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Jane Cabrera's Story Time
Over in the Meadow
This fresh version of the counting rhyme Over in the Meadow, is vibrantly illustrated by Jane Cabrera. Children learn to count all the animals as they sing along, and look for hidden details too. Ages 2+.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
About the author
Jane Cabrera
85 books88 followersJane Cabrera is best known as an Author and Illustrator of Children's Books.
She has written and illustrated 56 books which have been translated into over 25 languages and won awards in the US and Europe. She lives on the edge of beautiful Dartmoor National Park in the UK.
Her books range from picture story books to concept board books for babies.
FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/janecabrera...
She has written and illustrated 56 books which have been translated into over 25 languages and won awards in the US and Europe. She lives on the edge of beautiful Dartmoor National Park in the UK.
Her books range from picture story books to concept board books for babies.
FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/janecabrera...
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 22, 2013
Somewhere between a level 1 and level 2 reader for beginners, it had more than enough to keep all my kids interested. My 5 yr old loved the rhyming and my twin 3 yr olds loved saying the numbers, counting with me, and all the bright colorful pictures of the different animals. I, as a parent, loved the educational aspect of it, the counting on each page and then the nice addition at the end to reinforce the numbers, Cabera made a page with all the animals that was a kind of seek and find. Finding the animals was fun for all of us and we got to count once again. Two thumbs up for this one!
December 29, 2022
A fun and lively version of the traditional counting song with colorful and welcoming art of wild animals and their babies.
January 3, 2026
Read to Huckleberry
March 27, 2026
Typical Cabrera illustrations accompany the traditional song and this book just begs to be sung. I particularly like the big numerals on each page to help kids learn. A good story time read!
August 26, 2011
There are more beautifully illustrated versions of this, but my son liked these fun pictures and the obvious numbers it shows on each page. By the way, you have to SING this book - so if you don't know the song, you'd better learn it. It's adorable.
April 11, 2024
"Over in the Meadow" by Jane Cabrera is a delightful picture book that takes young readers on a counting adventure through a meadow. Each page introduces a new animal family, from one little ladybug to ten little rabbits, and the rhythmic, rhyming text makes it fun to read aloud. The vibrant illustrations are full of energy and color, bringing the meadow and its inhabitants to life. As a student, I loved joining in with the repetitive refrain and counting along with the animals. It's not just a counting book; it's also a celebration of nature and the animals that call the meadow home. Overall, "Over in the Meadow" is a joyful read that sparks curiosity and imagination.
July 28, 2025
This is (at least at time of writing) my favorite 1-10 counting book we own or have read! Though I must admit, I am umfamiliar with the song, so I will have to educate myself now that I know it exists. Partially I love this one because it actually counts UP rather than DOWN, which is helpful for toddlers just learning to count and recognize numbers. And Cabrera's illustrations are charming as always. There are also lots of easy opportunities to practice those counting and recognition skills at various levels, depending upon the child. It's a pleasant read and one my child enjoys, too.
December 16, 2021
Adorable illustrations and a wonderful flow of words that my three year old was always excited about. Over in the Meadow makes counting fun for little ones, my son got so excited about each new number that he shouted them out.
July 27, 2025
It's hard to tell what the "authoritative" version is of "Over in the Meadow," but, as usual, Cabrera takes liberties, and it's...fine. I like the the really clear 1 - 10 spread at the end of the book. I like the concept of seeking-and-finding all the babies in a single spread, but their individual bodies were all too small in my opinion.
August 23, 2018
I really liked this counting book version of the song over in the meadow. each two page spread features a mother animal and and an increasing number of children in a cute rhyme. Kids can make the sounds of the animals and count along. I also liked the animal wrap up at the end. Toddler and up
September 3, 2020
A bright and colorful re-working of the original rhyme, with some much needed upgrades to the weirder stanzas of the original ("We beave" said the beavers...). Lovely and perfect for storytime!
Themes: Counting, Animals, Nature, Family, Outside
Age range: 2-4
Themes: Counting, Animals, Nature, Family, Outside
Age range: 2-4
October 15, 2021
One of my favorites from Cabrera! Other books have cuter illustrations, but this one is great for counting, easy to sing while keeping a child engaged, and I love the end where you can ask your listener to spot all the baby animals and then have her help count 1-10.
July 13, 2022
I've loved the song "Over in the Meadow" since my mom sang it to me when I was little and going to sleep. As a mom myself now, I appreciate how obedient all the children are in this book. It's a great counting book!
