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Count on the Subway
1 MetroCard, Momma and me.
Down 2 flights—to catch the 3.
4 turnstiles, singers 5.
A rumble, a screech . . . the train arrives!
This bright, young counting book is a delightful trip through the New York City subway system. Hand in hand, child and mother see colorful subway signs and funny passengers, watch trains screeching by, and make new friends. With bold illustrations and a playful, rhyming text, this is not only a counting book, but also a tribute to New York and a sweet story of a child and parent navigating the city together.
Down 2 flights—to catch the 3.
4 turnstiles, singers 5.
A rumble, a screech . . . the train arrives!
This bright, young counting book is a delightful trip through the New York City subway system. Hand in hand, child and mother see colorful subway signs and funny passengers, watch trains screeching by, and make new friends. With bold illustrations and a playful, rhyming text, this is not only a counting book, but also a tribute to New York and a sweet story of a child and parent navigating the city together.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2014
2 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 5, 2014
Told in a bouncy rhyme, this picture book counts its way through a trip on the New York City subway. It starts with a mother and daughter heading down the steps into the subway and counting their one MetroCard. They go down 2 flights and catch the 3. Onward the story goes, merrily counting the turnstiles, the people, seats and stops. Once the book reaches ten, it counts its way right back down again, ending when the pair climb there way up into the one and only Union Station.
The rhyme here is completely infectious. It bounces along, skips and dances. It appears effortless and free and is very readable. In fact, it is hard not to read it aloud. The illustrations by Yaccarino show the main characters in full color while the others are one solid color and a black outline or just a colored outline. It makes for a book that is bright and bold.
Perfectly paced and brightly rhythmic, this counting book will be enjoyed by all sorts of children, not just the ones who have taken a subway before. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
The rhyme here is completely infectious. It bounces along, skips and dances. It appears effortless and free and is very readable. In fact, it is hard not to read it aloud. The illustrations by Yaccarino show the main characters in full color while the others are one solid color and a black outline or just a colored outline. It makes for a book that is bright and bold.
Perfectly paced and brightly rhythmic, this counting book will be enjoyed by all sorts of children, not just the ones who have taken a subway before. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
June 24, 2014
While short and sweet, this book will inspire discussion about all of the new vocab and concepts with arise in the counting, i.e. What's a metrocard? What's a turnstile?
I do wish it was about a more generic mass transit train. Children who do not live in New York may feel isolated and out of the loop. Over all, a good pick, though. And some readers may notice a cameo of Doug Unplugged!
I do wish it was about a more generic mass transit train. Children who do not live in New York may feel isolated and out of the loop. Over all, a good pick, though. And some readers may notice a cameo of Doug Unplugged!
July 14, 2018
Rhyming. Counting. Life experience in a big city. Counts up to 10 then back down again. Introduces them to vocabulary you’d see on the subway as well.
October 9, 2017
A very NYC book.
I like the various real NYC things to count and the way the numbers are printed like they're subway train #s.
I also like that it counts 1 to 10 and then 10 back to 1.
Unfortunately, it's a counting book where not every number can be counted.
On the way counting up, we "catch the 3", which isn't something that can be counted. I also find counting the 2 flights (of stairs) not natural.
We have "7 more stops, going uptown", but there's no map or anything to count them.
For "10 people on", you have to know to count the mother and daughter.
When counting down, we "Find the 7 at Times Square", which again can't be counted because it's a subway #, not 7 of anything.
"5 short minutes to cross town" doesn't show a clock or other way to count the 5.
I like the various real NYC things to count and the way the numbers are printed like they're subway train #s.
I also like that it counts 1 to 10 and then 10 back to 1.
Unfortunately, it's a counting book where not every number can be counted.
On the way counting up, we "catch the 3", which isn't something that can be counted. I also find counting the 2 flights (of stairs) not natural.
We have "7 more stops, going uptown", but there's no map or anything to count them.
For "10 people on", you have to know to count the mother and daughter.
When counting down, we "Find the 7 at Times Square", which again can't be counted because it's a subway #, not 7 of anything.
