Laura Bryant is a prolific author and illustrator, but not one that particularly stuck in my head from her previous work. However, I liked the cover, Albert Whitman is usually pretty reliable, and I took a chance, hoping this would be a good toddler read-aloud. And it is!
The endpages show a sleepy little gray pup, eyeing a blue ball, on a prickly green canvas of rolling hills. On the title page, the pup is awake and alert, sitting next to the blue ball. The story begins with a wordless scene in a crowded barnyard. A white couple, in old-fashioned overalls and twin set, look out at the scene and a little boy in jeans holds the blue ball high above his head. Chickens, kittens, pigs, cows, sheep, birds, and butterflies meander about.
The little boy throws the ball and the story officially begins with "One blue ball..." as the puppy leaps after it. The ball (and the puppy) frolic past two cows, three frogs, four pigs, and so on until they reach ten chicks and the ball bounces back to the farmyard and is caught by the puppy. Each set of animals is also identified with a color and the soft illustrations are simple enough for young listeners to feast their eyes upon without getting overwhelmed or confused.
There's a nice rhythm to the text, the additional counting, animal and color recognition, and friendly, accessible illustrations. Although perhaps not as relevant in an urban setting, my quasi-rural town will enjoy this story with its classic feel.
Verdict: A fun addition to storytime collections, just right for toddler read-alouds. Recommended.
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