First Steps: Letters, Numbers, Colors, Opposites - Softcover

Burningham, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1564025985 ISBN 13: 9781564025982

Publisher: Candlewick, 1996

Synopsis

An illustrated introduction to the letters of the alphabet, the numbers one to ten, basic colors, and opposites

About this title

Review:

So much to learn, so little time! Join the mild-looking little boy protagonist as he learns the ABCs (alligator, bear, cow); numbers (1 through 10 children hanging from a tree--and back to zero when a tiger shows up); colors (John Burningham's vibrant oranges, purples, and greens will be stamped on the reader's memory for life!); and opposites (our hero holds up an elephant to illustrate heavy, and then practically floats away demonstrating how light his balloon is). This award-winning author-illustrator excels at depicting subtle, witty expressions, whether that of a zebra politely examining the boy's striped socks or that of an alligator showing the difference between open and shut (uh-oh, there goes our hero!). Lovely, quirky colored-ink and colored-pencil illustrations invite the young reader to sit down and stay awhile and maybe learn a thing or two along the way. Burningham has written and illustrated many whimsical childhood favorites, including Cloudland. (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter

From Booklist:

Ages 2-4. This beginning concept book presents quarter-, half-, and full-page illustrations for each letter, number, color, and opposite. All the pictures are of items familiar from everyday life (playmates and umbrellas) or book life (yaks and zebras). The colored ink and colored pencil drawings are the book's strength. They are particularly successful in emphasizing facial expressions, especially on the animals, who frequently look quizzical, hard-working, independently determined, or, most of all, patient with the young person joyously taking first steps around them. Mary Harris Veeder

About this edition

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 1564025985
• ISBN 13: 9781564025982
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 48
• Illustrator: Burningham John