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Everyone Counts
From the bestselling creators of Wild About Books comes a rhyming, counting, and teamwork-focused picture book about the beginnings of a new zoo!
When Takoda the tiger cub happens upon a tumbledown mall, the lone cub imagines a zoo. All Takoda needs is a capable crew to lend a paw or two--or three, four, or more.
Two rhinos, three lemurs, four oryx, and eventually ten crocodiles turn up to help. Soon the animals are finding places to pitch bears are carving out burrows, elephants are stomping the way for a playground, and crocodiles are crafting a waterslide.
It seems everyone's got something to do--everyone, that is, except for ten eager bugs. Will they be underestimated for their size or will this be a new kind of zoo where everyone counts?
Judy Sierra's rhymes and Marc Brown's colorful, folk-inspired art lend themselves to themes of counting and teamwork in this new picture book all about how a tiger cub and a whole lot of friends to count on add up to one wonderful zoo.
A Bank Street Best Book of the Year, Outstanding Merit
"The creators of Wild About Books and Wild About You! again demonstrate finely tuned creative teamwork in this nimble tale about cooperation, inclusivity, and the rewards of a job diligently done."-- Publishers Weekly
"Sierra's rollicking rhymes are fun to read aloud and listen to, and Brown's gouache and pencil illustrations give children lots of details to pore over. This rhythmic, imaginative romp practically reads itself aloud."-- Kirkus
When Takoda the tiger cub happens upon a tumbledown mall, the lone cub imagines a zoo. All Takoda needs is a capable crew to lend a paw or two--or three, four, or more.
Two rhinos, three lemurs, four oryx, and eventually ten crocodiles turn up to help. Soon the animals are finding places to pitch bears are carving out burrows, elephants are stomping the way for a playground, and crocodiles are crafting a waterslide.
It seems everyone's got something to do--everyone, that is, except for ten eager bugs. Will they be underestimated for their size or will this be a new kind of zoo where everyone counts?
Judy Sierra's rhymes and Marc Brown's colorful, folk-inspired art lend themselves to themes of counting and teamwork in this new picture book all about how a tiger cub and a whole lot of friends to count on add up to one wonderful zoo.
A Bank Street Best Book of the Year, Outstanding Merit
"The creators of Wild About Books and Wild About You! again demonstrate finely tuned creative teamwork in this nimble tale about cooperation, inclusivity, and the rewards of a job diligently done."-- Publishers Weekly
"Sierra's rollicking rhymes are fun to read aloud and listen to, and Brown's gouache and pencil illustrations give children lots of details to pore over. This rhythmic, imaginative romp practically reads itself aloud."-- Kirkus
40 pages, Library Binding
First published September 17, 2019
1 person is currently reading
58 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
November 30, 2019
Author/illustrator team Judy Sierra and Marc Brown, who previously collaborated on
Wild About Books
, join forces again in the entertaining counting adventure. The rhyming text tells the story of how Takoda the tiger cub found an abandoned mall and, together with his animal pals, turned it into a luxurious zoo for them all. Only the bugs are left out, told that their contribution doesn't count. But when the rhinos begin to bully the other animals, once the zoo is built, it turns out that the bugs have a role to play after all...
As with their previous title, I found Sierra and Brown's Everyone Counts to be quite a hoot to read! The rhyming text flows quite well, incorporating the numbers one to ten into the story, while the colorful artwork, done in gouache and pencil, accentuates the humor and fun of the tale. The decorative end-papers were also entertaining, presenting number-related jokes at the front, and bug-relates jokes at the rear. Recommended to anyone looking for fun new counting books, or for entertaining read-aloud selections for story-hour!
As with their previous title, I found Sierra and Brown's Everyone Counts to be quite a hoot to read! The rhyming text flows quite well, incorporating the numbers one to ten into the story, while the colorful artwork, done in gouache and pencil, accentuates the humor and fun of the tale. The decorative end-papers were also entertaining, presenting number-related jokes at the front, and bug-relates jokes at the rear. Recommended to anyone looking for fun new counting books, or for entertaining read-aloud selections for story-hour!
