There are few things more universal than young kids learning to count (it’s so cute when they try to say “three”), except maybe those inevitable boo-boos all kids get. Ten Owies, the new book from Greenwillow Books by award-winning author Tony Johnston and illustrator Annabel Tempest, combines those two universals into one hilarious and super sweet book about ten silly children who end up with ten silly owies. Read on to learn more about why this is our favorite new counting book to hit the shelves this year.
It’s Relatable
All kids get owies, and in Ten Owies, those ouchies come in all shapes and sizes, from stubbed toes to bee stings. And they can only be cured by the following: a kiss, a hug, and as many colorful Band-Aids as possible. It’s a relatable and fun way to help kids learn numbers from one to 10.
It Teaches Kids That Caregivers Are Always There
We’ve all been there when our little ones get hurt. Whether that’s a scrape on the playground or a mosquito bite, it can seem like the end of the world to our kids. Ten Owies gently reminds kids that though all children are bound to get hurt someday, we’re always going to be there to soothe and comfort them.
It’s a Great Read Aloud
The rhyming text makes a great book for storytime or any time you want to comfort a child who is hurt. It will quickly become one of the go-tos they’ll want to hear on repeat, making it all the more effective for teaching kids to count. We love Annabel Tempest’s lively and hilarious illustrations that accompany Tony Johnston’s wonderfully silly text. And though the book offers kids an introduction to counting, it also offers them plenty of love, sympathy, and healing.
In other words: a universal theme + silly rhyming text + funny pictures = a winning combination! Learn more about Ten Owies here.
—Amber Guetebier
