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Fifteen Animals!
A counting book like no other, from Sandra Boynton!
The amazing Bob! The amazing Boynton! Because who else but Sandra Boynton could imagine 15 Bobs in one book? Actually, that's 14 Bobs, and one Simon James Alexander Ragsdale the Third (he's a turtle), which gives Fifteen Animals! the added dimension of being a unique counting book—count the Bobs, count the pets, count the bunnies, count the fish. Fifteen Animals! also comes with a free song available via download. It's all the energy and appeal of the lively language, distinctive illustrations, and inimitable characters. And music. And counting. And, for the first time, a person character, an earnest little boy who loves animals and happily
I really like animals,
I like them a lot.
Fifteen animals is what I’ve got.
I’ve got fifteen animals.
They're friendly and tame, and
I’ve given each one a special name.
Make that Bob.
The amazing Bob! The amazing Boynton! Because who else but Sandra Boynton could imagine 15 Bobs in one book? Actually, that's 14 Bobs, and one Simon James Alexander Ragsdale the Third (he's a turtle), which gives Fifteen Animals! the added dimension of being a unique counting book—count the Bobs, count the pets, count the bunnies, count the fish. Fifteen Animals! also comes with a free song available via download. It's all the energy and appeal of the lively language, distinctive illustrations, and inimitable characters. And music. And counting. And, for the first time, a person character, an earnest little boy who loves animals and happily
I really like animals,
I like them a lot.
Fifteen animals is what I’ve got.
I’ve got fifteen animals.
They're friendly and tame, and
I’ve given each one a special name.
Make that Bob.
24 pages, Board Book
First published November 1, 2008
15 people are currently reading
461 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Boynton
167 books1,124 followersSandra Keith Boynton is an American humorist, songwriter, director, music producer, children's author, and illustrator. Boynton has written and illustrated over eighty-five books for children and seven general audience books, as well as over four thousand greeting cards, and seven music albums. She has also designed calendars, wallpaper, bedding, stationery, paper goods, clothing, jewelry, and plush toys for various companies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
January 27, 2022
This ish is hilarious to me. My baby is too little to get it yet but I look forward to the day when she does :). If she doesn’t find it funny I’ll laugh anyways.
April 25, 2019
Fifteen Animals is the most critically-acclaimed installment in Sandra Boynton's "Animals" saga, and not without reason. In passing you might expect it to be yet another lurid dime-store novel--but don't let the cover fool you. It's a work of transformative depth, taking the board book genre to new heights and subverting all the familiar tropes for a ride you won't soon forget.
The narrator's turtle is most often the subject of literary scholarship (and in all fairness the conspicuous absence of his father, Simon James Alexander Ragsdale the Second, is poignant and worthy of exploration). But I find that such myopic focus on our diapsid friend gives too little credit to the ensemble cast of lively characters who make up the bulk of the book's page count. For example, textual analysis by a computer reveals that Bob and his bunny wife Bob receive equal treatment to Ragsdale, by word count--greater if you count their children. Yet their story is practically ignored. If we look closer, give them the time they merit, we would likely find that they contain multitudes.
Page 9, Fig. 1 (an illustration from the author's original manuscript) provides the jumping off point for a different mystery: the apparent passing of Bob, who as recently as the front jacket of the book appeared to be alive and well, if a little timorous. The text devotes little time to this unique circumstance other than an impression in the corner of the number 5, numerological token of carelessness and ancient symbol of marriage. This and other clues lead us to ask: with whose marriage was Bob careless? His own or another's? Was it Bob's? We might assume it was with Bob or his bunny wife Bob that he was caught (either "in the act" as it were, or by his own conscience), leading him to a tragic end--but this would be too hasty an assumption. It should be noted that Bob and Bob (though the exact nature of their arrangement is uncertain) are also cohabitating, and their relationship hasn't yielded so much as a single batch of caviar. Why do we always see them tight-lipped around each other, or even facing in opposite directions as if to shut out the fact of each other's existence? Has something come between them? Is their fishbowl world too big to keep them together?
I'm fascinated by the stories that happen off the page and behind the scenes in this deceptively complex little novella, even obsessed, and if the nights I've spent awake are any indication, you will be fascinated too. I give it my heartiest recommendation and once my son is old enough to read, I'm all but certain he will add his own.
The narrator's turtle is most often the subject of literary scholarship (and in all fairness the conspicuous absence of his father, Simon James Alexander Ragsdale the Second, is poignant and worthy of exploration). But I find that such myopic focus on our diapsid friend gives too little credit to the ensemble cast of lively characters who make up the bulk of the book's page count. For example, textual analysis by a computer reveals that Bob and his bunny wife Bob receive equal treatment to Ragsdale, by word count--greater if you count their children. Yet their story is practically ignored. If we look closer, give them the time they merit, we would likely find that they contain multitudes.
Page 9, Fig. 1 (an illustration from the author's original manuscript) provides the jumping off point for a different mystery: the apparent passing of Bob, who as recently as the front jacket of the book appeared to be alive and well, if a little timorous. The text devotes little time to this unique circumstance other than an impression in the corner of the number 5, numerological token of carelessness and ancient symbol of marriage. This and other clues lead us to ask: with whose marriage was Bob careless? His own or another's? Was it Bob's? We might assume it was with Bob or his bunny wife Bob that he was caught (either "in the act" as it were, or by his own conscience), leading him to a tragic end--but this would be too hasty an assumption. It should be noted that Bob and Bob (though the exact nature of their arrangement is uncertain) are also cohabitating, and their relationship hasn't yielded so much as a single batch of caviar. Why do we always see them tight-lipped around each other, or even facing in opposite directions as if to shut out the fact of each other's existence? Has something come between them? Is their fishbowl world too big to keep them together?