"5 short minutes to cross town" doesn't show a clock or other way to count the 5.
August 12, 2017
I was really liking this book, until it got to 7: "7 more stops going uptown." You can't count the stops. Then, the next 7 (counting backwards) is "find the 7 at Times Square." So, the number 7 shows up twice, but there are never 7 things to count. Since this is, after all, a counting book, that's a pretty serious flaw. The whole joy of counting books at a certain age is to count the objects in the pictures. A basic criterion for a good counting book is that each picture have the requisite number of things to count. So, while this is a well-done book in many ways, I think it really comes up short in the end.b
March 22, 2018
for younger readers. its a counting book. good for learning numbers.
May 18, 2021
Cute! Loved seeing Doug Unplugged in one picture.
June 9, 2021
Mom and girl ride the subway counting up to 10 friends at their stop and back down to 1. Rhyming couplets.
Read
February 16, 2016Title: COUNTING ON THE SUBWAY
Author: Paul Dubois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender
Illustrator: Dan Yaccarino
Genre: Counting stucture
Theme(s): Counting, traveling
Opening line/sentence:
• 1 MetroCard, Momma and me.
Brief Book Summary: (2-3 sentences in your own words)
• In this book a young girl and her mom are taking the train to New York at Times Square. The girl is counting things around her at the train station and it in the train ascending from 1 to 10 and then descending back down from 10 to 1. The girl talks about all the people and things around her as she travels with her mom to New York.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
• John Peters (Booklist)
• Incorporating numbers that sometimes cleverly correspond to actual trains, this rhymed ride on the New York City subway takes a child and her mother from Brooklyn Heights to Grand Central Station. Running a line per page, the counting begins with 1 MetroCard and climbs to 10 and then back down: 9 bright signs, down 8 stairs. / Find the 7 at Times Square. Capturing the bustle but somehow looking uncrowded at the same time, Yaccarino s flat, retro-style urban scenes depict purposefully striding pedestrians, buskers on the trains and platforms (illegal in real life, but a common sight), and smiling passengers of diverse age against generic backgrounds sketched in with simple lines or shapes. Though considerably more abbreviated than the odyssey in Christoph Neimann s Subway (2010), this cheery outing will inspire younger tourists and native straphangers alike to try some counting of their own the next time they head for the turnstiles. Preschool-Kindergarten
• (PUBLISHER: Alfred A. Knopf (New York:), PUBLISHED: 2014.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: (cut & paste)
• Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature)
• Ride the subway into New York City and count different items along the way. A little girl and her mother start the trip with one MetroCard and go down two flights of stairs to ride the number three train. The count continues up to ten and then counts down from ten friends on the train, nine signs, eight stairs and down to one station where the pair make way to the Big Apple. Children will be able to locate the main characters; the mother and girl are distinctive in terms of colors used. They have a 1950s vintage appearance. The other people along the trip are in solid colors or outlines. The numerals are features in colored circles; the colors of many (but not all) of the circles coordinate with the pictures. For example, the violet circle for five matches the five singers at the station and the red orange circle for six matches the color of the six seats on the train. The end papers have colorful circles and each circle has a numeral in it. The book makes a nice read aloud with the rhyming lines and simple illustrations. 2014, Alfred A. Knopf/Random House,, $14.99. Ages 3 to 6.
• (PUBLISHER: Alfred A. Knopf (New York:), PUBLISHED: 2014.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: (3-4 sentences in your own words)
• The two reviews both talk about how the number ascend from 1 to 10 and then descend from 10 back down to 1. One talks about easily pulling out the main characters and talks about the many different types of people with in the pictures. The other one emphasizes the differences in the types of shapes used in the pictures. The both give this book positive reviews and the counting is done in a very smart way for children to follow along and count along with the story.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: (3-4 sentences in your own words)
• This book is clearly designed for young children because there are not many words, but the pictures are big. The pictures follow along with the counting with many colors and shapes. The book has the numbers ascending and then descending, which helps the students count forwards and backwards. This book also I good for students to see how to travel and the order in which things happen and all the people the different types of people they will see.
