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Ten, Nine, Eight
A Caldecott Honor Book and ALA Notable Book A bedtime book and a counting book! “A delightful bedtime book.”— New York Times Acclaimed author Molly Bang shares the going-to-bed countdown in a loving family. “Ten small toes all washed and warm,” begins the story, and then young readers journey toward tuck-in time, counting down along with the story’s African-American father and daughter. In the satisfying conclusion, one little sleepyhead settles in for the night. An award-winning classic, Ten, Nine, Eight has been comforting and delighting children and their parents for more than thirty years. “This beguiling picture book, with a palette of eye-filling colors, appears to arise naturally from the love binding a father and his little ‘big’ girl who turn bedtime into playtime with a rhyming game.”— Publishers Weekly
16 pages, Board Book
First published May 9, 1983
16 people are currently reading
1331 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 374 reviews
May 21, 2019
This is a simple and sweet beginning number book counting down from 10 to 1 and then going to bed. I am not crazy about the artwork, but the painting of the 10 toes was beautiful. I’m not sure what it was, but it didn’t work for me personally. I think this is great for very young children, but it was way to simple for my kids. It’s a quick read.
We see 10 scenes in the ritual to put this girl to bed. The little shoes in a row was sweet.
The nephew was bored with this as was the niece. They are both past this level and neither liked it. They both gave it 1 star. The nephew was bored and called it baby (he learns so much from his sister). (The funny thing is that every once in a while, the nephew will still pull out the very young books for comfort from his bookshelf to read, but he has to be in the mood and when he is around his sister, he acts this way more. He probably liked it more than he lets on.)
We see 10 scenes in the ritual to put this girl to bed. The little shoes in a row was sweet.
The nephew was bored with this as was the niece. They are both past this level and neither liked it. They both gave it 1 star. The nephew was bored and called it baby (he learns so much from his sister). (The funny thing is that every once in a while, the nephew will still pull out the very young books for comfort from his bookshelf to read, but he has to be in the mood and when he is around his sister, he acts this way more. He probably liked it more than he lets on.)
August 13, 2023
A gentle rhyming bedtime/counting book, with colourfully expressive illustrations, Molly Bang's Ten, Nine, Eight is a soothing lullaby for young children (about their various bedtime routines), whilst also counting down from the numbers ten to one. For an adult, the author's presented and featured text might feel a bit lacking in substance (and the first rhyme sequence really does not seem to work all that well either), but for the intended audience, for toddlers just learning their numbers, it sweetly and soothingly hits the proverbial spot. And yes, what I (as an adult and generally rather critical, academically inclined reader) actually most appreciate about Ten, Nine, Eight is that while the presented characters are clearly African American, that fact is never belaboured by the author (and neither is the fact that it is the father who readies his young daughter for bedtime). Ten, Nine, Eight is simply a tender bedtime story (with gender and ethnicity demonstrated through the illustrations, but fortunately never really specifically pointed out via the narrative, just existing as a natural, a given).
January 20, 2017
I'm obsessed. Why is Molly Bang the greatest woke white lady in kidlit? This book--FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1983--features a black dad and his daughter at bedtime (!!!). That's an amazing dismantling of the stereotype that black fathers are "absent" and "unsupportive" right there.
It's also a great counting and going-to-bed book for toddlers, really it's a countdown to bedtime book. There are so many easy-to-name items (shoes, cat, ball, etc) to look at, name, and track throughout the spreads. Coupled with Bang's use of zooming in and out of perspective to reveal more parts of the little girl's bedroom, these repeated items really help young minds piece together the fragmented space. I understand why it received a Caldecott honor.
Kudos to HarperCollins for publishing this 20+ years ago!
It's also a great counting and going-to-bed book for toddlers, really it's a countdown to bedtime book. There are so many easy-to-name items (shoes, cat, ball, etc) to look at, name, and track throughout the spreads. Coupled with Bang's use of zooming in and out of perspective to reveal more parts of the little girl's bedroom, these repeated items really help young minds piece together the fragmented space. I understand why it received a Caldecott honor.
Kudos to HarperCollins for publishing this 20+ years ago!
June 17, 2013
We've tried to pick up some Caldecott books, because I've heard good things about them, and this was our first. Although I wasn't that impressed, it did have some merit. The counting goes backwards, like the title suggests, which is an important skill to learn when learning numbers. Many books just focus on counting forwards and not backwards. The reading level probably wasn't even a level 1, not enough words. My 5 yr old who is doing first grade work wasn't interested, but it held the attention of my preschoolers somewhat. The illustrations are it's redeeming quality I think.
