1 2 3: A Child's First Counting Book

by Alison Jay

Dutton, $11

Certain types of young-child books—ABC, shape-and-color, counting—are so ubiquitous, they often blend together. So we're always grateful to find an early primer that bursts with imagination and beauty. The exquisite artwork makes this one a true standout, a joy to flip through again and again. The well-known storybook characters and objects (nine golden eggs, seven marching dwarfs) strike notes of recognition, while the stylized cracked-antique look makes each page feel like a lost treasure from an old attic toy box.—Ages 2 to 5

Blue Goose                

Nancy Tafuri,
Simon & Schuster, $11

Blue Goose, White Duck, Red Hen, and Yellow Chick decide to brighten their dull farm by painting it, from the barn roof to the flowers; secondary colors— like green for grass—require some teamwork. Whimsy and lovely pencil work elevate what could have been a by-the-numbers color book. In keeping with the joyful peculiarity, there's no explanation of why the goose is blue.—Ages 2 to 5

A Closer Look

by Mary McCarthy

Greenwillow, $12

This art book begins with nothing more than a black dot on a red background. As the point-of-view "camera" pans farther out with each page turn, will your child guess that what she's looking at is really a ladybug? Or for that matter, will you? There's no story here—just McCarthy's paper-collage illustrations (which are flat-out gorgeous) in a short series of close-up-to-long-shot visual puzzles. But that's all she needs to make this a fascinating work for young eyes and minds.—Ages 2 to 5

And to Name But Just a Few: Red, Yellow, Green, Blue

by Laurie Rosenwald

Blue Apple Books, $12

Yes, yes—we all know stop signs are red and lemons are yellow. But this is no ordinary learn-your-colors primer; Rosenwald truly has fun with the spectrum here. Her clever, (mostly) rhyming text has a mischievous tone and is a blast to read aloud. But the artwork is the star—a tour-de-force collage of crayon, construction paper, poster paint, and photos, as if the bulletin board in a kindergarten classroom came to life and had a party. And readers will still learn that peas are, indeed, green.

The Crocodile Blues

by Coleman Polhemus

Candlewick, $12

This engagingly surreal tale—in which a man and his pet cockatiel buy an egg from a mysterious vending machine, and are shocked when a full-grown croc hatches from it—is told without words and depicted entirely in shadows and silhouettes. The artwork, reminiscent of something you'd see animated over the title sequence of a '60s spy film, uses only four colors—black, blue, yellow, and gray. The result is utterly captivating.

There's Nothing to Do on Mars                

Chris Gall,
Little, Brown, $12

Never mind ogres, dragons, and witches—for many kids, there's no worse villain than boredom. And the foul beast can be found anywhere. When young Davey's family moves to Mars (by attaching rocket engines to its 1950s-style trailer), the planet's surreal landscape and bizarre inhabitants are nothing but a source of tedium to the boy. After all, everything is red. It's not until he finds an activity that's familiar from Earth that Davey is finally happy. The story holds just the right level of satire for kindergartners: The absurdity of Davey's doldrums will not be lost on young readers, and may even help them put their own ennui in perspective. If nothing else, it will be hard for them not to marvel at the gorgeous etchings that illustrate Davey's nonadventures. —Ages 2 to 6

Ladybug Girl

By David Soman and Jacky Davis,
Illustrated by David Soman
(Dial, $17)

Lulu is one of those kids who constantly claims boredom, but can't seem to keep her creativity at bay long enough to ever back up those complaints. When she struggles with the age-old dilemma of Nothing To Do—It's Ladybug Girl to the rescue! Lulu's alter ego has the power to turn the most mundane occurance into an adventure—and even gives her the strength to overcome her older brother's mean-spirited taunting. Any parent will realize how spot-on Lulu's characterization is—she's vulnerable, yet resourceful; frustrating, yet endearing—just like the little superheroes you know and love. The front and back of the book treat us to a cheeky parade of Lulu's other costumed personae, and leave us eagerly awaiting her next appearance.—Ages 2 to 7

Danny's Drawing Book

by Sue Heap,
(Candlewick, $10)

The high concept begins with the physical book itself, which is made to look and feel like the title character's sketchpad. Inside, you get a story within a story, as scenes from young Danny's real-life trip to the zoo are intermixed with the pencil-drawn, imagination-fueled adventures he creates starring the animals he sees around him. Heap's multilayered tale should serve as a worthy muse for your own child's inner illustrator. —Ages 2 to 7

Where's My Mom?

by Julia Donaldson,
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
(Dial, $17)

Lost baby animal looks for its Momma: Been there, done that. Yet, this book feels utterly fresh and original, due in no small part to Donaldson's witty verse, which offers up a chuckle on almost every page. When a well-meaning butterfly makes one mistake after another in his attempt to reunite a monkey child with its simian mother, laughs aren't the only result—there's a nature lesson rolled in there, too. —Ages 2 to 7

The Birthday Tree

by Paul Fleischman,
illustrated by Barry Root
(Candlewick, $17)

This good, old-fashioned folktale, first published in 1979, is even more magical today, thanks to Root's dreamy new illustrations. His gauzy watercolors make the images feel like snatches of a memory, creating the perfect tone for this mystical, hope-filled story about a couple who keep track of their faraway son's well-being by watching the health of the tree that was planted at his birth. —Ages 2 to 7

My Dog May Be a Genius

By Jack Prelutsky,
Illustrated by James Stevenson
(Greenwillow, $19)

Jack Prelutsky, the current Children's Poet Laureate, excels in whimsy. His lighthearted verses brim with clever twists on a child's everyday world. Like Shel Silverstein without the sinister edge, he introduces imaginary creatures ("The Preposterous Wosstrus"), revels in nonsense situations ("I Often Mow the Bathtub"), and puns like mad ("When My Father Grew a Mustache"—he grows in a flower pot). It's a feast for young word lovers. — Ages 2 to 5