My preschooler son recently began learning to write at his request. I have begun teaching him to write the letters of the alphabet and will then move on to writing numbers. In addition to writing, my son is also interested in learning to count. When recently offered the chance to review the new board book Sesame Street: 5 Little Rubber Duckies written by Matt Mitter and illustrated by Tom Brannon in exchange for my honest opinion, I eagerly accepted the opportunity to add a new title to my home library.
Author/Illustrator
Born on a Wednesday afternoon in Oklahoma City and currently residing in San Francisco with his wife and two Scottish Folds, author Matt Mitter grew up in and around the Ozarks and later lived here and there. He has spent the past twenty years writing the text (mostly verse) for dozens of books for children that have been admired by readers of all ages.
Beginning in the mid-1980s and continuing through today, illustrator Tom Brannon has worked on many books in the Sesame Street, Muppet, Muppet Babies, Bear in the Big Blue House, and Playhouse Disney series The Koala Brothers series. He has more than 300 titles to his credit and currently resides in rural Wisconsin with his wife, four children, and more critters than he can count.
Synopsis
Join Ernie and his friends on Sesame Street in Sesame Street: 5 Little Rubber Duckies for a hands-on counting adventure. Touch and trace elements are perfect for little hands, and five little duckies along the top making counting along fun. Recommended for readers between the ages of 3 and 5 in preschool and kindergarten, the simple story book written in rhyme offers a perfect story time activity for early learners. The 12-page board book currently costs $10.70 on Amazon with a list price of $11.99.
Evaluation
My preschool son is super excited to work on his burgeoning counting and writing skills, so Sesame Street: 5 Little Rubber Duckies makes the perfect addition to our homeschool classroom. First, my kids love rubber duckies, so any story featuring the toys is a big hit in my house. My son also loves reading books with characters that he recognizes from Sesame Street, which he enjoys watching now and again. Second, I love the tracing element in the book. My son has just begun learning to write, and tracing the shapes of the numbers from 1 to 5 helps reinforce the fine motor skills necessary for writing.
My six-year-old daughter has been reading on her own for over two years now, so the text of the story is quite easy for her to read. My preschool son and infant daughter both love hearing the book read aloud. I personally am a fan of rhyme, which helps with language development, so I do not mind reading the story out loud again and again to my youngest two. The illustrations are bright and colorful and really hold the attention of even my infant daughter. The only negative comment that I have about the book is that the sliding ducks across the top of the book can slide all the way. I fixed the issue with a piece of tape, but I would like to see the ducks more securely enclosed in the sliding panel.
Final Verdict
If you are searching for a new counting book to read with your preschooler or kindergartener, my kiddos and I definitely recommend Sesame Street: 5 Little Rubber Duckies written by Matt Mitter and illustrated by Tom Brannon. Join Ernie and his friends a hands-on counting adventure with touch and trace elements that are perfect for little hands. My two youngest enjoy hearing me read the story out loud, and my preschool son loves tracing the written numbers throughout the pages. The illustrations are bright and colorful, featuring many beloved Sesame Street characters. My son is especially excited to read the book during his preschool lessons, making Sesame Street: 5 Little Rubber Duckies a perfect addition to our homeschool and beyond.
Purchase Sesame Street: 5 Little Rubber Duckies on Amazon via my affiliate link.
Image Credits
‘Sesame Street: 5 Little Rubber Duckies’ Book Review © 2018 Heather Johnson
Front Cover of ‘Sesame Street: 5 Little Rubber Duckies’ © 2018 Heather Johnson
Back Cover of ‘Sesame Street: 5 Little Rubber Duckies’ © 2018 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of ‘Sesame Street: 5 Little Rubber Duckies’ 1 © 2018 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of ‘Sesame Street: 5 Little Rubber Duckies’ 2 © 2018 Heather Johnson
