Ten Flashing Firefliesby Philemon Sturges, P. Sturges, A. Vojtech
Luminous pictures and a buoyant, chant-aloud text, combine to make this two-way counting book as joyous and magical as catching fireflies on a summer night.
Publishers Weekly - Publisher's WeeklyBreaking up the deep grays, purples and the black of night with incandescent spots of light, the illustrator of this imaginatively conceived book captures the magic of summer evenings and the mysterious glow of fireflies. These marvelous creatures of nature, meanwhile, are deployed in debut author Sturges's poetic counting lesson. ``What do we see in the summer night?/ Ten flashing fireflies burning bright!/ Catch the one twinkling there/ Like a star./ One flashing firefly in our jar.'' A brother and sister add nine more fireflies to their collection; later, in their bedroom, they free the fireflies when their light begins to fade, counting down from 10 to one as the insects escape through the window and begin to glow again. This counting book, with atmospheric, dusky chalk illustrations and a subtle lesson in compassion, makes a memorable entry in a heavily populated picture-book category. Ages 3-6. (May)
Children's Literature - Paula DemichaelTen Flashing Fireflies is a contribution to the explosion of "concept books" for pre-schoolers. In this one, a brother and sister count down from 10 to 1 by catching fireflies and putting them in a jar. The rhymed text itself would be rather boring without the wonderful art by Anna Vojtech, whose painting evokes the thrill of catching the elusive insects on a summer evening. A surprise ending teaches the children that things don't always go as planned. Very young children may not respond to the darkness and subtle humor of the art.
School Library JournalPreS-Gr 1Unusual double-page spreads in deep nighttime colors, with the shapes of frolicking children, trees, houses, and animals only dimly seen, are sparked by the glowing orbs of fireflies as a red-haired, round-faced brother and sister capture the glowworms one by one and put them in a jar. When 10 are imprisoned and brought into the house, their lights blink out. Then the window is opened, they are released immediately, and they fly up into the darkness, flashing once again. The rhymed text of this counting book (1-10 and back again) is lyrical, expressive, varied, and excellent for reading out loud. The illustrations reflect the universal mystery and excitement of playing outdoors on a summer night and catching those strange creatures lit by cold fire.Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA
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