Animal Numbers

Nicola Killen, who holds an MA from Cambridge School of Art, brings bold and beautiful animal illustrations to this lift-the-flap board book introducing the numbers one through five. The format is well-matched to its audience — babies and toddlers respond to the hands-on flap element, the large vibrant images hold attention, and the counting practice is woven in naturally rather than feeling like a drill. It was well-received in the UK children's book market, and the quality of the artwork sets it apart from more generic board books. Two practical notes: the counting only goes to five, which is appropriate for the age but limits how long the book stays relevant as a counting resource, and lift-the-flap books take real physical punishment from toddlers. For the intended age, this is a quality choice.