May 29, 2023
Borrowed this from the library and we are now buying a copy we loved it so much. My son loves the bright, eye catching animal illustrations and I love that it teaches counting, animal noises, and rhyme.
May 17, 2018
Over in the meadow...one of my favorite rhyming stories!
August 21, 2020
It's cute but is better suited as a picture book not a board book.
September 9, 2020
Fun rhyming/counting
Read
April 3, 2021"I love this book so much I want to read it with you." "I can read it, I know the whole book. Except the owl page."
July 4, 2021
A cute book perfect for preschoolers. Some counting, potential for actions to go all with the story, and cute pictures.
November 25, 2021
Fun counting book
Rich for vocabulary development
Rich for vocabulary development
July 5, 2022
One of my favorite picture book authors! This would be a treat to use in a counting storytime. Maybe slightly long for storytime if used in its entirety.
April 16, 2023
A book of mother animals and their offspring. Learn to count to ten in this rhyming tale, and explore all the living things in a meadow.
June 22, 2024
Cute pictures. 23 month old didn't like my singing but enjoyed the end of the book where you can count the babies.
June 7, 2016
Title: Over in the Meadow
Author: Jane Cabrera
Genre: Counting
Theme(s): Animals, Numbers, Rhyme
Opening line/sentence:
(Over in the meadow in the sand in the sun
lived Old Mother Turtle and her little turtle one.
“Dig,” said the mother. “I dig,” said the one.
So they dug all day in the sand in the sun.
Brief Book Summary:
This counting picture book teaches children numbers one to ten, while incorporating animals in the meadow. Each page is dedicated to a number and an animal, explaining the daily lives of each animal in the meadow.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Hazel Rochman (Booklist, February 1, 2000 (Vol. 96, No. 11))
One of the great traditional counting songs gets a fresh, colorful treatment that will have toddlers chanting and pointing as they name the animals, copy the actions, and learn their numbers. Cabrera's Cat's Colors (1997) was focused on the cozy indoors, but here the big, clear double-page pictures show an open green meadow in yellow sunlight, where frogs jump, bees buzz, worms wiggle, ducks quack, and other animals each do their thing all day long. As in Cat's Colors, the thick brush strokes focus attention on the bond between mother and babies, often eye to eye, while the young ones learn what to do. In a final spreading scene, "while the mothers are away," all the groups of baby animals come out to play in the open meadow; and then, right at the end, Cabrera lines them up, from 1 turtle to 10 perky rabbits, for more counting fun.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Kate McDowell (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, May 2000 (Vol. 53, No. 9))
Based on the perennially popular preschool song by the same name, this picture book shows ten creature mothers leading their countable babies in activities appropriate to each species, from jumping (frogs) to buzzing (bees). Cabrera’s thick brushstrokes create inviting background textures, and, despite a slight google-eyed sameness, her cozily cartoonish animal families contrast appealingly with their setting. The book reinforces the baby count for each spread by situating bold black numerals in one corner. Two final spreads reiterate all the creatures and their habitats in a single panorama and then depict the babies on a white background next to their appropriate numerals. Although the rest of the book begs for group sharing, the diminutive baby animals and fine details of the final spreads will be best shared one-on-one. Destined for animal story times everywhere, this title deserves a prominent place in the menagerie of preschool counting books.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both professionals agree that this counting picture book is a great rendition of the classic preschool song. The bright colors of Cabrera’s illustrations add to the upbeat ways of this text. It is clearly established by the reviews that this book is a great way to bring counting into the world of preschool-aged children.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The bright finger-paint-like illustrations immediately grab the reader’s attention, bringing them into the sunny meadow. The text is large enough for young children to read, and incorporates larger words that correlate with the appropriate numbers. The illustrations vary from simple to complex, becoming more detailed towards the end of the book.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
Preschool teachers could incorporate this book into a variety of lessons. From identifying animals and colors to learning new vocabulary and rhyming words, this book is full of options for preschool teachers to embrace in their classroom. If the teacher would like to go out above and beyond, they could also search the original song that goes along with this book and teach it to their students, while acting out the different animals!
Author: Jane Cabrera
Genre: Counting
Theme(s): Animals, Numbers, Rhyme
Opening line/sentence:
(Over in the meadow in the sand in the sun
lived Old Mother Turtle and her little turtle one.
“Dig,” said the mother. “I dig,” said the one.
So they dug all day in the sand in the sun.