April 5, 2016
One of the 1984 Caldecott Honor books is this bedtime story. In it we see a countdown, that is shown backwards, beginning in ten and ending in one. This backwards countdown takes place in the room of a little girl, whose father is preparing her for bed. First shown are ten toes;. second come nine toys; third come eight squares on the window panes; fourth come seven shoes; fifth come six seashells; sixth come five buttons; seventh come four eyes; eighth come three kisses; ninth come two arms; lastly comes one big girl.
The story is intended for pre-schoolers. You can tell because it counts with very basic vocabulary. It is perfect to be read to a child before bedtime. The child can easily follow the words without distractions, for they are in a separate page and written in black. In the page of the words, the only color is of the number, making it pop out from the text. And on the page on the right, you see what the text described in vivid and brightly colored illustrations. The pages also end in a rhyme with the next page that catches the children’s attention too.
I consider this to be am excellent bedtime story. It gives you a serene and mellow text to accompany realistic pictures to let the child unwind. I also appreciate the fact that it is counting backwards since this is somewhat neglected with always counting forward. And also, the more complicated pictures, or the ones with the most drawings, are in the beginning when the child is wide awake. And the text being simpler, and also the pictures, with each passed page helps get to the point of falling asleep.
The story is intended for pre-schoolers. You can tell because it counts with very basic vocabulary. It is perfect to be read to a child before bedtime. The child can easily follow the words without distractions, for they are in a separate page and written in black. In the page of the words, the only color is of the number, making it pop out from the text. And on the page on the right, you see what the text described in vivid and brightly colored illustrations. The pages also end in a rhyme with the next page that catches the children’s attention too.
I consider this to be am excellent bedtime story. It gives you a serene and mellow text to accompany realistic pictures to let the child unwind. I also appreciate the fact that it is counting backwards since this is somewhat neglected with always counting forward. And also, the more complicated pictures, or the ones with the most drawings, are in the beginning when the child is wide awake. And the text being simpler, and also the pictures, with each passed page helps get to the point of falling asleep.
February 22, 2017
I like the book because it is promoting number sense. The ability to understand quantity of a set of objects and numbers to name quantiles. The story of this book is illustrating the process of sleeping time between an African American father and he’s daughter. The father helps he’s daughter before sleeping the both bond by doing a process of number naming with numerical objects. The author does not only write the number the author illustrated using different objects that represent the number value. For example, for number ten (10) there was an image of “ten toes all washed and cleaned” the toes are representing an amount. The book is encouraging children to have an idea and start to learning how much or how many a number name can represent and to learn to count. Something that was really impressing was the stereotype of always having a mother and the daughter relationship this book changes that an African American father can have a great relationship with he’s daughter. I think younger children would really enjoy listing to the book aloud because while reading the book I can emphasize the number names and make sure I encourage them to count with me the ten toes. I can provide an activity with numbers I can have different objects and I can ask them to represent the amount of a number with the objects.
September 27, 2016
1. Book summary, in your own words (3 pts)
Ten, Nine, Eight is a Caldecott Honor Book. It is a poem that the author wrote for her daughter while she was away. It is a counting book and it is about a child getting ready for bed.
2. Grade level, interest level, lexile (1 pt)
This would be a great book for Pre-K, maybe Kindergarten, students. It is a really cute book and is super easy to read.
3. Appropriate classroom use (subject area) (1 pt)
I would use this book when teaching counting in class.
4. Individual students who might benefit from reading (1 pt)
I think all Pre-K students would like this book. They would be able to relate since the child in the book is about the same age.
5. Small group use (literature circles) (1 pt)
I would use this book in groups with my students to go over the words in the book. Pronouncing them and maybe the rhyming of them.
6. Whole class use (read aloud) (1 pt)
I would read this book aloud to go over counting and have the students write their own counting story.
7. Related books in genre/subject or content area (1 pt)
When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang
Yellow Ball by Molly Bang
In My Heart by Molly Bang
8. Multimedia connections (audio books, movie) available (1 pt)
This book has an audio cassette.
Ten, Nine, Eight is a Caldecott Honor Book. It is a poem that the author wrote for her daughter while she was away. It is a counting book and it is about a child getting ready for bed.
2. Grade level, interest level, lexile (1 pt)
This would be a great book for Pre-K, maybe Kindergarten, students. It is a really cute book and is super easy to read.
3. Appropriate classroom use (subject area) (1 pt)
I would use this book when teaching counting in class.
4. Individual students who might benefit from reading (1 pt)
I think all Pre-K students would like this book. They would be able to relate since the child in the book is about the same age.
