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Counting Sheep

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One cold dark night when Sam can’t sleep, her mum suggests that she counts some sheep.

But how can she count them when one of the sheep can’t jump over the fence? Join Sam and her flock in this frolicking, rhyming farmyard tale as they try to help little Sheep find a way over the fence.

28 pages, Paperback

Published December 9, 2022

31 people want to read

About the author

Pippa Chorley

6 books15 followers
Pippa Chorley grew up in a picturesque village in England. As a child, she spent her days dreaming up magical worlds and taking her stuffed toys with her on wild adventures. Pippa is delighted to bring her friends back to life in her second rhyming picture book, Stuffed.
Trained as a primary school teacher, Pippa loves to write her stories in rhyme, not only because it is great fun, but also because she knows that rhyme is an essential part of children’s reading development.
Following on from the success of Pippa’s first award winning picture book, Counting Sheep, Stuffed continues the adventures of the little girl, Sam, this time with her stuffed friends, Hop, Pig and Fluff in tow!
Pippa now lives in sunny Singapore with her husband, their three children and a gazillion stuffed toys!

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
3,117 reviews4 followers
October 22, 2019
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com

One night Sam is struggling to drift off to sleep, her mum tells her she needs to try counting some sheep. Try as she might sleep will not come because one of the sheep is very glum. The sheep, little Shep, is too small to jump the wood so his friends gather around to see if they could. Without all the sheep making the leap Sam definitely would not be able to sleep. They needed a plan and they needed one quick, ‘aha’ said one sheep I know just the trick. – That’s as much rhyming you are going to get 🙂

Counting Sheep is an exceptionally enjoyable children’s rhyming book. The book is silly, funny and will have children giggling along at not only the amusing story but also at the amazing illustrations that adorn each page.

The ideas that the sheep come up with are plans that I can see kids coming up with too – trying to make little Shep fly over the fence, or making him a ramp. I love that Sam comes up with the best idea that actually works.

I’m a great believer that rhyming books help new readers to read and the rhyming was spot on in this book, there were no sections that didn’t hit the mark or were off. Everything rhymed which was nice to see.

This is Pippa Chorley’s debut children’s book and I can fully recommend it. The text is kept to a minimum on each page and matches the illustrations so that non-readers can follow the story too.

This would not only make a wonderful bedtime story it would also make for an entertaining class read as the plot is all about using your imagination and I can see it being the start of a class discussion, finding out what the pupils would have done to help get little Shep over the fence.

The story is also about understanding that you might not be able to do something the same way as others and sometimes you need to make adjustments and find a different way. It’s also a story of friendship as all the sheep come together to help little Shep which in turn helped Sam.

This is a strong start to a writing career by Pippa Chorley and I do hope her next books are just as fun, engaging and include life lessons for children too.
Profile Image for June Jacobs.
Author 48 books153 followers
May 7, 2019
This is a clever rhyming picture book which would make a perfect bedtime story for young children. The cover art is witty and appealing.

As a former primary grade teacher and literacy mentor, I especially enjoyed the higher-level vocabulary words the author has included in the story such as: amok, muddle, wibbled, contraptions, whoosed.

Another unique quality of this story is that the protagonist, Sam, interacts with the other characters at the end of the story to offer a solution to the problem of getting little Shep, a small sheep, over the fence so Sam can finally get to sleep.

Highly-recommended! This book would make a fun read-aloud for families and classrooms.

The author provided me with access to a digital transcript of this manuscript.

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Author 5 books8 followers
May 8, 2019
In COUNTING SHEEP, Pippa Chorley creates rhyming text that entertains and brings the sheep we are told to count when we can't sleep to life. The main character Sam, watches as the sheep she is counting work hard to help the smallest one jump over the fence. As with any strong picture book, the main character comes to the rescue. An adorable debut that will make a great read aloud any time of the day...or night!
Profile Image for Connie Dow.
Author 5 books8 followers
May 8, 2019
COUNTING SHEEP by Pippa Chorley is a delightful frolic of imaginary sheep that Sam is counting as she tries to fall asleep. The flock is slowed down by one little sheep who can't get over the fence, and they try many hilarious and creative ideas to help him. Sam herself enters the fray with a new idea for solving the problem, which is a nice twist in the story. Children would enjoy this fun rhyming story anytime, but especially at bedtime!
Profile Image for Kat Harrison.
Author 2 books5 followers
May 9, 2019
COUNTING SHEEP does a rhythmic run-around on the sometimes tired trope of falling asleep. Chorley has a knack for the way certain words should work together, especially in rhyme, and the pages make for a splendid read-aloud.
Profile Image for Stephanie Ward.
Author 6 books89 followers
January 3, 2020
When Sam can't sleep, she tries counting sheep. But little Shep can't jump the fence, so the flock searches for a solution that will allow all the sheep to jump and Sam to finally get some sleep.