Consideration of Instructional Application: (3-4 sentences in your own words)
• I think this book would be a fun activity if the teacher has all the students pick a vacation spot and use counting just like the little girl did on her way there. Counting can be use in many ways and it is important that children see that they will use counting in their daily life, not just math. The students will be able to count forward as they get to the vacation spot and backwards as they travel back home.
Author: Paul Dubois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender
Illustrator: Dan Yaccarino
Genre: Counting stucture
Theme(s): Counting, traveling
Opening line/sentence:
• 1 MetroCard, Momma and me.
Brief Book Summary: (2-3 sentences in your own words)
• In this book a young girl and her mom are taking the train to New York at Times Square. The girl is counting things around her at the train station and it in the train ascending from 1 to 10 and then descending back down from 10 to 1. The girl talks about all the people and things around her as she travels with her mom to New York.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
• John Peters (Booklist)
• Incorporating numbers that sometimes cleverly correspond to actual trains, this rhymed ride on the New York City subway takes a child and her mother from Brooklyn Heights to Grand Central Station. Running a line per page, the counting begins with 1 MetroCard and climbs to 10 and then back down: 9 bright signs, down 8 stairs. / Find the 7 at Times Square. Capturing the bustle but somehow looking uncrowded at the same time, Yaccarino s flat, retro-style urban scenes depict purposefully striding pedestrians, buskers on the trains and platforms (illegal in real life, but a common sight), and smiling passengers of diverse age against generic backgrounds sketched in with simple lines or shapes. Though considerably more abbreviated than the odyssey in Christoph Neimann s Subway (2010), this cheery outing will inspire younger tourists and native straphangers alike to try some counting of their own the next time they head for the turnstiles. Preschool-Kindergarten
• (PUBLISHER: Alfred A. Knopf (New York:), PUBLISHED: 2014.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: (cut & paste)
• Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature)
• Ride the subway into New York City and count different items along the way. A little girl and her mother start the trip with one MetroCard and go down two flights of stairs to ride the number three train. The count continues up to ten and then counts down from ten friends on the train, nine signs, eight stairs and down to one station where the pair make way to the Big Apple. Children will be able to locate the main characters; the mother and girl are distinctive in terms of colors used. They have a 1950s vintage appearance. The other people along the trip are in solid colors or outlines. The numerals are features in colored circles; the colors of many (but not all) of the circles coordinate with the pictures. For example, the violet circle for five matches the five singers at the station and the red orange circle for six matches the color of the six seats on the train. The end papers have colorful circles and each circle has a numeral in it. The book makes a nice read aloud with the rhyming lines and simple illustrations. 2014, Alfred A. Knopf/Random House,, $14.99. Ages 3 to 6.
• (PUBLISHER: Alfred A. Knopf (New York:), PUBLISHED: 2014.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: (3-4 sentences in your own words)
• The two reviews both talk about how the number ascend from 1 to 10 and then descend from 10 back down to 1. One talks about easily pulling out the main characters and talks about the many different types of people with in the pictures. The other one emphasizes the differences in the types of shapes used in the pictures. The both give this book positive reviews and the counting is done in a very smart way for children to follow along and count along with the story.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: (3-4 sentences in your own words)
• This book is clearly designed for young children because there are not many words, but the pictures are big. The pictures follow along with the counting with many colors and shapes. The book has the numbers ascending and then descending, which helps the students count forwards and backwards. This book also I good for students to see how to travel and the order in which things happen and all the people the different types of people they will see.
Consideration of Instructional Application: (3-4 sentences in your own words)
• I think this book would be a fun activity if the teacher has all the students pick a vacation spot and use counting just like the little girl did on her way there. Counting can be use in many ways and it is important that children see that they will use counting in their daily life, not just math. The students will be able to count forward as they get to the vacation spot and backwards as they travel back home.
