One Guinea Pig Is Not Enough

a great book for the kids and piggy lovers alike.

After discovering the sister story to this one ("Twenty is Too Many"), our family was delighted to learn that there was another tale to enjoy not only for it's clever story and illustrations, but it's introduction to math concepts, emotions, friendship, sharing, and what it means to be alone and in a crowd. Sometimes, one is fun -- sometimes, it's too lonely. Sometimes, twenty is too many -- sometimes, it's just right! These books are more than just read out loud fun, they are conversation starters, seek and find games, and completely worth picking up again and again (even for Mom and Dad).Kate Duke should be proud.

this book went along with 2 guinea pigs for my grandsons 5th birthday...what a surprise he had...

When is a counting book more? In the hands of Kate Duke the old cliché is transformed into an animation of joyful guinea pigs romping across pages that are sure to bring smiles to children of all ages. As Duke adds each unique guinea pig to the sum, an equation at the bottom of the page familiarizes children with simple addition. Every young child should have a counting book; this is one of the best.

In the beginning of this bright and cheerful counting book, Buttercup is one "lonely guinea pig" surrounded by toys but no one to play with. However, lonely Buttercup plus another lonely guinea pig "make two smiling guinea pigs." Adding one silly guinea pig makes three giggling guinea pigs. In like fashion, more and more guinea pigs join the fun, changing from smiling, to giggling, to dancing, to flying through the air. When the five guinea pigs come down, the illustration reveals that they have destroyed one proud guinea pig's sand castle. The situation is repaired by the addition of one smart guinea pig who helps turn them all into helpful rebuilding guinea pigs.With the inclusion of food and a subsequent nap, one sneaky guinea pig creates another ruckus by putting ice cubes on her sleeping friends' noses. The trick has all nine guinea pigs angry with each other until one big guinea pig appears and settles them all with a stern expression. All ten guinea pigs troop home to their ten guinea pig parents who happily hug their offspring. The final page is full of guinea pigs climbing and playing on a large Arabic numeral twenty as the text assures us that "twenty is plenty."Each of the guinea pigs has his or her own personality and distinct coloring. The lively illustrations add so much to the story that the text, while it enhances the experience, isn't necessary for the reader to understand the progression of the guinea pigs' afternoon, making this book a wonderful choice for a child who wants to "read" on his own.This is a personal favorite.

Plenty of company joins one lonely guinea pig in this counting book for young children. As Duke adds each unique guinea pig character to the mix, the reader carries out a simple addition equation. Numbers occupy a significant portion of each illustration which also introduce the + and = signs. Even with 10 guinea pigs, however, Duke gives each one a personality and spans a range of emotions and activities with lonely, smiling, silly, giggling, singing, dancing, jumping, flying, proud, sorry, smart, helpful, hungry, sneaky, fighting and good guinea pigs. The fluffy watercolor guinea pigs have a gentle yet frisky quality that keeps the pages turning as they roll from equation to equation. Excellent for introducing the mathematical concept of addition to a very young audience. Ages 3-5.

My 3 year old really loves this book. There are many details for them to find and learn the concept of +1. Hope there are more books like this.

As one of the less monotonous to read counting books to be found, the story is basic and educational but cute (especially if your child has a guinea pig). I feel like fresh artwork would completely makeover this book and make it a better read.