Animal Countdown
by Laura Vaccaro Seeger; illus. by the author
Preschool    Holiday House/Neal Porter    32 pp.
10/24    9780823448678    $19.99

These lift-the-flap books creatively showcase threatened or endangered creatures (Countdown) and the ABCs (Alphabet; a reissue from 2003, rev. 1/04). In Countdown, left-hand pages present a spelled-out number, beginning with ten and counting down to one, on a textured mixed-media background that hints at a habitat. Right-hand pages (which lift up) are matte colors with square or rectangular die-cuts revealing additional glimpses of the scene below—and in the general shape of the numeral being highlighted. The number nine, for example, shows a glimpse of an elephant’s curled-up trunk, and eight is the negative space of a giraffe’s markings. T hey’re not all obvious; careful looking and use of imagination are bonuses, and additional creature facts are appended. Alphabet goes from A to Z, with clean black backgrounds and a word on every page (arrowhead, balloons, yolk, zipper). From Lolly Robinson’s original Magazine review: “Lift the flaps and foreground turns background as pictured images become the negative space defining the letter form…This is great bookmaking, and a snazzy—though sophisticated— addition to the alphabet bookshelf.” Sturdy flaps; thoughtfully placed and well-sized die cuts; abundant surprises; and visual delights make both of these volumes welcome and artistically elevated concept books.