One Is Not a Pair: A Spotting Book

Lots of animals and insects sport spots, others have stripes. In rich colors on sturdy pages, a flap folds out to reveal one or the other. Rich, patterned language and appealing illustration are used in this and in Animal 1 2 3, a clever counting book also sure to surprise and engage.

A bee flies through fields of flowers, over woodland streams and more until it winds up in its hive with others. Colorful illustrations fill each double-page spread, each with a die-cut to glimpse what appears on the next page. The rhyming text moves the bee’s saga satisfyingly along. 

From morning to nighttime, there’s a lot going on in town, on a farm and at the port, each populated by animals that are stand-ins for people. Readers will discover many things on each large, colorful double page spread as the day passes in each locale. A clock and brief text on each page provides clues as to what to hunt for in this book reminiscent of Richard Scarry.

A rhyming description of a host of animals combines with crisp, colorful, and detailed illustrations encouraging readers to find matching pairs. Careful examination is needed to discern the differences in identically shaped but uniquely colored critters in this attractive game book.