I LOVE YOU 100

A homophonic snafu kicks off a count to hundred.

When Mommy responds to her little one’s declaration of love with an “I love you too,” the youngster playfully replies, “I love you three.” From there, the pair’s daily activities are set to rhyming affirmations of love, each experience prompting a tally of objects on the page. A backyard sailboat float inspires a count of 10 muddy fingers, while a walk on the beach encourages readers to sum 30 sandy footprints. Before the hard-won 100 arrives, readers enumerate—among other everyday items—50 states, 70 raindrops, and 90 glimmering stars, an officious bluebird chirping instructions all the while. McKellar’s copy thrums with a jaunty rhythm, Seussian in cadence, and the cheerful beat makes for a pleasant read-aloud. Those new to counting, however, may find the bird’s directions frustrating, since the items they’re instructed to calculate are far too small and haphazardly arranged to easily track with a fingertip. Further, while progress-tracking graphics offer an additional method for visualizing quantity, their inclusion clutters spreads that already teem with items to be summed; the result is visually overwhelming. Backmatter—including a “hundreds chart,” an author’s note, and directions on “how to get the most” out of the text—provides resources for parents eager to nip math anxiety in the bud. Characters are pale-skinned.

Well-intentioned if imperfect attempts at cultivating an appreciation for arithmetic.