Ones and Twos by Marthe Jocelyn and Nell Jocelyn

I really love Marthe Jocelyn’s concept books which she’s created with Tom Slaughter and now I’ve also fallen in love with her new collage illustration style – and with this new concept book!

The Jocelyn’s exuberant cut paper and fabric illustrations are accompanied by simple matching sets and rhymes. “One bird, two eggs/One girl, two legs.” The simple one, two scheme continues throughout the story as the girl meets what appears to be a friend and the two spend a happy day at the park. At the end of the story, we see the completion of the circle with the bird returning to her eggs and the girls, who turn out to be sisters, snuggled up in bed together. This story is so simple, full of small pleasures and little beauties. Gaily patterned flowers sprinkle the green paper ground and embossed sky, while a placid cupid pours blue rick rack trim from a bowl of paper blue water. Pink and purple striped wallpaper is decorated with children’s drawings and scattered toys. The border at the bottom of each page has exquisite, tiny decorations; toys, bits of trash, flowers, and birds, which match the theme of the larger illustration spread.

Verdict: Recommended especially for concept collections, this is an excellent read-aloud for toddler storytimes, before bed, and for poring over with friends or parents.

ISBN: 978-1770492202; Published May 2011 by Tundra; F&G provided by publisher at ALA Midwinter; Purchased for the library