Counting with Wayne Thiebaud

by Susan Goldman Rubin

Counting to 10 has never been so sweet! Wayne Thiebaud's delectable paintings, etchings, and drawings make Counting with Wayne Thiebaud as much an introduction to contemporary art as it is a delicious first book of numbers.

Genres: Childrens, Art, Picture Books, Counting, Mathematics, Nonfiction, Number

26 pages, Board Book

First published May 17, 2007

About the author

Susan Goldman Rubin is the author of more than forty-five books for young people, including Andy Warhol: Pop Art Painter; The Yellow House: Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin Side by Side; and Edward Hopper: Painter of Light and Shadow. A long-time instructor in the UCLA Extension Writers Program, Susan Goldman Rubin lives in Malibu, California.

Reviews

[Mir]

Smart idea for arty parents! Thiebaud has plenty of simple, colorful images that appeal to small children (a slice of pie, some hotdogs) but the book has high-quality reproductions for adults who want to look at paintings rather than cartoonish drawings.

The text has a nice rhythm and works well out loud.

[Melki]

This is kind of an oddball: a counting book featuring the work of an artist that I've barely thought about since I first learned of his existence in college.

Thiebaud may seem a strange choice, but his pastel colors, and happy yummy subject matter work perfectly for the younger set.





Now, if you'll excuse me . . . I do believe it must be lunchtime somewhere.

[Lisa Vegan]

This was a surprise. It’s more than a boring counting book. It’s a board book suitable for the youngest child and is useful both for learning to count to ten and also to introduce the art of Wayne Thiebaud, art that children often do enjoy. This book doesn’t just count 1, 2, 3, etc. It’s a whimsical and catchy rhyme that is fun to read and hear, and the pictures are Thiebaud’s of course.

[Ben Gutierrez]

This is my favorite in the series of board books featuring fine art. The art is just top notch. This has been a regular staple of ours through two children and 6 years of bedtimes.

[Melissa Swistek]

What a cute way to learn the numbers! Those ice cream clowns pull me in every time. <3

[Amy]

I took my children to see an art exhibit of this artist's work and all of us found it really unique and fascinating. This board book is a wonderful way to introduce the simple concept of counting AND expose your children to a new artist and some really engaging paintings! I loved this little book...it has a big punch!

[Tiffany]

I love the art exposure via board book. The text is in simple rhyme, it teaches counting one through ten, and you get to look at beautiful pictures (featuring food). What's not to love?

My 10 month old adores it.

[Andrés]

This is an excellent counting and art book! How lucky to find ten works in Thiebaud's anthology that are clearly delineated and easy for little ones to count (except, maybe, that last one!). I took my time on each page, so I didn't catch on to the rhyme that carries across pages. I would have liked a tiny summary of Thiebaud's life and art on the last page.

[Angelica]

Au first got this book at her 1st birthday and has really enjoyed it. It’s now a classic in her library.

[The Campbell Family]

Pretty art, but not super appealing to babies.

[Aurelia S.]

Au first got this book at her 1st birthday and has really enjoyed it. It’s now a classic in her library.

[Devyn Krevat]

no caged pie :(

[Maeve]

Count from 1 to 10 using the subjects of paintings by Wayne Thiebaud.

[Amy]

I sure wish there were more books about Wayne Thiebaud and his art written for kids. I have loved his art since I was a kid and I can't imagine a kid who wouldn't!

[ALB]

CSULB 545 Class 2: Picture / Beginning Book - Counting

Rubin, Susan Goldman. Counting with Wayne Thiebaud. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2007.

Amidst all the high-art for children books for expectant and emergent readers, Counting with Wayne Thiebaud really stands out. The selected works of Thiebaud are dreamy, gentle, delicious and inviting. They are the delectable and beautiful images children might actually crave, rather than the Picasso, da Vinci, and Pollok paintings somewhat awkwardly superimposed into the landscape of a children’s book. The paintings selected are all feasts for the eyes. Counting in friendly pastels through the pages, each painting crosses the page crease, complimented with a large print number and text for what the object is. The pages count 1 through ten, with a bonus page challenging the reader to count all the gumballs painted in a gumball machine. There may be more interactive and dynamic counting books, but few if any will surpass the beauty of this lovely, satisfying board book. Small for travel and for babies’ hands, this book is a very pleasant introduction for early infants to counting, and because of the rich and wonderful images will remain a comfort book for children as they grow.

[Thomas Schulte]

Wayne Thiebaud's beauetiful artwork has a vintage feel like old French cafe posters. Will little kids appreciate that? I don't know, but I do. And the tick pages of this browsable foamite should hold up to gumming and whatever damage little hands may wrought.

I don't know about the picture of the "sugar sticks", must be some candy type I am not aware of. It looks like rolls of sushi before they are cut.

[Megan]

This book is super sweet. It counts 1-10 utilizing Wayne's pieces to illustrate these concepts. Very creative and very cute. Who doesn't love Wayne?

[Marybeth]

1 to 10...smile, smile, smile

[Jenny]

I have to admit I got this just as much for me as I did Audrey. I might have loved it a wee bit more then her, but I'll give her time. ;)

[Winslow]

You used to get excited by the overwhelming sight of balls arranged into a ball shape (gum balls in a dispenser) on the last page. You point to the birthday cakes and say "drum."

[Emily]

I can recite this by memory, I LOVE it and my kids do too. I also love Wayne Thiebaud, so that's a plus.

[Sarah Stumphf]

Beautiful book!

[Jennifer L]

Yes, the artwork is beautiful, although a little blurry. As cute as the art was I couldn't help but think most of the art was junk food that I don't want my kids fixated on.

[Magda]

9 party cakes, 9 party songs to sing

[Mckinley]

Counting book, love the end.

[Kathrine Rogers]

Counting Week