December 11, 2019
The riddles in the front and back will tickle the funny bones of little ones. Cute story, too, with Marc Brown's large gouache and pencil illustrations.
December 10, 2019
Reviewed for School Library Journal, 9/1/19.
PreS-Gr 1—When a group of animals decide to transform an abandoned mall into a beautiful new zoo, they learn the valuable lesson that everyone has something to contribute. The work begins with two burly rhinoceros demolishing the mall; but when a group of eager insects try to join their crew, the cantankerous rhinos call them pests, and tell them they are too small and that they "don't count at all." The construction continues with lemurs, bears, elephants, etc. all building an amazing zoo, which even includes a fantastic water slide. Everything comes to a head when the pugnacious rhinos declare the slide their personal property. The banished bugs from earlier choose this moment to make themselves known and suffice it to say, the rhinos are abashed and soon everyone is having a rollicking good time. Sierra takes on numbers and bullying in a playful manner that is well-suited for young listeners. The rhyming text coupled with detailed illustrations make for a fun storytime read. VERDICT Kids will enjoy poring over the artwork and the charming end pages, which are replete with silly number puns told by the bugs.—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI
PreS-Gr 1—When a group of animals decide to transform an abandoned mall into a beautiful new zoo, they learn the valuable lesson that everyone has something to contribute. The work begins with two burly rhinoceros demolishing the mall; but when a group of eager insects try to join their crew, the cantankerous rhinos call them pests, and tell them they are too small and that they "don't count at all." The construction continues with lemurs, bears, elephants, etc. all building an amazing zoo, which even includes a fantastic water slide. Everything comes to a head when the pugnacious rhinos declare the slide their personal property. The banished bugs from earlier choose this moment to make themselves known and suffice it to say, the rhinos are abashed and soon everyone is having a rollicking good time. Sierra takes on numbers and bullying in a playful manner that is well-suited for young listeners. The rhyming text coupled with detailed illustrations make for a fun storytime read. VERDICT Kids will enjoy poring over the artwork and the charming end pages, which are replete with silly number puns told by the bugs.—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI
June 21, 2020
Everyone Counts by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown. PICTURE BOOK. Alfred A. Knopf (Penguin Random House), 2019. $18. 9780525646204
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
With rhyming text, this is a number book about animals determined to build a zoo where there was an empty lot before. Two rhinos make it hard for the bugs to join in too and when the rhinos block other animals from enjoying the final product, those same bugs step in and irritate the rhinos until they allow everyone to join.
This book is a lot of fun to read aloud and flows perfectly with rhythm and rhyme. The illustrations are pastel and lean toward the younger set. The book also includes a great (punny) message about including everyone.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
With rhyming text, this is a number book about animals determined to build a zoo where there was an empty lot before. Two rhinos make it hard for the bugs to join in too and when the rhinos block other animals from enjoying the final product, those same bugs step in and irritate the rhinos until they allow everyone to join.
This book is a lot of fun to read aloud and flows perfectly with rhythm and rhyme. The illustrations are pastel and lean toward the younger set. The book also includes a great (punny) message about including everyone.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
September 21, 2023
Everyone Counts by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown tells a meaningful story about teamwork and being kind through the personification of different animal and insects. The story is able to progress through the use of numbers. The different number of animals make up groups that work on certain task in order to rebuild a place for them to have fun in. All of the numbers count in relation to the two times the rhinos are stood up to by the animals. Teamwork and being kind is added to this book’s representation of numbers because the different numbers of animals the make up the groups allow them to work together to teach the mean rhinos a lesson on being kind to others. This picture book plays with imagination and logic similarly to some of Edward Lear’s nonsense poems. Michael Heyman ad Kevin Shortsleeve in their essay “Nonsense” note how Lear created a new and important style of nonsense that made writing and images work together (pg. 134-135). Lear’s style is similar this picture book’s use of imagination and logic. It allows children’s minds to run free and develop their own interpretations of the animals and whether their behaviors are reasonable. This kind of freedom allows children to make connections to both, teamwork and being kind, representations of numbers in the book.