October 13, 2015
Title: Count on the subway
Author: Jacobs, Paul Dubois & Jennifer Swender
Illustrator: Dan Yaccarino
Genre: Fiction, picture book
Theme(s): Counting book
Opening line/sentence: 1 Metro card, Momma and me.
Brief Book Summary: This is a counting book created based on the city scenario. The text is simple and rhyming. Numbers are perfectly blended in the content. Childern can learn numbers by relating it to their daily lives.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: KIRKUS REVIEW
Count up to 10 and back again with a mother and daughter as they ride the rumbling subway.
Husband-and-wife author team Jacobs and Swender are both counting and subway veterans (Nascar 1-2-3s, 2008) and (My Subway Ride, 2004), but this time they have combined the two. In short, staccato bursts, with a snappy beat, Momma and daughter take a subway ride, counting all the way. “6 empty seats, sit right down. / 7 more stops, going uptown. // Big Apple subway, 8 cars long. / 9 people off, 10 people on.” The numbers in the text are cleverly designed; they look like the same circles found on New York City’s transit signs. Savvy New York City kids will notice the colors don’t correspond with the correct numbered subway lines—forgivable artistic license, as it allows for a nice variety of colors, and there’s not a real-world line for each number. Happily, though, the path taken is absolutely a plausible trip! Yaccarino’s loose-limbed riders sway with the rush of the train, and the joyful smiles make this excursion all the more fun—especially the hidden art from previous books tucked in various corners.
A simple concept done with clean, commendable style. (Picture book. 2-5)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
As a MetroCard-wielding girl proudly leads her mother uptown to Grand Central Terminal via the subway, it’s clear that they aren’t just utilizing a fast mode of transportation—they’re part of a nonstop celebration of life in a great city: “Big Apple subway, 8 cars long./ 9 people off, 10 people on./ 10 friends sway, boogie and bop/ to a tunnel beat.... Here’s our stop!” write Jacobs and Swender, the husband-and-wife team behind urban standbys My Subway Ride and My Taxi Ride. Yaccarino (All the Way to America) continues to revel in his role as one of the city’s most upbeat visual chroniclers, rendering the subway as bustling, bright, (and spotless) metropolitan crossroads with a soundtrack all its own. As the story counts from 1 to 10 and back, the numerals pop out of the typography in colored circles, a tribute to the system’s instantly recognizable signage. Yaccarino’s familiar throwback touches are also evident: the girl wears a matching coat and beanie straight out of Mad Men. Ages 2–5. Authors’ agency: Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (May)
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both of the reviews mentioned the big city background of this book. But they didn't mention the limitation that this is a book only for NYC kids.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
Not too many words are used in his book, which is appropriate for children who are still learning numbers. The thyme of the poetry is good for read aloud, and will be remembered by children easier.
Consideration of Instructional Application: (3-4 sentences in your own words)
Author: Jacobs, Paul Dubois & Jennifer Swender
Illustrator: Dan Yaccarino
Genre: Fiction, picture book
Theme(s): Counting book
Opening line/sentence: 1 Metro card, Momma and me.
Brief Book Summary: This is a counting book created based on the city scenario. The text is simple and rhyming. Numbers are perfectly blended in the content. Childern can learn numbers by relating it to their daily lives.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: KIRKUS REVIEW
Count up to 10 and back again with a mother and daughter as they ride the rumbling subway.
Husband-and-wife author team Jacobs and Swender are both counting and subway veterans (Nascar 1-2-3s, 2008) and (My Subway Ride, 2004), but this time they have combined the two. In short, staccato bursts, with a snappy beat, Momma and daughter take a subway ride, counting all the way. “6 empty seats, sit right down. / 7 more stops, going uptown. // Big Apple subway, 8 cars long. / 9 people off, 10 people on.” The numbers in the text are cleverly designed; they look like the same circles found on New York City’s transit signs. Savvy New York City kids will notice the colors don’t correspond with the correct numbered subway lines—forgivable artistic license, as it allows for a nice variety of colors, and there’s not a real-world line for each number. Happily, though, the path taken is absolutely a plausible trip! Yaccarino’s loose-limbed riders sway with the rush of the train, and the joyful smiles make this excursion all the more fun—especially the hidden art from previous books tucked in various corners.