5. Small group use (literature circles) (1 pt)
I would use this book in groups with my students to go over the words in the book. Pronouncing them and maybe the rhyming of them.
6. Whole class use (read aloud) (1 pt)
I would read this book aloud to go over counting and have the students write their own counting story.
7. Related books in genre/subject or content area (1 pt)
When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang
Yellow Ball by Molly Bang
In My Heart by Molly Bang
8. Multimedia connections (audio books, movie) available (1 pt)
This book has an audio cassette.
February 17, 2013
Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang is a picture book. It is a Caldecott honor book of 1984. The age group this book is intended for is nursery. The book is a countdown to bedtime.
I thought this was a good bedtime story and I like that each time you look at the pictures there is more to find. If the child is a little older, he/she can count the number of items on each page, some more difficult to spot than others. The good thing is the numbers go down so as you are trying to get them to sleep they don’t have to search or think as hard as they may have at the beginning of the book. Or, after several times of flipping through, the next page may have something from the prior pages to notice. The pictures are soft and many outlines were done in a color other than black. The page with the writing is white and the only color on that page is the number; the words are in black print. I would recommend this for young readers because the beginning makes you think more to get you tired and ready for bed.
September 24, 2011
Ten, Nine, Eight
by: Molly Bang
1. Genre: Picture Book/Counting
2. Summary: A young girl gets ready for bed by helping her father count all of her cherished items that can be found in her bedroom.
3. Critique:
a. One of the greatest strengths of this book is the use of adjectives by the author.
b. Molly Bang helps her readers get ready for bedtime by taking them through a young girl’s bedtime routine of counting the items she loves in descending order.
“10 small toes all washed and warm” (p. 1). Each item or noun that Bang presents is accompanied by a descriptive adjective that accurately compliments her illustrations. Not only are the toes described as being small, but they are also warm. Any child reading this book with his/her parent will naturally feel a warm feeling wash over their own ten little toes.
c. In addition to the wonderfully descriptive language throughout the story’s entirety, Bang also incorporates a rhyming scheme for every two pages. “8 square windowpanes with falling snow” (p. 5) and “7 empty shoes in a short straight row” (p. 7). Children are not only learning the numbers one through ten, they are also being introduced to descriptive words, or adjectives, as well as rhyming words.
4. Curriculum Content: Ten, Night, Eight is a great story for teachers to use in the primary grades. Molly Bang has written a story that can be used for many different topics including: rhyming words, counting (in descending order), descriptive words, and even the primary colors. Bang uses a vibrant yellow for the young girl’s nightgown, a strong red for the carpet, and a bold blue for the night sky.
by: Molly Bang
1. Genre: Picture Book/Counting
2. Summary: A young girl gets ready for bed by helping her father count all of her cherished items that can be found in her bedroom.
3. Critique:
a. One of the greatest strengths of this book is the use of adjectives by the author.
b. Molly Bang helps her readers get ready for bedtime by taking them through a young girl’s bedtime routine of counting the items she loves in descending order.
“10 small toes all washed and warm” (p. 1). Each item or noun that Bang presents is accompanied by a descriptive adjective that accurately compliments her illustrations. Not only are the toes described as being small, but they are also warm. Any child reading this book with his/her parent will naturally feel a warm feeling wash over their own ten little toes.
c. In addition to the wonderfully descriptive language throughout the story’s entirety, Bang also incorporates a rhyming scheme for every two pages. “8 square windowpanes with falling snow” (p. 5) and “7 empty shoes in a short straight row” (p. 7). Children are not only learning the numbers one through ten, they are also being introduced to descriptive words, or adjectives, as well as rhyming words.
4. Curriculum Content: Ten, Night, Eight is a great story for teachers to use in the primary grades. Molly Bang has written a story that can be used for many different topics including: rhyming words, counting (in descending order), descriptive words, and even the primary colors. Bang uses a vibrant yellow for the young girl’s nightgown, a strong red for the carpet, and a bold blue for the night sky.
May 13, 2016
Ten, Nine, Eight A sweet bedtime story and counting book. I actually wasn't a big fan of the illustration style though I really loved what the illustrations depicted -- I hope that makes sense. I think my favorite illustration was of the cuddly creatures in the room (plush animals and a very real kitty cat) ;-) I, too, appreciated the fact that the book featured an African American family and that the father is in the nurturing role, putting the daughter to bed. Nice to see that any time, but I imagine it was an especially welcome addition to the picture book set in the '80s.
May 5, 2016
A short, sweet counting book (counting down from 10 to 1) perfect for bedtime for little ones.