February 19, 2020
Judy Sierra’s, Everyone Counts, is a delightful counting book for children ages 7-8. This rhyming story is about Takoda, the tiger cub, looking at a run down old mall and imagining a beautiful zoo in its place. All Takoda needs to accomplish this is a willing crew. Two rhinos, three lemurs, four oryx and a few more. These giant animals turn away some helpful bugs because they’re too small.
“Not a chance,” said the rhinos.
“You bugs are too small.”
“You’re pests. You’re annoying.
You don’t count at all.”
As the zoo is completed, the territorial bully rhinos get attacked by the bugs and quickly apologize for their bad behavior. Takoda then exclaims, “Our zoo is the best because everyone counts!”
Marc Brown’s illustrations are colorful and bright. He brings focus to the size of the rhinos and the work it takes to build a zoo. I would read this book aloud to children from Kindergarten to 2nd grade when discussing the importance of teamwork and how student’s are individually special, no matter their size, shape, color, gender, etc.
“Not a chance,” said the rhinos.
“You bugs are too small.”
“You’re pests. You’re annoying.
You don’t count at all.”
As the zoo is completed, the territorial bully rhinos get attacked by the bugs and quickly apologize for their bad behavior. Takoda then exclaims, “Our zoo is the best because everyone counts!”
Marc Brown’s illustrations are colorful and bright. He brings focus to the size of the rhinos and the work it takes to build a zoo. I would read this book aloud to children from Kindergarten to 2nd grade when discussing the importance of teamwork and how student’s are individually special, no matter their size, shape, color, gender, etc.
December 7, 2019
Gouache and pencil illustrations fill the pages of this lively book that combines counting, building a new zoo and a positive message. While two rhinos seem to think that they can do the heavy lifting and then aren't willing to share access to the zoo's water slide, the bugs they've dismissed earlier teach them a lesson about strength and cooperation, leading to the book's title and message the everyone matters or counts. No matter how small, everyone has something to contribute. Readers won't want to miss the jokes on the end papers, which feature all sorts of insects. Clearly, this creative team knows what it's doing and how to appeal to the book's intended audience. While I was already familiar with some of the riddles, I still enjoyed them. I'm certain plenty of youngsters will read them and then share them with friends and family members.
December 27, 2019
Several animals work together to renovate an old mall into a fun zoo, but some of the animals think they should be the only ones doing the fun stuff and that the little animals don't matter.
There is actually a solid story in here, which almost makes you forget it's a counting book. In the end the bully animals change their minds, and the animal that started the whole plan reminds them all that "everyone counts!" Some good notes on teamwork and using your skills/talents for the team doesn't make you more or less important than the other members even if they aren't very flashy.
No content issues.
March 21, 2020
Another fine book by Sierra. Great read aloud to my young nieces, who also liked it a lot (more important than my liking it, honestly).
What I like:
Marc Brown as illustrator is hard to beat.
Math fun - important for kids. The math jokes on the front inside cover and the zoo jokes on the back inside cover are terrific additions <-- see what I did there?
Themes of working together.
Being able to do predictions with each successive number - and then counting the animals for one-to-one correspondence learning.
Everyone counts is such a good message for kids.
Even as an English teacher, I love math and embrace teaching it with picture books.
What I like:
Marc Brown as illustrator is hard to beat.
Math fun - important for kids. The math jokes on the front inside cover and the zoo jokes on the back inside cover are terrific additions <-- see what I did there?
Themes of working together.
Being able to do predictions with each successive number - and then counting the animals for one-to-one correspondence learning.
Everyone counts is such a good message for kids.
Even as an English teacher, I love math and embrace teaching it with picture books.
October 17, 2019
"Everyone counts" is a great title. It's both a pun on the fact this is a counting book, and the anti-bullying message to be found inside.
I think it was more than a little weird that the animals were all getting together to build a zoo. I don't think zoos are always bad (or always good), but even at their most altruistic they exist because people are pushing so many species to extinction. Although, the "zoo" in this story is much more of an amusement park, complete with playground equipment and lots of wild water slides...
I think it was more than a little weird that the animals were all getting together to build a zoo. I don't think zoos are always bad (or always good), but even at their most altruistic they exist because people are pushing so many species to extinction. Although, the "zoo" in this story is much more of an amusement park, complete with playground equipment and lots of wild water slides...
