One, two, cockatoo by Sarah Garson

Random House, 2009.
(Age 0+) Recommended. What a fun counting book. There is one cockatoo sitting in a tree and when two more fly over, then there are three. Gradually the number of cockatoos increases until there are 10, but there is still a surprise to come.
This is a beautifully illustrated picture book with gorgeous cockatoos, each with a happy expression on its face. The lovely soft white of the cockatoos' bodies, with their vibrant yellow crests, contrasts with the blues, pinks and soft oranges of the sky and hills.
The text is brilliant to read aloud with a gentle rhyme that beginning readers could predict. The young reader will have lots to concentrate on in this engaging book. With the combination of having to find the cockatoos on each page, watching to see if a ladybird appears and a cute surprise at the end, it is sure to appeal.
Pat Pledger