Hide and Sheep by Andrea Beaty - NO

Beaty, Andrea Hide and Sheep, illustrated by Bill Mayer. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2011. $15.99.  PICTURE BOOK.  When Farmer McFitt wakes up, he must shear his sheep.  Of course, the sheep must be aware of this because they have all snuck out to go and experience the world.  Mysteriously, the book then turns into a counting book and ten go to the zoo, nine join the circus, eight eat the grass at a baseball game, etc....  Will Farmer McFitt find his sheep and shear them?  That is the question that no one is asking while reading this book.  It's a confusing book that is unsure of its purpose from the start.  Then, at the end, the book is suddenly over and the reader wonders how she even got there.  There are so many counting books on the shelves these days, I can't believe that this one is worth buying.  I will say that Bill Mayer's illustrations have great personality in them, but they are not worth the price of the book to look at them.  Pre-K, EL(K-3) – NO. Brent Smith, Reading Teacher.