I have a special place in my heart for rhyming picture books, so it was a pleasant surprise to win this charming bedtime story from Kidlit411 and find out it rhymed. With a fun flock of sheep that will do anything to help their littlest member jump the fence and a clever protagonist who offers the perfect solution, Counting Sheep is a wonderful story for toddlers and preschoolers. The illustrations are colorful and fun with humorous details throughout.
Profile Image for Jenna Grodzicki.
Author 42 books33 followers
January 23, 2020
Fun STEM story about a tiny sheep who can't jump over the fence. Shep's inability to jump over the fence is preventing Sam from falling asleep. The other sheep take it upon themselves to build one wacky contraption after another. Unfortunately, none of them are able to propel Shep over the fence. But when Sam proposes a simple solution, she shows that the best idea doesn't have to be the most complicated. Young readers will enjoy the silly attempts to help Shep jump higher. Rhyming text paired with adorable illustrations make this a perfect bedtime story.
Profile Image for Susan.
71 reviews7 followers
August 12, 2019
This charming bedtime story begins, “One stormy night, when Sam couldn’t sleep, her mum suggested, ‘Try counting sheep.’” But the woolly flock is not cooperating! One of the sheep can’t clear the fence, and the others rush to try a variety of solutions, with comic results. A delightful frolic of communal problem solving, concluding at last with Sam's much deserved rest. And, hopefully, your child's as well!
Profile Image for Serena Gingold Allen.
Author 2 books21 followers
May 23, 2022
This story has great kid appeal starting out with a box (my kids are obsessed with playing with boxes) and followed by rocket ships, aliens, and pirates! It’s a fun, rhyming read-aloud that’s a perfect birthday gift. This book can be enjoyed with Grandma when she visits (since it’s also about a Grandma’s love and special gifts). For pre-readers, this book is great for flipping through because the illustrations are really fun. Out of the Box is packed full of things to love.
Profile Image for Lisa Kalma.
11 reviews
October 20, 2019
COUNTING SHEEP by Pippa Chorley is a heart-warming tale of Sam, who is trying to get to sleep by counting sheep. All the sheep are held up by one little sheep who just can't get over the fence no matter what the others try. The main character comes to the rescue and saves the day... erm... night!

A lovely bedtime read, or anytime read!
Profile Image for Laurel.
Author 2 books5 followers
January 12, 2020
This book is an absolute delight! When Sam can’t sleep, she counts sheep until one little one can’t get over the fence, holding up the line. That’s when the fun really takes off as the sheep come up with one ridiculous idea after another to get that sheep over the fence. So fun to think up additional ideas!!!
Profile Image for Beth Anderson.
Author 9 books73 followers
January 22, 2020
The rhyming text brings STEM into bedtime as a flock of sheep work to find a way to get their littlest member over the fence. A number of fun solutions, depicted in adorable illustrations, are tried before the girl comes at the problem from a different direction. All this problem solving fun just might inspire sweet dreams of the listener’s own contraptions and solutions to problems.
Profile Image for Tina Cho.
Author 17 books58 followers
January 24, 2020
Chorley’s Counting Sheep is a unique cute take on the popular adage of counting sheep to get to sleep. Little Shep can’t jump over the fence which means Pippa can’t sleep. The sheep do all sorts of things to get Little Shep to jump, but in the end, Pippa comes up with a brilliant idea. Deeptown’s illustrations of these adorable sheep and bright colors are sure to delight the youngest kids.
Profile Image for June Smalls.
Author 14 books31 followers
May 10, 2019
It should be easy to count sheep to fall asleep, but when a pip-squeak-sheep can't jump over the fence, the other sheep come up with elaborate ways to 'help'.

A fun and funny frolic on the way to bed.
Profile Image for Laurie Wallmark.
Author 12 books57 followers
April 1, 2020
When Sam is told to count sheep to go to bed, her imagine goes on overload with problems. When she finally figures out the solution, she's soon fast asleep. This is a cute bedtime story to help kids go to sleep.
Profile Image for Christy.
Author 57 books23 followers
November 10, 2020
This is a fun and clever tale with lively illustrations, told in bouncy rhyme. Sure to be a hit at bedtime (or any time). I particularly liked the various contraptions, and how the young protagonist finally saves the day (or evening).
Profile Image for Annette Schottenfeld.
Author 4 books6 followers
August 15, 2019
Creativity and imagination abound in this adorable story by Pippa Chorley. Youngsters will enjoy the frolicking rhyme as they follow along to find out if Shep and Sam are successful in their quests.
Profile Image for Keila Dawson.
Author 4 books36 followers
March 29, 2020
COUNTING SHEEP is a fun rhyming bedtime story about a girl who needs sheep to fall asleep, but when one can’t jump over the fence, the others come up with hilarious ideas for how to help him.
Profile Image for Laurie Kutscera.
Author 1 book3 followers
March 29, 2020
How can Sam fall asleep when the sheep she is counting can't get their act together? This is a delightful book, told in rhyme, where teamwork endures!
Profile Image for Sue.
Author 17 books23 followers
April 6, 2020
Lively rhyme and charming text make this a great bedtime read aloud!
Profile Image for Rinda Beach.
Author 3 books12 followers
May 1, 2019
Need a bedtime story? Here’s a cute one! Poor Sam can’t sleep so he begins to count sheep. It works until one gets stuck. The sheep try their best to free Little Shep to no avail. Sam, who’s still wide awake, comes up with a sensible plan that works. I love a story with sense . . . AND a happy ending!
Profile Image for Kirsti Call.
Author 6 books64 followers
February 4, 2020
Cute read aloud with a creative premise. What if one of the sheep you are counting, can't jump over the fence? Expressive illustrations pair with rhyming text to make a delightful bedtime book!
Profile Image for Della Ferreri.
Author 12 books24 followers
February 11, 2020
Sam can't fall asleep because one of the sheep that she's counting can't jump over the fence! They try wings and springs and other clever contraptions until Sam finally comes up with the best plan of all.
A clever rhyming story with fun, detailed illustrations offer a creative twist on the counting sheep bedtime theme!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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