Countablock (An Abrams Block Book)

by Christopher Franceschelli, Peski Studio (Illustrator)

Overview

Learning to count is as easy as 1, 2, 3 in Countablock, a fun addition to the Abrams Block Book series! Young readers will explore the joy of numbers in an exciting and unique way, from 1 right up to 100.

NAPPA Silver Award Winner

“Stylish silkscreen-like illustrations and opportunities for both counting and guessing what happens next should keep copies of this chunky book well-loved.” ―Publishers Weekly

Perfect for little hands, Countablock features thick pages cut into the shape of each numeral, creating a peek-through guessing game around the number form itself. One acorn becomes . . . one oak tree! From snowmen to puddles and eggs to chicks, quantities are illustrated twice: both before and after their “transformations.”

As children interact with the pages, they will familiarize themselves not only with the numbers 1–100 and associated quantities, but with each numeral’s physicality—angles, holes, and curves, both front and back. Numerals include 1–10, and 20–100 counted by tens for easier understanding.

Like other books in the Block Book series such as Alphablock, Cityblock, Dinoblock, and Buildablock, Countablock features die-cuts on every spread. In addition, this book ends with two special pages that fold out to reveal a grand finale illustration of 100 puzzle pieces.

With bright, animated, retro-inspired artwork by Peski Studio, this fresh take on counting encourages readers to manipulate numbers in a whole new way. Your child will have so much fun reading this book, they won’t realize that learning to count to 100 is part of their education!

Collect the whole series:

Alphablock
Countablock
Dinoblock
Cityblock
Buildablock
Star Wars Block
Marvel Alphablock
Farmblock
Disney Block
Loveblock
Sharkblock
Sesame Street Countablock
Spaceblock
Pixar Buddy Block
Bugblock

Also available: A Box of Blocks, featuring Alphablock, Countablock, and Dinoblock.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419713743
Publisher:	Abrams Appleseed
Publication date:	08/05/2014
Series:	An Abrams Block Book
Pages:	94
Sales rank:	149,401
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 6.30(h) x 2.00(d)
Age Range:	1 - 3 Years

About the Author

Christopher Franceschelli is a seasoned publisher, editor, and creator of children’s books. He runs Chronicle’s Handprint imprint and the SmartInk packaging company. A born-and-raised New Yorker, Franceschelli lives with his family in Brooklyn.

Editorial Reviews

08/11/2014
Franceschelli and U.K. design team Peskimo follow 2013’s Alphablock with this equally clever numerical companion, which counts to 10 before leapfrogging up to 100 in increments of 10. Each featured number gets two spreads that have a certain cause-and-effect relationship, with diecut numerals giving a peek at what’s to come. Early on, two smiley snowmen in winter become (sad, but true) “two puddles” during warmer weather, and subtle humorous touches keep things lively (“forty eggs become... thirty-nine chicks and one dinosaur”). Stylish silkscreenlike illustrations and opportunities for both counting and guessing what happens next should keep copies of this chunky book well-loved. Ages 1–4. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"A terrific companion to Alphablock that counts from one to 10, and up by 10s to 100, using cause and effect."
"More please!"

Shelf Awareness - Jennifer M. Brown

"Stylish silkscreenlike illustrations and opportunities for both counting and guessing what happens next should keep copies of this chunky book well-loved."

Publishers' Weekly

09/01/2014
PreS-Gr 1—This follow-up to Franceschelli and Peskimo's Alphablock (Abrams, 2013) explores numbers with similar skill and creative verve. With board pages featuring cutouts in the shape of the numbers, each spread introduces items or characters with the following spread showing their sometimes unexpected growth or transformation. "One acorn becomes… one oak tree!," "four babies become… four children!," and "Forty eggs become…thirty-nine chicks and one dinosaur!." The text is peppered with memorable associations for each number and is appropriate for sharing with preschoolers and older children alike. Children will enjoy exploring details of the illustrations highlighting the numbers 1 through 10, with 20–100 counted by 10s. The clever, nostalgic art is reminiscent of Sara Gillingham's work in Stephen Krensky's I Know a Lot (Abrams, 2013), and the title provides an unusual exploration of concepts appropriate for many age levels.—Sarah Westeren, Richland Library, Columbia, SC

School Library Journal

2014-07-29
Shaped pages help youngsters count to 10 and beyond. Two stylish double-page spreads are devoted to each number one through 10 and then, counting by 10s, to 100. In the first spread, the right-hand side is a page-high, die-cut numeral that spills off the page; to its left, a squirrel holds an acorn. With the turn of the page, there's a transformation. "One acorn becomes… / one oak tree!" A portion of the object, animal or person being altered is visible through the die-cut openings; a sand castle peeks through the "0" of the number 10, for instance. Once the page is turned, the background from the previous left-hand page merges with the full double-page spread. As in the earlier Alphablock (2013), the helpfulness of these visual hints is uneven. After 10, 20 caterpillars become 20 butterflies, 30 baskets of cucumbers become 30 jars of pickles, and 40 eggs become 39 chicks and one dinosaur. The whole shebang ends with 100 puzzle pieces fitting together into "one big puzzle!" in the book's only double gatefold. Peskimo's muted color palette and droll cartoon style works well with the playful concept. The same worries about the binding that arose with Alphablock are an issue here, but the conceit will likely appeal to older children anyway. An inventive and extensive counting experience that will delight youngsters. (Board book. 2-4)

Kirkus Reviews