Brief Book Summary:
This counting picture book teaches children numbers one to ten, while incorporating animals in the meadow. Each page is dedicated to a number and an animal, explaining the daily lives of each animal in the meadow.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Hazel Rochman (Booklist, February 1, 2000 (Vol. 96, No. 11))
One of the great traditional counting songs gets a fresh, colorful treatment that will have toddlers chanting and pointing as they name the animals, copy the actions, and learn their numbers. Cabrera's Cat's Colors (1997) was focused on the cozy indoors, but here the big, clear double-page pictures show an open green meadow in yellow sunlight, where frogs jump, bees buzz, worms wiggle, ducks quack, and other animals each do their thing all day long. As in Cat's Colors, the thick brush strokes focus attention on the bond between mother and babies, often eye to eye, while the young ones learn what to do. In a final spreading scene, "while the mothers are away," all the groups of baby animals come out to play in the open meadow; and then, right at the end, Cabrera lines them up, from 1 turtle to 10 perky rabbits, for more counting fun.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Kate McDowell (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, May 2000 (Vol. 53, No. 9))
Based on the perennially popular preschool song by the same name, this picture book shows ten creature mothers leading their countable babies in activities appropriate to each species, from jumping (frogs) to buzzing (bees). Cabrera’s thick brushstrokes create inviting background textures, and, despite a slight google-eyed sameness, her cozily cartoonish animal families contrast appealingly with their setting. The book reinforces the baby count for each spread by situating bold black numerals in one corner. Two final spreads reiterate all the creatures and their habitats in a single panorama and then depict the babies on a white background next to their appropriate numerals. Although the rest of the book begs for group sharing, the diminutive baby animals and fine details of the final spreads will be best shared one-on-one. Destined for animal story times everywhere, this title deserves a prominent place in the menagerie of preschool counting books.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both professionals agree that this counting picture book is a great rendition of the classic preschool song. The bright colors of Cabrera’s illustrations add to the upbeat ways of this text. It is clearly established by the reviews that this book is a great way to bring counting into the world of preschool-aged children.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The bright finger-paint-like illustrations immediately grab the reader’s attention, bringing them into the sunny meadow. The text is large enough for young children to read, and incorporates larger words that correlate with the appropriate numbers. The illustrations vary from simple to complex, becoming more detailed towards the end of the book.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
Preschool teachers could incorporate this book into a variety of lessons. From identifying animals and colors to learning new vocabulary and rhyming words, this book is full of options for preschool teachers to embrace in their classroom. If the teacher would like to go out above and beyond, they could also search the original song that goes along with this book and teach it to their students, while acting out the different animals!
February 2, 2026
There’s a song called Over in the meadow by Charlie Hope that is basically the words to this book
December 22, 2016
Jumping and Jiving program
Storytimes
Storytimes
January 31, 2013
I have done other versions of this classic song/poem before for Spanish and bilingual story time programs. I am using this version for a tortoise and turtle-themed story time program at the Modesto Junior College (MJC) Great Valley Museum. I like this version because it is colorful. Some of the illustrations are strange for me(i.e., the tails and fur of the family of rats), but I think they would appeal to small children.
Update: It was a little long for the MJC Great Valley program, but it worked well at an owl-themed bilingual story time program I did recently. I changed it up a little by asking the kids what animal was featured before reading the passage about that particular animal. Letting them yell out and make animal sounds really helped keep the kids from squirming around too much since the book is a bit long.
Update: It was a little long for the MJC Great Valley program, but it worked well at an owl-themed bilingual story time program I did recently. I changed it up a little by asking the kids what animal was featured before reading the passage about that particular animal. Letting them yell out and make animal sounds really helped keep the kids from squirming around too much since the book is a bit long.
May 12, 2014
This book offers a bright and colorful version of the classic song. I can't help but hear Raffi singing his version of the song in my head as I read the book; we listened to that song too many times to count while our girls were very young.
The illustrations are wonderful and I am sure that younger children will enjoy listening to this book read aloud to them. I chose not to read it with our girls, because I was sure they would consider it too babyish, but you never know...
The illustrations are wonderful and I am sure that younger children will enjoy listening to this book read aloud to them. I chose not to read it with our girls, because I was sure they would consider it too babyish, but you never know...
April 24, 2013
A picture book version of the well-loved children's song that uses animals and rhyming text to introduces the numbers 1-10.
I love the texture of Cabrera's paintings. This book made me long to touch some of her illustrations, especially the beehive and the rats!
Great read aloud for preschoolers.
I love the texture of Cabrera's paintings. This book made me long to touch some of her illustrations, especially the beehive and the rats!
Great read aloud for preschoolers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews