ELIB 530A – LibraryThing Part B – Beginning Book / Counting Book 2
This charming book is primarily a counting book but it introduces some of the instruments of an orchestra and huge variety of adorably silly illustrated animal characters playing those instruments. Each 2 page spread has one large number (1-10), the name of the instrument being played and animal characters playing those instruments superimposed over frames of handmade paper. The layout gives the young child and the reader the opportunity to count each number multiple times using one of the three subjects. A bonus at the end of the book is a listing of what each animal/insect/reptile/bird is. Some of them are lesser known species.

Animal Orchestra doesn't have a story - in fact, the entire text spread across the pages is one sentence long - but the illustrations make it an attractive way to introduce the instruments of the orchestra. Each spread has richly illustrated animals playing a specific instrument, superimposed on an image of handmade papers.

Being a counting book, it begins with 1 (conductor) and moves along to 10 (flutes). The number my daughter finds most amusing is six with its mama and baby pairs of marsupials playing French horns. The final page, "a note from the conductor," lists the orchestra members by instrument so readers can locate the more obscure animals (coatimundi, guenon, potto, curlew, etc.). It looks like the illustrator had a lot of fun with this, and your child will, too. (ages 1½-4) ( )