A simple concept done with clean, commendable style. (Picture book. 2-5)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
As a MetroCard-wielding girl proudly leads her mother uptown to Grand Central Terminal via the subway, it’s clear that they aren’t just utilizing a fast mode of transportation—they’re part of a nonstop celebration of life in a great city: “Big Apple subway, 8 cars long./ 9 people off, 10 people on./ 10 friends sway, boogie and bop/ to a tunnel beat.... Here’s our stop!” write Jacobs and Swender, the husband-and-wife team behind urban standbys My Subway Ride and My Taxi Ride. Yaccarino (All the Way to America) continues to revel in his role as one of the city’s most upbeat visual chroniclers, rendering the subway as bustling, bright, (and spotless) metropolitan crossroads with a soundtrack all its own. As the story counts from 1 to 10 and back, the numerals pop out of the typography in colored circles, a tribute to the system’s instantly recognizable signage. Yaccarino’s familiar throwback touches are also evident: the girl wears a matching coat and beanie straight out of Mad Men. Ages 2–5. Authors’ agency: Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (May)
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both of the reviews mentioned the big city background of this book. But they didn't mention the limitation that this is a book only for NYC kids.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
Not too many words are used in his book, which is appropriate for children who are still learning numbers. The thyme of the poetry is good for read aloud, and will be remembered by children easier.
Consideration of Instructional Application: (3-4 sentences in your own words)
June 6, 2016
Title: Count On The Subway/i>
Author: Paul Dubois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender
Illustrator: Dan Yaccarino
Genre: Counting Book
Theme(s): Counting book, fiction, city and town life, New York
Opening line/sentence: 1 MetroCard, Momma and me.
Brief Book Summary: This is a cute book to read to the younger crowd as it could help them practice their counting. Throughout the book it counts from one to ten and then back down to one. When a page gives a number and a description on it such as nine bright signs there are actually nine bright signs, which would be fun for the students to read and count.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: John Peters (CLCD)
Incorporating numbers that sometimes cleverly correspond to actual trains, this rhymed ride on the New York City subway takes a child and her mother from Brooklyn Heights to Grand Central Station. Running a line per page, the counting begins with 1 MetroCard and climbs to 10 and then back down: 9 bright signs, down 8 stairs. / Find the 7 at Times Square. Capturing the bustle but somehow looking uncrowded at the same time, Yaccarino s flat, retro-style urban scenes depict purposefully striding pedestrians, buskers on the trains and platforms (illegal in real life, but a common sight), and smiling passengers of diverse age against generic backgrounds sketched in with simple lines or shapes. Though considerably more abbreviated than the odyssey in Christoph Neimann s Subway (2010), this cheery outing will inspire younger tourists and native straphangers alike to try some counting of their own the next time they head for the turnstiles. Preschool-Kindergarten
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Knopf (Horn Book)
(2) PS Illustrated by Dan Yaccarino. For one little girl, a jaunt on the New York subway is a great opportunity to count from one ("1 MetroCard") to ten ("10 friends sway, boogie and bop...") and back down again. The pleasantly rhyming and nicely cadenced text is full of the sights and sounds of a (sanitized) subway ride. Yaccarino's graphically dynamic, crayon-box-colorful illustrations feature cheery retro-looking passengers.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both of these reviews gave a great insight as to how this book includes numbers in a creative way. Students will definitely enjoy reading this as well as counting the different scenes on every page. This book is immersed in color, which will definitely catch the reader's eye.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The authors did a great job including numbers in a children's book in a creative way. First the book counts from one to ten and then back down to one, which gives the early readers a quick insight as to how to count from one to ten and then back down. The book allows readers to focus more on the illustrations rather than the sentences as they are very minimal, but filled with important information regarding the book and illustrations.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This would be a great book for parents to read to their children as they can help their children practice their counting in a fun and easy way. This would be a good book to read in a preschool/kindergarten classroom. In a small group the teacher can have students count the number of illustrations while the he/she reads to them.
