One Two That's My Shoe! - Tapa dura

The little girl and her pup from Apple Pie ABC (BCCB 6/11) have returned, and the mutt's up to mischief again. Initially the enumeration is benign-one dog, two shoes-but soon the dog has snatched one of his mistress' red Mary Janes, and we're counting the objects he's encountering as he gleefully flees his pursuing owner. After bounding past things like tulips (six), trees (seven), and items on the laundry line (eight), he's startled into a hasty retreat by encountering cheeping chicks (nine) and their protective flock (ten). The text employs the classic "five, six, pick up sticks" structure that combines counting with rhyming couplets; aside from numbers, the compact-lined verse focuses mostly on action ("Three . . . Four//Out the door!"). The art is Murray's familiar high-spirited digital retro, with maximum contrast between muted shades of aqua and teal and the popping red of the girl's sweater and shoes. There's a handmade feel from the deft striations in line and the underpainted backdrops, and there's a thoughtful rhythm in the compositions that bespeaks craft at every page turn. The numbers themselves are effectively and clearly anchored into the layout, with each text iteration adjoining a big blue box sporting the numeral in white, with thumbnail silhouettes of the countable things (the "Six" that leads past six tulips, for instance, offers six miniatures of the flowers below a numeral 6) helping connect art and concept. The oversized page design makes this shareable in groups, while a more intimate reading will give youngsters a chance to finger-count the objects and point out the illustrative gems. DS BCCB"

This companion to Murray's Apple Pie ABC stars the same lively dog and the same primly dressed owner, updating the traditional counting rhyme "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe" for a world in which shoes no longer buckle. After scampering through the house with his owner's shoe, the pup escapes: "Three... four/ Out the door!" The girl catches up with him, he teases her with the shoe, then runs off again: "Five... six/ Doggie tricks!" Murray has donned the mantle of late '50s and early '60s illustrators whose stripped-down, geometric shapes and cheerful colors are instantly recognizable. Working in a palette of milky reds, blues, and greens, she lays out big, simple forms to look at and count (six red tulips, seven trees, eight sheets on a clothesline). Matte pages, meticulous typography, and the screen print like quality of Murray's artwork lend a handmade feel. A chase through the laundry, the chicken yard, and beyond ends with the reunion of girl and shoe. Murray's skillful use of vintage motifs is a surefire draw for parents in search of books with a hip, throwback sensibility. Ages 2 6 PW"

The same girl-dog pair-and same classic art style-that starred in last year's Apple Pie ABC (rev. 7/11) is back, and the little black-and-white beagle is up to some new tricks. Here, in a twist on the nursery rhyme "One Two Buckle My Shoe," most of the narrative action is carried by the lively illustrations that show the dog grabbing the girl's red shoe and running out the back door. A game of backyard keep-away and then a chase ultimately end in the dog flustering nine baby chicks and drawing the ire of ten mother hens, requiring a rescue of the dog by the girl. The numbers from one to ten appear in blocks in the corners of otherwise wordless pages, with items to count (five butterflies, six flowers, seven trees, eight sheets on a clothesline, etc.) appearing in the illustration without any reference in the text, although they do appear in silhouette at the bottom of each number block in case there is any confusion. This is a step above most counting books, and the clean, bold art is superb. kathleen t. horning Horn Book"

PreS-K The little girl and her dog from Apple Pie ABC (Hyperion, 2011) are back. Here, the frisky pup steals the child's red shoe. She chases after him, "One Two /Three Four/Out the door!" and "Through the gate" until he's pulled up short by 10 marching hens. Each number is spelled out and represented numerically and pictorially. The bright graphic-style illustrations have a retro feel and greatly enhance the storytelling. This fanciful counting book is perfect for one-on-one or group sharing and a must-buy for most collections, especially those that have the companion ABC. Kathy Buchsbaum, Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, NY SLJ"

In a companion to Apple Pie ABC (2011), Murray reworks another familiar rhyme into a drama pitched perfectly for preschoolers. Endpapers hint at the plot and provide an opportunity to identify numbers, colors and story elements. More foreshadowing occurs in the cozy scene of the returning heroine and her beagle opposite the title page; she is reading, appropriately, To Catch a Thief. Immediately the pace quickens as the dog snatches the child's shoe and cavorts through the house, garden and gate. The brief, rhymed text ("One / Two / That's my shoe!") is carefully placed to allow viewers time to count the teddy bears, flowers, etc., along the way. Each numeral appears with a matching set of objects in a block anchored to a page corner; the number is spelled out nearby. Warm cream backgrounds showcase the pale turquoise rectangles of the flooring, the brilliant red chair, tulips and shoes and the green patches of grass and tree canopy. The illustrator's background in textiles is evident in the retro styling and meticulous design. A wash line scene, in which the two figures are silhouetted behind transparent, patterned sheets drying on a line, offers an entertaining visual trick. In a satisfying conclusion, hens chase the dog, setting the stage for a homophonic "Shoo!" and a narrative twist. Count on repeated readings of this fun and frisky tale. (Picture book. 18 mos.-5) Kirkus"

When a mischievous puppy runs off with his owner's shoe, it's a race from one to ten to get it back again! Over the teddy bears and out the door, readers can rollick along with the canine trickster and count the scenery along the way. ONE TWO THAT'S MY SHOE! is a twist on charming verse, brought to life by Alison Murray's simple words and whimsical illustrations. For readers looking for a fun story they can count on, this book is one they're sure to read again and again.