Ten Rosy Roses

by Eve Merriam, Julia Gorton (Illustrator)

Ten rosy roses stand in a line until, one by one, ten children pick them and one happy school teacher gets a big surprise, in a colorful counting book by an award-winning poet.

Genres: Poetry, Counting, Picture Books, Mathematics

Hardcover

First published April 30, 1999

About the author

Born as Eve Moskovitz, American poet and writer

Reviews

[Sydney Matejik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title (italicize): Ten Rosy Roses
Author: Eve Merriam
Illustrator (if separate from author): Julia Gorton
Genre: Concept book, Counting Book
Theme(s): Numbers, Nature, Diversity
Opening line/sentence (type directly from text): Ten rosy roses standing in a line
Brief Book Summary (2-3 sentences in your own words):
This picture book counts down from 10 to 0 by using roses that classmates pick. Each child picks one in a new outside area until there are none, and it ends positively when all of the children deliver the roses to their teacher. The diversity in the children does not take away from the counting principle but makes it ideal for all learners.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1 (cut & paste): Joyce Rice (Children's Literature)
Since counting books and rhyming books abound in children's literature, it is amazing that there is any way left to do something new and creative. This one is a must-have. It delivers the counting skill through rhyme, vibrant color, and a touch of multiculturalism. Each page presents a student in a location that rhymes with the number being presented. Some of the ethnic groups represented are African-American, Asian, Caucasian, and Scandinavian. This will make a wonderful gift for grandchildren and a delightful addition to pre-school classroom collections. Home-schoolers and daycare workers will also want to include this in their resources. This is as delightful a read as the "Miss Spider" books. 1999, HarperCollins, $14.95. Ages 3 to 6.
(PUBLISHER: HarperCollins ([New York]:), PUBLISHED: c1999.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2 (cut & paste): Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1999)
Hot pink and lipstick red swirls on the endpapers set the tone for this eye-catching counting book. Drawn in by colors that leap from the page and boldly printed, chant-along couplets, readers join ten young students as they collect a flower each for their teacher's bouquet: "Ten rosy roses standing in a line,/Jan picks one and now there are nine." In an unexpected finish, twins pick the last roses, taking the count from two to "none." A dramatic use of close-up perspectives makes the children appear huge; in some cases, they spill over the tops of the page. The illustrations have a retro feel to them that charmingly highlights every character's unique physical appearance. Readers will delight in the antics of a bright yellow butterfly that joins the class on the eighth rose and remains on hand until the bouquet is presented to Ms. Jones. 1999, HarperCollins, $12.95; PLB $12.89. © 1999 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
(PUBLISHER: HarperCollins World ;Hi Marketing (New York:) (London:), PUBLISHED: 1999.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews (3-4 sentences in your own words):
The colorful images, sing along concept, and evidence of diversity were elements presented in both reviews making this book a consistent favorite. This book is perfect for the young learners of preschool age, as the review mentions, due to the same age children in the illustrations. Both reviews note that this text should have a place in the classroom due to its visual and verbal appeal.
Evaluation of Literary Elements (3-4 sentences in your own words):
The text in this book is simple to understand and ideal for children first learning their numbers. The close up images as well as the appropriate number of roses, pictured on each page, help the visual learner see the effects of each countdown. For children who prefer the verbal method of learning, or are musically inclined, this text is perfect for reading along and chanting each page out loud. The story is inviting and leaves the reader with a warmed heart.
Consideration of Instructional Application (3-4 sentences in your own words):
This book would serve well in a preschool classroom for introducing numbers or a kindergarten classroom as a review. The text is simple to read and would allow students to read it independently once they are confident. Like the children in the story, students could be encouraged to find one part of nature outside and bring it in to count the class’s findings.

[Gracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book because it is a counting book. I enjoyed it because it helps student learn to count backwards. The only reason I did not care for this book is because at the very end, it jumps back to ten when the children give the teacher the roses, which could confuse the readers. I would use this in a kindergarten classroom after the students had mastered counting up and were ready to count backwards. I could also use this in a first grade class when introducing subtraction.

[Moriah Keen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an Amazing counting book that would be good for pre-k to 1st grade. This book can be used for multiple things like counting, the formation of numbers, and addition and subtraction. I could also mention about the gift of giving. At the end of the book the characters gave all of the roses that they picked to their teacher.

[Sarah Mukherjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book for my pattern/predictable category. This is one I would like to have in my future classroom for younger children learning how to count to ten, or rather down from ten. This book uses a predictable poem to count down from ten roses to none. I loved how colorful the pictures were, and how the characters were very diverse. This book could easily be reenacted using props, which could be fun for students. Because of it's predictability, students could echo, or read along with the teacher. I think this book would effectively grab students' attention from cover to cover.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten Rosy Roses was a good counting book. On all the pages they had the nerve mover of roses somewhere that was who ever is reading the book can count them one by one. Along with that the story tells you where the flowers are and you can look around the pages for them. The illustrations were nicely done very colorful. This book had a little bit of repeating so kids could follow along with it as well.

[Cheryl Kays · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is great for primary students. It's a rhyming book and it is easy to predict which is great for beginning readers. The illustrations were also a great tool to help the students with their reading strategies.

[Priscilla Schelling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed how this story is predictable. Also, there was a striking focus on making sure there was no gender bias or racial bias. A very nice portrayal of subtraction and numbers in a kindergarten or first grade classroom.

[Jessica Benson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sing-song kind of book that focuses on counting from 10 to 1. Children would enjoy echoing or singing along with the reader. It is also a good book to have in the classroom because of the multicultural aspect.

[Salsabrarian]

“Ten rosy roses standing in a line, Jan picks one and now there are nine.†And so on, as each child comes by to pick one until they’re all gone. On the last spread the children present the roses to their teacher. Nice variety of kids, very colorful illustrations, very pink.

[Anastacia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I made the cutest flannel board story from this book, using pipe cleaners as the stems...

[Callie Risse · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a sing-song kind of book that focuses on counting from 10 to 1. Children would enjoy echoing or singing along with the reader.

[Kevin Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This could be used to countdown from 10. There is not much more information you can pull from the book. Although, I feel that you could use this to also teach students about basic poems.

[Tywanna Robb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book a great one to use while teaching students how to count from ten to one. It is full of rhymes which will help the children remember the order of the numbers while counting backwards.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute surprise ending!

[MaryJane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Possible read aloud for kindergarden. Maybe beginning of school year because of illustration on last page of teacher with September blackboard?

[Breanna Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book 4 stars because it is a good way to reinforce counting. I took a star off because it was a little confusing how the book counts backwards.

Lexile: AD720L
GLE: 1.5

6 Traits: Sentence Fluency

[Kara Borchert · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this story lacks originality, I appreciate the diversity and poetry it includes. This could be used as a mentor text for young students to practice pattern-writing and poetry.

Guided Reading: N/A
Lexile: AD720L

Six Traits: Sentence Fluency, Organization

[Gabrielle Neufeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book 4 stars because I thought it was a sweet simple book to help students count. It doesn't really have an awesome plot though so its definitely more of a math counting learning book.

Grade Equivalent: 1.3
Lexile: 720L

6 Traits:

[Bethany.Alvarez94gmail.Com · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple counting book for Pre-K to Kindergarten but definitely only used for that. It has a sweet ending but no actual story line making it a book that keeps it strictly to teaching counting up to 10.

Lexile: AD 720L
Grade: Pre-K to 1st grade
6+1 Traits: Sentence Fluency