Dogs In Cars Hardcover – November 1, 2016

First things first. We count from one to twenty-five, and then toss in a fifty and a one hundred just for good measure. So, you get an awful lot of dogs, (475 by my count), for your money.You also get more than the usual variety, both in dogs, (Afghans, Welsh Corgis, Eurasiers, Spaniels, Sheepdogs, Utonagans and so on), and cars.But more to the point we get a zippy text and some sharp and colorful drawings. The text follows a single pattern - "x number of y-type dogs doing z". But the things they do, from chasing a fox to painting the town are amusing and unexpected. You can read the book slowly or race through it repeating the same rhythm from page to page as you build to a big ending. Then, you can take the suggestions that appear at the end of the book, or make up your own, and look for how many dogs have sunglasses, how many are which color, and so on. The effect is that you control the pace and the energy level and the degree of silliness or countingness as you go through the book with your little reader/counter. That's a nice touch and introduces a lot of rereadability.As to the drawings, they are a combination of strong primary colors and stylish line work and inking. The illustrations are not "childish" but they display great good humor. The dogs all come across as happy, tail waggy and very doggy with just a touch of winking exaggeration. I thought it was all very appealing and kid friendly, which is, after all, sort of the point. There are also subtle little visual jokes scattered about to keep Mom or Dad interested, which is a welcome addition.So, this is a visual treat; there's a lot to look at here and a lot to amuse. That's pretty much the test for me in a counting book.(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

The illustrations are really cute. I (and my coworkers) have never heard of many of these breeds (British perhaps). Sometimes the rhyme scheme isn't the best.

One half page was torn and missing from the book. Used is one thing, damage is a different kettle altogether.