The Deep, Deep Puddle by Mary Jessie Parker - OPTIONAL

Parker, Mary Jessie  The Deep, Deep Puddle Illustrated by Deborah Zemke  Dial Books for Young Readers, 2013.  $16.99  PICTURE BOOK  Content: G. 

A dog walks up to a puddle on the street and falls in, he is then proceeded by two cats, three squirrels, four penguins and every increasing amounts of people, cars and animals until an entire city street has fallen into the puddle.  The tanker trucks come and empty the puddles and then the people, animals, etc. exit the puddle in reverse numerical order.  When the dog finally exits the puddle he shakes off all the water and forms another puddle to end the book. 

This book has cute illustrations and it’s a fun way to count.  My two issues may be picky, but first I don’t think people and animals drowning in a puddle should be made into a game and second, for the number nine, the group is nine robbers full of stolen treasures—really? The rest of the groups are natural parts of the city like taxis, food vendors and kids going to school and then there are robbers?  Ugh.  I don’t know it seemed out of place.  Overall, it’s a cute idea to have all these parts of the city come together, but it’s got too many weird parts. 

EL (K-3)-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.