Author: Paul Dubois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender
Illustrator: Dan Yaccarino
Genre: Counting Book
Theme(s): Counting book, fiction, city and town life, New York
Opening line/sentence: 1 MetroCard, Momma and me.
Brief Book Summary: This is a cute book to read to the younger crowd as it could help them practice their counting. Throughout the book it counts from one to ten and then back down to one. When a page gives a number and a description on it such as nine bright signs there are actually nine bright signs, which would be fun for the students to read and count.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: John Peters (CLCD)
Incorporating numbers that sometimes cleverly correspond to actual trains, this rhymed ride on the New York City subway takes a child and her mother from Brooklyn Heights to Grand Central Station. Running a line per page, the counting begins with 1 MetroCard and climbs to 10 and then back down: 9 bright signs, down 8 stairs. / Find the 7 at Times Square. Capturing the bustle but somehow looking uncrowded at the same time, Yaccarino s flat, retro-style urban scenes depict purposefully striding pedestrians, buskers on the trains and platforms (illegal in real life, but a common sight), and smiling passengers of diverse age against generic backgrounds sketched in with simple lines or shapes. Though considerably more abbreviated than the odyssey in Christoph Neimann s Subway (2010), this cheery outing will inspire younger tourists and native straphangers alike to try some counting of their own the next time they head for the turnstiles. Preschool-Kindergarten
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Knopf (Horn Book)
(2) PS Illustrated by Dan Yaccarino. For one little girl, a jaunt on the New York subway is a great opportunity to count from one ("1 MetroCard") to ten ("10 friends sway, boogie and bop...") and back down again. The pleasantly rhyming and nicely cadenced text is full of the sights and sounds of a (sanitized) subway ride. Yaccarino's graphically dynamic, crayon-box-colorful illustrations feature cheery retro-looking passengers.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both of these reviews gave a great insight as to how this book includes numbers in a creative way. Students will definitely enjoy reading this as well as counting the different scenes on every page. This book is immersed in color, which will definitely catch the reader's eye.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The authors did a great job including numbers in a children's book in a creative way. First the book counts from one to ten and then back down to one, which gives the early readers a quick insight as to how to count from one to ten and then back down. The book allows readers to focus more on the illustrations rather than the sentences as they are very minimal, but filled with important information regarding the book and illustrations.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This would be a great book for parents to read to their children as they can help their children practice their counting in a fun and easy way. This would be a good book to read in a preschool/kindergarten classroom. In a small group the teacher can have students count the number of illustrations while the he/she reads to them.
July 24, 2014
Review originally posted here at Children's Atheneum.
This bright, young counting book is a trip through the New York City subway system. Hand in hand, child and mother see colorful subway signs and funny passengers, watch trains screeching by, and make new friends. With bold illustrations and a playful, rhyming text, this is not only a counting book, but also a tribute to New York and a sweet story of a child and parent navigating the city together.
When I was a kid, we lived in New Brunswick, New Jersey. New York City was just around the corner and I was never impressed. I have no actual memories of our trips to the city, only pictures, and I promise you I look absolutely miserable in them. After graduating from college in Boston, I had a few job interviews in the city and the thought of moving to a place that was just a slab of concrete and metal, made me anxious. Luckily or unluckily, I didn't get any of those jobs and I moved back home to North Carolina, a place with trees and gardens and greens stuff everywhere.
I do love the subway, but more for its convenience and cost than anything else. Most subway stations are old and hot, a blessing in the winter and torture in the summer. For a child who lives in New York City, I imagine this book is a very cute local book where the subway is shown in a good light. However, it is very NYC centric and obviously a child not living in a city with public transportation is going to have a difficult time understanding it.
It's a cute local counting book with clever rhymes and colorful illustrations that anyone from The Big Apple should relate to and enjoy.
This bright, young counting book is a trip through the New York City subway system. Hand in hand, child and mother see colorful subway signs and funny passengers, watch trains screeching by, and make new friends. With bold illustrations and a playful, rhyming text, this is not only a counting book, but also a tribute to New York and a sweet story of a child and parent navigating the city together.
