Curious EnCOUNTers: 1 to 13 Forest Friends

by Ben Clanton, Jessixa Bagley (Illustrator)

Featuring the clever wordplay of Narwhal and Jelly author Ben Clanton and playful illustrations by Ezra Jack Keats honor winner Jessixa Bagley,  Curious EnCOUNTers will have children laughing while learning to count from 1 to 13.

Children will have fun learning to count from 1 to 13 in this clever and imaginative book featuring Pacific Northwest critters engaged in curious activities and woven together by a young girl who goes on a hike. Readers will join her in unexpected, silly encounters along the way, such as one moose making a movie, five wolves weaving wool, and eight coyotes kayaking and canoeing. The young girl's hike culminates in what may be the most curious encounter of many of the animals in the book enjoying a big picnic lunch together, pulling in humorous details from previous scenes.

With the visual humor in Jessixa Bagley's illustrations, children will have fun learning to count to 13! And older readers will enjoy Ben Clanton's clever and punny wordplay!

Genres: Picture Books, Counting, Animals, Childrens, Humor, Number

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 4, 2020

About the author

Ben Clanton is the author/illustrator of the Narwhal and Jelly series as well as a number of other books as IT CAME IN THE MAIL, MO'S MUSTACHE, and TATER TALES. When Ben isn't doodling up stories (and often when he is) he likes to cook, explore outdoors, and play basketball. Ben lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and kids. Find out more about Ben at www.benclanton.com.

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This is a really comical counting book that gave me a giggle as I read it. There's some superbly clever wordplay in this book relating to the animals in each number group .

This book will be a memorable book for children that get the humour in it and a different kind of counting book too.

The illustrations are beautiful and have so much detail within them that children will sit and look at them as they read the pages.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant, but I don't see this winning out in the crowded market of counting books. We get the usual thing, of one animal doing an unusual thing, then two different ones doing something else, and so on, but that's where this ends. I couldn't include the punning speech bubbles as a USP, for they were quite irritating and unfunny, if truth be told. I wouldn't object to my toddler using this for their numbers, but I have reviewed better and more clever counting books (9781786275660 being one). For now, though, this is, to repeat, a pleasant second best. Three and a half stars.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good counting book for children. It is a great way to spend time with your kiddos while teaching them. This counting book includes fun animal characters that play on words. If you child has a great sense of humor, this will become their favorite book for sure. It starts with 1 Moose making a movie. And the movie is non other than a moose-ical. You have 13 pages of laughter and fun to share! Highly recommend.

A special thank you to Sasquatch Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, light, and detailed illustrations and a clever word play story make this book fun for all ages. Young readers will definitely enjoy the animal antics and simple counting. Older readers will chuckle at the alliteration and wordplay throughout. If you are looking for a counting book with lots of EXTRAS, this is it!

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute- fun illustrations and counting to 13. Lots of puns and word play.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each time you step out into the world, you're never quite sure what you will see, smell, taste, touch or hear. You're never quite sure who you will meet. It's a step taken with a sense of adventure laden with anticipation. There is always the chance of the extraordinary happening.

When you are greeted with something marvelous, you will silently watch, storing it in your memories to replay in the future. Curious EnCOUNTers: 1 to 13 Forest Friends (Little Bigfoot, an imprint of Sasquatch Books, August 4, 2020) written by Ben Clanton with illustrations by Jessixa Bagley is about a girl whose exploration of a forest yields wondrous word play. Fortunately for us, she shares the experience.


My full recommendation:https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, the puns! If you are not in it for puns, then this book is definitely NOT for you. Please be forewarned. If you are feeling witty or punny, then read on and enjoy. Counting does not seem to be the primary focus here, but rather a secondary sideline of the story. The illustrations are in a graphic, comic sort of style and are silly and sweet. Due to the size of the book I have here, I would recommend this more for a one-on-one read with an older child who would understand that use of humor so that you both can enjoy all of the little details. Otherwise, enjoy the puns yourself and read it straight with your child. Not everything has to be for everyone.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl is walking through the woods, the animals must not see her because they are doing some very unusual things. There's a moose making a movie, wolves knitting sweaters, otters opening oysters and so much more.

I loved the puns! In each illustration, the animals are talking to each other, in some there's alliteration, in others plays on words. A fun read and an unusual counting book.

Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Susan Underbrink · Rating 5 out of 5]

A big thank you to NetGalley and Sasquatch Books/Little Bigfoot for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is a children's counting book. What a fun book!! The graphics are gorgeous, with so much detail. I giggled over the word play. I think many young children will enjoy this book, and if an older sibling is reading it they won't mind either. 4.5 stars

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silly counting book littles will be laughing through as they learn! The Illustrations were amusing and animals doing silly things was just to fun! Wolves weaving? Beavers baking bread? lol!
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you love punny books and need more counting books, consider purchasing. I found the puns tedious to read aloud. Maybe best just to read as an animal counting book?
Considering it for a class read aloud...it's too small for my groups of 23-25 students on the rug. Maybe under a document camera?

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Counting from 1 to 13 with different "forest friends"
Animals include moose, racoon, slugs, fawns (deer), wolves, squirrels, beavers, coyotes, otters, bears, orcas, seals, and seagulls.
The publisher is from Seattle, WA.

Reviewed from a library copy.

[Dylan Teut · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for the clever puns and word play.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Counting and puns?! Some people will really like this.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun counting book! There was so many puns. I am not sure if the target audience will get it, but I thought they were fun.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

13 strange animal encounters in the woods like beavers baking bread and more.

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the puns