This is a simple book aimed to teach counting. There is really no plot to this story. The book consists of Carle's always wonderful illustrations and each page is modeled sort of like this: on page one there maybe Carle's illustration of an elephant and the number one, page two has an illusrtation of two lions and the number two, and the rest of the book is formated the same way.The author's site can be found at http://www.eric-carle.com/home.html one cool thing i found out on the site was it is the 40th anivesery of the very hungry catepillar.

1,2,3 To The Zoo is a delightful Eric Carle book for toddlers and preschoolers who are ready to learn their numbers. Carle combines two elements - Animals and Trains!-- to keep their interest. And most children love his artwork.

The book begins with a two-page spread of a lovely blue steam engine. The next two pages show 1 elephant on a flat-bed shipping car; the following pages, 2 hippos on their own flatbed, and so forth. The concept is that the engine is picking up the shipping-cars, making for a longer train.

What I like about this book is that there is lots to talk about. Adults can use it to teach the names of colors, as well as the names of animals, in addition to how many there are of them.

The notion of 'addition' is shown at the bottom of each page where Carle shows the train getting longer as we go along. The last pages shows an overview of the zoo with every animal where it should be.

Talking Points :::
o The artwork in this one is typical of Eric Carle.

o The big pictures done in bright colors as well as the train and animal motif ought to keep a small fry's attention.

o All the primary colors are shown. Along with numbers 1 through 10. (You "can" use this book to talk about "0" as well. The train with no animals is shown.)

o Animals mentioned are: elephant, hippos, giraffes, lions, bears, alligators or crocodiles, seals, mouse, monkeys, snakes, and a variety of birds.

o For Toddlers and Preschoolers.

Pam T~
mom and reviewer at BooksForKids-reviews ( )

I liked this book somewhat. It has interesting artwork and is very colorful, which will attract the attention of very young readers, which is the audience to which this book caters. The last page with all the animals in their new homes and people visiting the zoo can be a discussion point. ( )

This book would be great for children who are learning how to add up to a perfect 10. It is an eloquent but wordless couting book that is full of bright illustraitons! ( )

1,2,3 To The Zoo is a great counting book with wonderful Eric Carle illustrations. The reader takes a tour of the zoo, counting the animals along the way.