When I was a kid, we lived in New Brunswick, New Jersey. New York City was just around the corner and I was never impressed. I have no actual memories of our trips to the city, only pictures, and I promise you I look absolutely miserable in them. After graduating from college in Boston, I had a few job interviews in the city and the thought of moving to a place that was just a slab of concrete and metal, made me anxious. Luckily or unluckily, I didn't get any of those jobs and I moved back home to North Carolina, a place with trees and gardens and greens stuff everywhere.
I do love the subway, but more for its convenience and cost than anything else. Most subway stations are old and hot, a blessing in the winter and torture in the summer. For a child who lives in New York City, I imagine this book is a very cute local book where the subway is shown in a good light. However, it is very NYC centric and obviously a child not living in a city with public transportation is going to have a difficult time understanding it.
It's a cute local counting book with clever rhymes and colorful illustrations that anyone from The Big Apple should relate to and enjoy.
April 7, 2015
Count on the Subway is a book that is geared more towards younger readers that are just beginning to learn how to read. The story is about a young girl and her mom and how they ride the subway. The story is a journey about their ride and watching people get on and off the subway and the stops that the subway makes. The book starts with number 1, saying that her and her mom have one MetroCard to get on the subway. On the next couple of pages, she continues to use numbers on each page, counting up to 10, and then once it gets to 10, the author starts to count back down to 1. For example, 9 people off, 10 people on. 10 friends sway, boogie and bop to a tunnel beat... Here's our stop! 9 bright signs, down 8 stairs. Then then continues until she's back at 1. I really enjoyed this book and thought it was very easy to follow. I really like how the author not only incorporated counting up using text in a book, he also incorporated counting down using text in the book. I like that the author has done this because not many students practice counting down, they usually only practice counting up. The one thing I had a problem with was that I think the author used a little too many big words in this children's book. For example, I don't think that a child would know what a turnstiles is and straphangers. I would, however, have this book in my future classroom library for my kindergarten and first graders to read and have access to because I like that the author counts up and counts down in the book.
June 1, 2014
I really enjoyed this bright and bold counting book. A young girl and her mom go on the subway. The experience allows readers a chance to count from one to ten and back again. I liked it. I really liked it. I liked how the numbers were incorporated right into the story. I liked that there actually is a story to this concept book. The language is very descriptive. Possibly my favorite: "4 doors open. Time to move. 3 drums thumpin' a rush hour groove." The rhythm and rhyme just work really well in this one.
The illustrations are by Dan Yaccarino. His style, as always, is very unique. Some of his other books include: Go, Go America; Every Friday; All the Way to America; Oswald; and Good Night, Mr. Night. Some images--some illustrations--work better for me than others. There were scenes in this one that I did enjoy. But there were also some that puzzled me. (Blue people? Purple people? Green people? Orange people? Though I admit that kept the mom and daughter always in focus.)
The illustrations are by Dan Yaccarino. His style, as always, is very unique. Some of his other books include: Go, Go America; Every Friday; All the Way to America; Oswald; and Good Night, Mr. Night. Some images--some illustrations--work better for me than others. There were scenes in this one that I did enjoy. But there were also some that puzzled me. (Blue people? Purple people? Green people? Orange people? Though I admit that kept the mom and daughter always in focus.)
September 1, 2014
Review first posted on RedeemedReader
Bright, colorful illustrations help young listeners count with a little girl and her mom as they walk to the subway, board the train, ride to their destination, and disembark at Grand Central Station. The counting progresses from 1-10 and then back down to 1. Endpapers contain lots of numbers to identify for young listeners. This simple book is a fun change from the usual predictable counting books which feature more static visual layouts. Perfect for a trip to the big city or for urban residents familiar with the subway and public transportation.
