Counting in the Oceans 1-2-3

All About Counting in the Biomes

by Aaron R. Murray

Author Aaron R. Murray explores ocean life while counting to ten in COUNTING IN THE OCEANS 1-2-3. Beginning readers will see the animals that live in ocean while examining color photos that enhance the simple text.

23 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2012

Reviews

[Jeani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good introductory series for small children. It would be even better in board book form. Nice, colorful images. Easy to practice counting or just enjoy the animals.

[E & E’s Mama · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good counting book with an ocean theme. Simple enough for infants yet useful for preschoolers who are learning how to count

[Hilary · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Counting in the Oceans 1-2-3" is a counting book with an ocean animal theme. Although children will enjoy the photographs of the varied animals featured, this volume is flawed as a concept book.

Concrete thinkers being introduced to counting must have examples that are unambiguous. For example, for the number eight, readers count an octopus' tentacles. However, seven of the tentacles are large while the eighth is very tiny. For four, children count a seal's flippers, but the angle of the photograph begs whether three flippers and a tail are shown or four flippers. Using the ten gills on the underbelly of a stingray is innovative, but the photograph is so dark and murky that each gill is individually identified in the picture.

The series is ostensibly about counting, but the titles in the "read more," section all focus on sea animals. There are several great ocean-themed counting books ("Ten is a Crab," by comes to mind) and would have been a better choice. With a word count of 22 and only 23 pages (ten of which are photos), an index scarcely seems necessary.

The suggested websites are not on target. The EPA webpage opens on a page devoted to estuaries, but there is a link to information about oceans. While the estuary page has information that is appropriate for first graders, the ocean page is much more advanced. The second link was no longer available.