I'm fascinated by the stories that happen off the page and behind the scenes in this deceptively complex little novella, even obsessed, and if the nights I've spent awake are any indication, you will be fascinated too. I give it my heartiest recommendation and once my son is old enough to read, I'm all but certain he will add his own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2024
This book is the silliest. The plot is great of course and we all love the name Bob, but repeatedly trying to stick my hand through the hole in the front cover is really what this book is to me.
March 10, 2021
I had a cactus named Bob once. Sadly, we had to give him up.
November 19, 2020
This book has a surprise ending, but it doesn’t have to do with the number of animals. There’s 15.
5-5 stars
5-5 stars
February 25, 2024
Everyone is Bob. But the ending is a real knee slapper!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2024
This magnificent, multigenerational Orwellian melodrama represents a benchmark not just in children’s literature but in American fiction writ large.
March 7, 2025
Literally makes me laugh every time.
August 1, 2024
This is maybe the best book I’ve read this year. Hilarious.
October 21, 2025
Probably better with the song
September 10, 2013
A funny little read about 15 animals… 14 of which are named Bob! A fun way to teach your little one about animals and pets.
November 6, 2023
First sentence: I really like animals. I like them a lot. Fifteen animals is what I've got. I've got fifteen animals. They're friendly and tame and I've given each one a special name--
Premise/plot: This counting, animal-themed book features a twist. A twist that is revealed as the protagonist reveals the names of his fifteen animals....I won't be spoiling here.
My thoughts: This one was over-the-top-silly. I liked it. Probably more than most of Sandra Boynton's other board books. I don't always love them. (Though I know they are supposedly always awesome.)
Premise/plot: This counting, animal-themed book features a twist. A twist that is revealed as the protagonist reveals the names of his fifteen animals....I won't be spoiling here.
My thoughts: This one was over-the-top-silly. I liked it. Probably more than most of Sandra Boynton's other board books. I don't always love them. (Though I know they are supposedly always awesome.)
December 21, 2018
Let's face it--many board books are a chore for adults to read. Sandra Boynton manages to add a twist to most of her brief stories that make reading a board book enjoyable for adults, too. This is one of Baby Girl's favorite books to read along with, as the repetition is easy for her to remember. After probably a hundred times reading it, I'm not tempted to hide it, as I still enjoy reading it with her.
April 20, 2023
I also read this book at the day care I work at, and it was pretty cute but a little slow. This story is about a boy who has fifteen animals, because he loves them, and each of their names is Bob. He has a piglet named bob, a car named bob, a horse named bob, and so on. The last page of this book, his fifteenth animal is a huge name (which made the toddlers laugh). This book is cute; but a little slow so I rated it a 3/5!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2024
Jack borrowed this book from the Oxford Public Library as part of our quest to read all the Sandra Boynton books. She remains a favorite.
For several days, Jack wanted to read this book to himself. He’d get it out, flip through the pages, count the numbers, and name the animals. Tonight, I picked it up again and he finally let me read it. He loved doing all those same things again and giggling at the repetition of Bob.
For several days, Jack wanted to read this book to himself. He’d get it out, flip through the pages, count the numbers, and name the animals. Tonight, I picked it up again and he finally let me read it. He loved doing all those same things again and giggling at the repetition of Bob.
October 23, 2020
Another Sandra Boynton book down. This one does have a downloadable song. It isn’t as catchy as ‘Your Nose’, but it makes the book better.
The book has short sentences, and 15 different animals, all except one of whom are named Bob. The song helps really bring this story to life.
This is a silly book, that my daughter enjoyed.
The book has short sentences, and 15 different animals, all except one of whom are named Bob. The song helps really bring this story to life.
This is a silly book, that my daughter enjoyed.
January 11, 2018
An absolutely wonderful board book. A great counting book that goes up to 15. Written with a pleasing rhyme and rhythm, it is one that both kiddos and adults will enjoy. Meet a wonderful little boy with 15 pets, 14 of which are named Bob!
January 26, 2019
We love Sandra Boynton, she gets us! The rhymes, the animals which mama can make silly sounds to, the awesome illustrations and of course Bob. Genius! It's all genius. Plus, there's that cutout in the front to stick one's tongue through.
December 28, 2020
Big fan of Boynton Books. Love the colorful and cute pictures. The story is silly. A little boy with fifteen animals named al of them Bob .... except the utterly at the end of the book. Fun, quick paced, perfect for babies and toddlers.
February 1, 2025
I love kids books and despite this being a basic counting book, it still made me laugh! I would highly recommend this as a gift to anyone called Bob!! Or just anyone with a silly sense of humour like me!
August 22, 2017
hahahahahha yessssss
This is every child! hahaha
This is every child! hahaha
November 26, 2017
My kindergartners love Bob! and these books. I used this in a math lesson where I taught the number 15. The kiddos like a story and it worked well to incorporate it into our math lesson.
February 19, 2018
The best part of this book is that it is fun to read over and over again. Ada seems to like the rhythm of the poetry ( and of course that I make the animal sounds.) I liked the surprise ending.
September 29, 2018
I loved the turtle’s name!
December 5, 2018
This is a great book for young kids. It is funny because for myself the go to name for people or animals is Bob. It is easy for kids to read.
January 8, 2019
I don't want to give away the spoiler but this has an amazing twist ending.
January 18, 2019
A little boy has fifteen pets, and they are all called Bob...or are they? Sandra Boynton never disappoints!
March 12, 2019
learn all the names of your favorite Sandra Boynton characters.
September 19, 2019
Heehee--cute!
The song is cute, but it goes too fast to go along with the book!
The song is cute, but it goes too fast to go along with the book!
December 12, 2019
So cute and thankfully different than many other let's-learn-to-count-books. Plus the twist at the end really made me chuckle.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews