." This was a very cute primary counting book, and the illustrations and rhymes make it fun to read.

[Lanica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a version of the "They all roll over and one falls out..." song/story. It has a unique take on it because there are ten different animals, each of which is shown in turn rolling down a gentle hill to their own sound, "Slippy, Slidy, Bump!" for the beaver and "Roly, Poly, Bump!" for the mole. At the end the little mouse that asked them all to roll over is lonely, rolls down the hill and they all curl up and go to sleep under the night sky.

The art is beautiful. I loved the bright colors and enjoyed how soft and cuddly the animals all looked. They all have little smiles as they are resting in the cave, then they are laughing and having fun as they roll down the hill. It's a great book for bedtime.

[Helen Kumpel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for: PreK-1
Activity: Act out the story having students spin around and the last student leave the "bed" (line). Students would have fun participating in the story by saying "Roll over! Roll over!Slippy! Slidey! Bump!" Although the younger readers would not think "subtraction" they would get the idea that one animal is being removed from the group.
Reflection: I like that this book introduces the idea of subtraction in a fun way. The book is predictable with it's story line but cute that you are counting down from 10. Great for emerging readers and read-alouds.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: One by one nine forest creatures fall out of bed when Little Mouse says "Roll over!"

C who is now 2 1/3 had me read this book to him 4 times today! It was a hit. I love singing the song and then having the kids say "Bump" at the end as each animal rolls out of the den with a nice playful pair of rhyming words.

"Rabbit fell out. Flo[[etty, hoppetty, bump!"

Story Time Theme: counting, bedtime, animals

( baby animals - mouse, bear, raccoon, badger, rabbit, mole, beaver, porcupine, fox, squirrel)

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute story for young children of ten animal friends sleeping in a den...the little mouse says "Roll over, roll over" and each rolls out, one by one until all are out...but its too lonely in the den! A great way to get children counting backwards from 10, and a different rendition of the story "Ten in the Bed"

[Carman · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a den full of animals, the lil mouse is squished. He keeps asking his other animal friends to "roll over" so that he has some room. One by one they fall out of the den until the mouse is left alone. I like this book for it's funny rhyming words and the many different types of animals one could talk about with children pre-K thru 2nd grade.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our storytime theme this week was nursery rhymes. This is a very cute book, though it didn't go as well as I thought it would. The illustrations are darling -- they ought to be overly precious, but somehow they aren't: I think it's the richness of the detail that saves them.

[Melinda Garman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting at 10 in the den the little mouse keeps telling everyone to, "Roll over!" One by one the animals roll out of the den until just the mouse is left. Great way to review or begin a discusion about counting backwards with your Pre-K or Kindergarten class.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very beginner book, ages two will love it. It's a counting book, but adds in animals. I have read many counting books and this one was one of my favorites. It makes you want to sing the words. Very cute pictures too.

[Shala Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun one to sing

[Shillene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed reading this book to my Daughter, who also loved....it was her first pick. I like to find books that are fun to sing with!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

very sing song with bright, warm pictures. my kids love it.