January 30, 2020
One of my favorites Judy Sierra has teamed up again with popular illustrator Marc Brown for this zoo animal based counting book. As the animals build a zoo, animals show up to help in groups up to 10. And when two bullying rhinos try to stop the animals from enjoying what was built, an insect attack with a countdown from 10 stops the bullying and everyone learns the lesson of how everyone counts! The inside cover pages have clever math related riddles which readers will also enjoy. Told in rhymed verse. A great book for young readers at home or in school.
December 27, 2019
A group of animals are building a zoo. The rhinos are bossing everyone around and telling the insects that they can't help. But the insects have an idea of how to show the rhinos that they can count too.
I like the double meaning of counts in this book. It is both a 1-10 counting book and contains a message that everyone matters and can contribute, no matter how small. The end pages are full of math puns kids should enjoy. A cute counting book for animal lovers.
I like the double meaning of counts in this book. It is both a 1-10 counting book and contains a message that everyone matters and can contribute, no matter how small. The end pages are full of math puns kids should enjoy. A cute counting book for animal lovers.
October 22, 2019
I loved the story! I like that it worked counting into a bigger plot, so it's a much more advanced counting book than the basic concept books we might usually read. I wasn't a fan of the art, though. I do love Marc Brown, but I'm afraid that the muted tones and busy images make the book look a touch dated. Maybe I just prefer a more contemporary, graphic style.
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December 17, 2019I think that the illustrator used gouache to make backgrounds in the pictures, and it really muddies what is going on in the illustrations which is quite unfortunate. It's not as sharp as the other ones. For a story it was okay. The rhinos versus bugs thing was kind of weird. The endpapers are probably my favorite part of the whole book sadly.
January 28, 2021
Good but not great. I enjoy the pictures (have loved Marc Brown for decades) and like the counting lessons and message about teamwork and cooperation. But there's something missing to make it quite a classic. Still, can see pulling it out for a storytime on numbers/counting, animals of all sorts, or teamwork.
October 23, 2022
From rhinos to bugs, to tiger cubs, everyone counts when building a new zoo!
A fun book about counting, animals, being kind and sharing, not looking down on others that are different than you.
The illustrations are very fun and detailed. The front and back of the book are filled with jokes, so that's an immediate win.
A fun book about counting, animals, being kind and sharing, not looking down on others that are different than you.
The illustrations are very fun and detailed. The front and back of the book are filled with jokes, so that's an immediate win.
July 31, 2024
I enjoyed this rhyming picture book about imagining and taking an old mall and constructing a zoo. Imagine all the animals and insects making a zoo from an old building. Colorful illustrations of the work and the zoo that comes together with animal builders. And the issue of bullying rhinos is taken care of swiftly.
November 27, 2019
When one lone tiger-cub named Takodo discovers an abandoned mall, he thinks it will make a great zoo. So with the help of others a zoo is built, but two rhinos bully the bugs who want to help, but the get their comeuppance, and learn that everyone counts.
September 26, 2019
Cute illustrations in this book of animals building a zoo on a vacant lot. Children learn counting concepts as well.
October 2, 2019
Another classic by this author! Great way to learn how to count!
October 8, 2019
But why were the animals building a zoo....
October 28, 2019
It was good but my favorite is still Wild About Books.
October 29, 2019
Confusing intertwining story lines--one about bullying rhinos and one counting animals as they build a zoo. I think children would find this difficult to follow as a read-aloud.
November 11, 2019
Very colorful and fun. Nice story with counting and numbers.
November 18, 2019
A counting book with a moral.
November 21, 2019
fun!!! so creative!!! lots of themes, anti-bullying, everyone helping out, making something better, counting, great pictures. AND RHYMING too!!!
November 28, 2019
Animals team up to build a new zoo.
December 4, 2019
Loads of fun! Even the endpapers are WONDERFUL! Pictures are fantastic, and I loved the rhyme. Definitely recommend it!
January 4, 2020
didn't work for me on all levels
January 30, 2020
Good for a read-aloud in a SEL discussion emphasizing inclusion.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews