Animal Orchestra: A Counting Book

by Scott Gustafson

An illustrated counting book that utilizes an orchestra of tuxedo-clad animals--such as lions, flamingos, and kangaroos--to depict the numbers one to ten

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

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 9, 1995

About the author

Scott Gustafson has had the opportunity to illustrate a number of archetypal children’s books such as Peter Pan, Nutcracker, Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose, and Classic Fairy Tales, the last two titles published by Artisan. In 2011, he tried his hand at writing and illustrating, and his first novel, Eddie: The Lost Youth of Edgar Allan Poe, was published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Children.

Scott's latest title, Classic Bedtime Stories, is published by Artisan.

In addition, Scott has worked on film projects for DreamWorks and PDI and has created character designs for the animated TV show, "Chugginton."

His illustrations also appear in limited-edition prints published by The Greenwich Workshop and on collector plates, greeting cards, and gift wrap.

Reviews

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maestro Toucan introduces the animal orchestra by counting off the instruments needed to form it. He counts from one to ten, than teaches the concept of an orchestra group. The next to the last page lists all the different kinds of animals whom made up the different sections of the orchestra. Larger then life pictures will have little ones interested in the instruments and animals. Extra-large text will help them to recognize the numbers and words.

[Paige Spychalski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my childhood favorites and remember getting this book read to me every single night from my mom! There is an animal orchestra, but to have an orchestra you need more than one animal! We start with one and work our way up to 8 and there we have the whole animal orchestra!

This book honestly helped me how to count and got my brain working with memorization because I was reading it so often! Very simple book for any young children and easy language for them to begin picking up easy words but also learning more difficult words from the animal names that are being shown.

[Gail Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drawn to the detailed illustrations, I find the expressions of each "musician" (animal) delightful. If I were still a child, I would read this book every day, more than once a day!
As a music teacher, and an active musician, the concepts of math, instruments, animals, and words gave my heart joy.
Music is, and always will be, a language that unites all our lives.
THIS is a wonderful A+++ book!
p.s. My favorite musician? the Moose, of course!
Thank you for the beautiful art work, Scott Gustafson.

[Sarah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly and cute

[Jamie Jonas · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a GLORIOUS book. I'd been collecting Gustafson images for years when I ran across this one, but this, a fabulous fantastical romp through What-If Land (what if animals played musical instruments) sums up in brief measure the charm and chutzpah that characterize his work. As an artist and writer, I can't give it any higher recommendation. I've recently been working to reduce the books I own by half, but whatever else goes, it won't be this!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just awesome mix of wording and artwork.

[Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great way to combine numbers and animals for learning toddlers and preschoolers.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy and cute. Orchestranimals was more popular with my 4 yr old, even though there was a lot more text, but this one was nice too.

[Elaine In · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated counting book

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art is amazing and the animals so realistic! I like that he used a lot of uncommon animals