Grandpa Gazillion's Number Yard

by Laurie Keller

Don’t you hate when your eyebrows fall into your soup? Dig them out with a SIX—it’s a great eyebrow scoop!

If you ever thought that numbers were only for counting—think again! At Grandpa Gazillion’s Number Yard, numbers have all sorts of uses that can come in handy when in a pinch. For instance, a two can be used as a saxophone, a ten makes a great pogo stick, and a fourteen is a terrific sailboat. So head over to Grandpa Gazillion’s Number Yard and stock up on numbers, because you never know when you just might need them!

In her signature style, Laurie Keller has created a wonderfully inventive counting book—from one to twenty—that will keep children laughing and learning.

Genres: Picture Books, Mathematics, Childrens, Humor, Number, Fiction, Counting

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2005

About the author

Laurie Keller grew up in Muskegon, Michigan. She always loved to draw, paint and write stories. She spent much of her time performing in a local dance tour company and dancing in and choreographing some civic theatre shows.
She graduated several years later with a BFA in Illustration. She also got a job as a greeting card illustrator at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri. She is the author and illustrator of many children's books.

Reviews

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is part of my 365 Kids Books challenge. For an explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf. Thanks to the marvelous people @chpublib and @ocplibraries who are keeping me supplied!

Absurdist counting book. There's very little reason why any number would be better for any of the extremely odd tasks suggested. The art is whimsical with lots of little gags in the background, as well as the expected things to count. Grandpa associates with a rat named Hildegarde. When 1 is a page with a mac 'n' cheese volcano eruption, there's quality child appeal. The little stick figures on the horizon charm me

Library copy

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a crazy and wild storybook. Each page has something unique and crazy to say about a certain number. Reminds me of Ronald Dahl or those type of authors. If you like unusual and or different then you'd like this book

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

creative and fun way to learn numbers. great illustrations lots to look at. H says she likes it alot, 20 is her favorite

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever illustrations!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant! The story is about a man who has a number yard...a place where anyone can pick up a number to help them out with different things.

But take your time reading this book. There are dozens of little nuances on every page. I actually got all the way to 15 before I realized that there was something drawn on each page that reflected the number on that page. And the little side conversations are wonderful!

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Count to 20 with Grandpa and this kooky counting book.

[Julie Culver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun picture book that explores the shapes of numbers 1-20.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book with my son. He gave it a four. He thought it was funny.
As an elementary teacher, I loved the book and think it will be great to incorporate in my math curriculum.

[Kelsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the rhymes and the creative portrayal of numbers in Grandpa Gazillion's Number Yard, it would not serve young children well in learning to count and recognize numbers. Grandpa explains a unique way to use the numbers one through twenty on each page. For example, one could be a trapeze and three could be saddle on a camel. However, the pages do not provide young children with anything to count that matches the numbers. Additionally, the numbers are often rotated to serve a physical purpose, which would confuse children just learning about numbers and the way they look on a page. I really enjoyed the details illustrations, but it would be difficult for young children to find the numbers on the pages. Overall, this book would be most appropriate for older children learning about rhymes or thinking creatively about numbers in an art class. It would not be an appropriate picture book to teach young children to count or recognize written numbers.

[Dolly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very strange counting book. Not sure what else to say about it, other than it's just very bizarre, from the narrative to the illustrations.

I suppose it's supposed to be a book that helps children learn their numbers, but it's a bit metaphysical for younger children and our girls didn't really get the point. It leaves questions unanswered, like how did the number 4 save the life of Elmo Alfonzo McFizzleby's wife. Or why would an extremely rare, giant polka-dot number 15 help Carol?

I get the rhymes, but neither the narrative nor the illustrations really explain what's going on. It just doesn't tell a story or even create a fun counting book.

Meh.

[Kassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandpa Gazillion has a yard full of numbers that people try to come up with unique and new ways to use numbers. (For example, a 3 turned sideways would make a good parachute). It is a silly story and I think kids would enjoy it.This book is super cute and a fun way to review numbers. The illustrations are really crazy and exciting, maybe even a little too busy. But, this would be a fun way to read about numbers. I wouldn't use this book to teach numbers though.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Laurie Keller is seriously my new favorite picture book author/illustrator. I loved this book. She mixes humor and rhyming with numbers and counting, showing creative ways you can use numbers. Each page also encourages you to count something on the page, like the scoops of ice cream or sheep on a mountain. Just so interactive, clever and funny!

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 Stars The pictures are fantastic but the whole concept it a little weird. Instead of numbers being used for quantitative reasoning and counting they are used as objects..which is weird. The rhyming is good, but I wouldn't suggests this for a counting book..it is too abstract. It is funny and has a whimsical element to it but not a whole lot else.

[Laura Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter loved this book so much when we borrowed it from the library that I had to buy one from eBay. It's a wonderfully illustrated book with fun quirks, one that you never mind reading over and over.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting and well illustrated book to read to young students. This book is filled with many numbers so this would be a great book to read to students before going into a math lesson. I would let the students identify the numbers they see.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly fun book about numbers and counting. Grandpa Gazillion has a yard filled with numbers. We read how we can creatively put the numbers 1 - 20 to good use (e.g. the number 8 can be used to hold up socks!).

Very creative and fun illustrations.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read to my class by our fabulous Librarian, Diane, in preparation for Laurie Keller's visit in September.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly, whacky fun.

[Puja Patel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book can be used when learning how to count. It is very colorful so it will keep the young readers attention!

[Rida · Rating 1 out of 5]

LAME!

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grandpa Gazillion and Hildegarde show many different uses for the numbers one through twenty at their number yard.

[Angela Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teaches kids to recognize numbers while turning them into heroes at the same time. I think this book has the potential to get kids to really like numbers and math in their future.

[Kelsey Yates · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way at the top of the silliness scale.