Review - The Very Berry Counting Book

The Very Berry Counting Book
by Jerry Pallotta
illustrated by Joy Newton
Date: 2017
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 10
Format: e-book
Source: library

Best-selling author Jerry Pallotta’s latest counting book is for the youngest readers to devour. Covering familiar North American berries like blueberries and strawberries, as well as lesser-known ones such as mulberries and salmonberries, this fruity board book combines evocative adjectives with beautiful botanical illustrations.

Berries are a healthy finger food toddlers are familiar with. Learning their names and the numbers from one to ten is sure to delight.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a difficult book to review because there's not much to it. There are only ten pages, each with a number and a picture of the appropriate number of berries, each modified by an adjective. I kind of expected more on the text side of things; the book could've included little rhymes or something. As it is, it's fairly boring, and will probably only appeal to the youngest readers who are still learning their numbers.

The artwork is okay. It's colourful, and it depicts a number of more unusual berries beyond what most people think of when they think about berries. However, if you (or your kids) are really science-minded, you might not like the fact that some of the fruits depicted are not strictly classified as berries.

I can't imagine spending money on a book like this, since you're getting so little. I guess as a board book for toddlers, it might be okay. But I found it lacking.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5