Five on the Bed

by Addie Boswell

A charming counting book filled with artful papercut illustrations for the whole family to read before bed. How many are on the bed? How many are below? Five on the Bed counts to five with young readers as they follow the clever yet simple story of a family getting ready for bed. Colorfully illustrated in papercut art, this book teaches simple concepts in a fun and engaging way.

Genres: Picture Books, Counting, Family, Childrens, Mathematics, Storytime, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

Published October 13, 2020

Reviews

[Shandra]

Great book for dialogic reading, a little counting, some animal noises (dog and cat) - went over well in storytime.

[Alissa Tsaparikos]

This is a counting book to some degree, but more useful as a dialogic reading tool that can be used to ask kids what is happening on the page. It would also be good for teaching positional vocabulary. I wish there had been a bit more story to this one, or a more direct counting theme.

[Sandy Brehl]

This is a perfect example of the importance of using physical picture books (as opposed digital format) when reviewing and/or sharing. I first rad the eBook/PDF of this books and considered it a charming approach to a fairly familiar concept book. Then the actual book arrived. I found it to be dramatically more appealing and powerful. The character development, humor, word play, page turns, and relationships present with much more power and appeal in this perfectly balanced, perfectly square, and delightfully illustrated physical book.
Two things shine in this clever little book:
developing understanding of positional prepositions (on, under, above, in, etc.) with humor and art,
and the textural depth of collage-style art that appears distant and flat in the digital files.
This is a welcome bedtime book, but also one that could serve nearly readers and as a teaching resource for prepositional meaning.

[Rose Rosetree]

Counting matters, and young readers can learn a lot about counting from this sweet picture book.

It also gives a pretty good introduction to prepositions, always a puzzle for any language learner.

In addition I like the playfulness built into this book: for me, not quite humorous, but evoking the experimental kind of playfulness that makes so many good times with kids... so delightful.

FOR A WARM-HEARTED CHILD, THIS BOOK WOULD BE EXCELLENT

After all, it's all about family. That is, family as loosely defined.

The ending is happy.

Finally, I give a big shout-out to children's book author and illustrator Addie Boswell. Those paper cut elements in the illustrations are fascinatingly creative.

[Sarah]

(Based on an Advance Reader Copy)
This book was a sweet peek into a diverse family enjoying closeness and comfort on their family bed, from waking up in the morning, reading and playing during the day, to the night time tuck-in. This book also does a good job using positional words along with the introduction of simple counting. I would be most likely to share this one with a toddler, but I think that even a preschooler would enjoy tracking the precocious cat, and this little family's antics through the pages. The inventive art was an added bonus: Boswell makes a torn paper towel look like the coziest comforter ever.

[Sara]

This was a really sweet counting book that incorporated a family and their pets on the bed. What I really found lovely was the dynamic of the parents and their daughter, and their relationship with her. They read to her, searched for her in the covers and slept next to her at night. Cosleeping isn’t usually talked about in such a positive way and this was beautiful.

[Shandi Greve Penrod]

Very sweet little book with beautiful images. With just a few words, lots of faces, and a difference family, it would be a wonderful book to read infants and very small children. (based on an advanced reader copy)

[Mary]

Two parents, a child, a dog, and cat are on and off a bed in this cozy bedtime counting book. Keeping track of who is on and off the bed provides an easy way to introduce simple adding and subtracting. An appealing book to add to preschool math units.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin]

The dynamic, cut-paper illustrations are lively and engaging, but this is definitely not a counting book, given all the additions and subtractions of characters on and under and around the abacus of the bed.

[Jo Oehrlein]

Uses only number words, no numerals.
Besides counting, there's some addition and subtraction.
Also includes some prepositions -- above, on, and under.

Love the cut paper collage illustrations and the sense of fun in the family of 3.

[Teaghan Lowe]

This is a short read that shows different family members on and off the bed throughout the night. The illustrations were inclusive and I think this would be a fun read to have in the library. It is simple for children to read and it can encourage counting as well!

[Kate]

3.5 stars

[Sarah]

Um, hello. I love this! The scrapbook/mixed materials look of the images, the use of counting and prepositions, the colors. It's lovely!

[Rebecca Ann]

I was really into the art in this one. We follow along as a family and pets pile onto a bed/goes about daily life in a fun and rhythmic counting story.

[Dedra]

Really cute counting book featuring a multi-race family.

[Amanda]

I wanted to love this, yet found myself lost in the art and lack of the strength of a story. Would be good for using to talk about prepositional placement and bedtime routines.

[Emily]

Cut paper illustrations, non-consecutive counting, prepositions, and adorable pets? I'm in.

[Melissa the Librarian]

This would be perfect for a toddler storytime!

[Panda Incognito]

The illustrations are unique, but it doesn't really work as a counting book or a bedtime book.

[Jessie]

Fun papercut illustrations, use of different prepositions, and counting + adding + subtracting to talk about who was and is where! And very sweet, silly, and realistic.

[Amber]

Toddler and preschool

[Priscila Castaneda]

This is a short story on how many people are on the bed throughout the day. I would not use this as a read aloud book but for students to read themselves.

[Cara Byrne]

This book made me smile. I love the illustrations and the gentle counting of animals and people coming in and out of the bed.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.