Bright, colorful illustrations help young listeners count with a little girl and her mom as they walk to the subway, board the train, ride to their destination, and disembark at Grand Central Station. The counting progresses from 1-10 and then back down to 1. Endpapers contain lots of numbers to identify for young listeners. This simple book is a fun change from the usual predictable counting books which feature more static visual layouts. Perfect for a trip to the big city or for urban residents familiar with the subway and public transportation.
January 29, 2015
Lots of bright bold yellows, oranges, green, purples used in this counting book depicted as a ride on the subway of New York City. The counting forward is the preparation and ride to Grand Central Station and the counting backward from ten begins when the mother and little girl need to change trains to reach their destination.
A child will need to study the illustrations to make certain the correct number of objects is in each illustration. This counting book is story based.
A child will need to study the illustrations to make certain the correct number of objects is in each illustration. This counting book is story based.
June 10, 2016
This book is for children who are used to subways and for those that have never seen one before. Basic sentences 'counting' along with things on the subway. Children who are used to the subway after reading this book could point out the 'real' thing and count them when they ride the subway in real life. And those children whom have never seen a subway this (by illsturations) can see what it's kind of like. This book helps children recognize numbers from 1 to 10 then count from 10 to 1.
May 22, 2014
Numbers 1-10 are presented in rhyme as they recount the experience of taking the subway.
Solid read aloud with brush and ink illustrations finished digitally. I like this book both for its concept coverage, but also as a book about transportation, especillay as it pertains to helping a child prepare for a new experience.
PreK-2.
Solid read aloud with brush and ink illustrations finished digitally. I like this book both for its concept coverage, but also as a book about transportation, especillay as it pertains to helping a child prepare for a new experience.
PreK-2.
May 6, 2014
Full disclosure, the authors are my dear friends. That said, they wrote lovely picture books. In this sweet little book, Mommy and me go for a ride on the subway and count all the things that they see, from one metro card up to ten and then back down to one station, central and grand. Colorful, contemporary illustrations by Dan Yaccarino.
January 5, 2015
I don't love this as a counting book for very young kids, who seem to be the target audience. Some things are clearly illustrated and able to be counted on the page (2 escalators, 8 stairs, etc.), but in other cases they are not shown/abstract/uncountable (7 more stops, 5 minutes, the 3 train). The rhyme is good, though.
August 4, 2014
Kids love subways. I'm surprised there aren't more kids books that take place on them. This one has a really fun rhyming text and colorful retro illustrations. We mainly read this at home but we've had a ton of fun bringing this on the subway and reading it on a train to point out the different subway terms.
September 17, 2014
A girl and her mother ride the subway and walk through the city, counting and noticing numbers as they walk.
The thought that this simple book might be good for Pre-K classes when they talk about the differences between living in the country and living in the city, but I don’t think it’s really what we’re looking for.
The thought that this simple book might be good for Pre-K classes when they talk about the differences between living in the country and living in the city, but I don’t think it’s really what we’re looking for.
October 5, 2014
This brightly colored counting book follows a mother and daughter's ride on a NYC subway to Grand Central Station. The counting goes from one to ten and back again. The lively rhymes and bold illustrations make this a fun counting book whether or not you've ever ridden a subway. "10 friends sway, boogie and bop to a tunnel beat . . . Here's our stop!"
June 18, 2014
This simple counting book would be good to read aloud to tots who live in big cities. The drawings have a retro Mad Men vibe, and the pace imitates the rush to catch a train. A modern and stylish picture book.
November 19, 2013
I adore this book. Rhyming text, great illustrations introduce the concept of counting in a fun way.
September 11, 2016
Simple and fun.
May 19, 2014
Cute, rhythmic book, great for the younger crowd. Fun counting from 1-10 in the NYC Subway system!
May 31, 2014
A very colorful book teaching numbering/counting and reverse counting. It really didn't stand out for reasons other than that. But I found it to be perfect for a very early reader/learner.
August 14, 2014
A cute way to count. Great for NYC kids and subway babies.
September 19, 2015
Seems very NYC-centric and therefore less universal than I’d like for my toddler story times, but the words, rhythms, and pictures are fine. I always like Dan Yaccarino's illustrations.
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