Ten on a Sled

 had never heard of Ten on a Bed, despite the song being popular until we were given a copy by Jane Cabrera when M was a wee baby.  It was a favorite of hers to the point that the book was sorely worn out, taped, and retaped.

Knowing the delight that our family had with that book, I was excited to review Ten on a Sled by Kim Norman.  Ten animals, including some large animals like a moose and caribou is definitely not ideal on any sled!  Not surprisingly, they all fall off, one by one in this winter adventure.  This story has clever and amusing illustrations paired with the rhyming text.

What I Liked:
I liked the variety of animals Kim Norman choose to be included in this title.  All of the animals are animals you would find in a snowy, cold area (though I don't think you would find a seal in the woods).  Illustrator Liza Woodruff also made the scenes rather comical.  Some of the animals' personalities really shined!  Kim Norman chooses fun words to help the animals fall off the sled.  Walrus whirled out and Squirrel squeezed out.

What I Didn't Like:
For most preschoolers (and some parents) the illustrated sheep would be confusing because it is a mountain sheep, but only called a sheep in the book.  It took a solid explanation for my 4 year old to get past this since the sheep looks like a goat.  (I do understand that the typical barnyard sheep would have no place on a snowy mountainside, and the mountain sheep does.)

At the end of the book the caribou encourages its friends to return to the sled by saying, "I'm only, I'm lonely, I 'm chilled to the bone.  A reindeer likes flying, but never alone!"  Personally, I don't care for the "I'm only" part.

Overall, this book can be enjoyed, but it just doesn't meet my expectations for a must-read book.  It'd be fun to add it to a winter unit study though!

Thank you, Sterling Publishing, for providing this book for review purposes.