It's hard to believe that this is written and illustrated by the same woman that wrote and illustrated The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher. The two books are completely different in tone, length, illustration style, etc.
It's hard to believe that this is written and illustrated by the same woman that wrote and illustrated The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher. The two books are completely different in tone, length, illustration style, etc.
May 10, 2016
A very short phrase on the left-hand page is accompanied by a lovely painting on the right-hand page, with a black cat in several of the pictures. Another nice feature is that it is Dad putting the child to bed, thus acknowledging the importance of dads in a child's life.
May 23, 2016
1984 Caldecott Honor - Favorite Illustration: 3 kisses on the cheeks and nose - it is so sweet!
This is a tender little bedtime story as well as a counting book. I love the way each page is illustrated with a daddy tucking his kiddo into bed.
This is a tender little bedtime story as well as a counting book. I love the way each page is illustrated with a daddy tucking his kiddo into bed.
October 7, 2012
A very sweet bedtime story featuring counting. Recommended for bedtime reading!
August 10, 2019
A Caldecott Honour book published in 1983, Ten, Nine, Eight was a short poem written by Bang for her daughter whilst she was away. A counting book which celebrates a lovely relationship between a father and his infant daughter, it was an early picturebook in which an African-American family are the protagonists. When Bang first suggested this premise, editors tried to change her mind saying that sales would be affected, but, thankfully, she persisted anyway.
October 7, 2017
Reading Log
Title: Ten, Nine, Eight
Author/Illustrator: Molly Bang
Genre: Counting Book
Theme(s): Counting, Family/family relationships, nighttime/getting ready for bed
Opening line/sentence (type directly from text):
“10 small toes all washed and warm.”
Brief Book Summary (2-3 sentences in your own words):
This book features a young girl getting ready for bed, but does so very subtly. The book counts down from 10 and shows the girl putting her stuffed animals away, reading with her dad, and giving goodnight kisses. The book is really calming, and would make a great bedtime story.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1 (cut & paste, details below):
“No tricks, nothing fancy--just (in a welcome departure for Bang) a simple, reverberating bedtime count-down. The full-color, flatly-painted illustrations have in fact something of a primitivist Goodnight Moon feel (and somewhat the same coloration). "10 small toes all washed and warm," we begin; "9 soft friends in a quiet room." The feet are brown (with pink-rimmed toes against a red ground); the "soft friends" are stuffed animals and dolls, and a Siamese cat; the one unobtrusive pictorial device is the repetition of motifs from one illustration to the next--the toes poke into the stuffed animal picture, the cat does various cat-like things further on. But there is also of course a natural progression, not only numerically but in-point-of-time. At "5 round buttons on a yellow gown," we narrow in on the father-and-child we saw at the outset--and then proceed, via "3 sleepy kisses," to "1 big girl all ready for bed." Counting-down, from counting toes, is an inspired approach to bedtime. The pictures don't exhaust themselves, and neither does the experience.”
From Kirkus Review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
Professional Recommendation/Review #2 (cut & paste, details below):
Jill Bennett (Books for Keeps No. 33, July 1985)
“A short, gentle mood poem which counts the reader down to bedtime with a black dad and his small daughter. The warmth and leisurely together time is perfectly caught both in the words and the glowing pictures. A lovely book for sharing with the very young. Category: Nursery/Infant. . ...., Picture Puffin, 1.50. Ages 2 to 4.
(PUBLISHER: Puffin (Harmondsworth:), PUBLISHED: 1985 c1983.)”
From CLCD: http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
Response to Two Professional Reviews (3-4 sentences in your own words)
Like the review states, this book perfectly captures the warmth between father and daughter as he tucks her into bed. Until I read the first professional review, I didn’t even notice that each picture foreshadowed what was to come. Both reviews are positive, and after reading this book, I would have written a positive review as well.
Evaluation of Literary Elements (3-4 sentences in your own words):
This book would not be one I would introduce into my classroom, even though I really enjoyed it. I think I would suggest this book to parents as a way to promote literacy skills at home before bed. The book is quick to read, and features simple text that would be great for a parent and a child to read together or even for the child to read to their parents.
Title: Ten, Nine, Eight
Author/Illustrator: Molly Bang
Genre: Counting Book
Theme(s): Counting, Family/family relationships, nighttime/getting ready for bed
Opening line/sentence (type directly from text):
“10 small toes all washed and warm.”
Brief Book Summary (2-3 sentences in your own words):
This book features a young girl getting ready for bed, but does so very subtly. The book counts down from 10 and shows the girl putting her stuffed animals away, reading with her dad, and giving goodnight kisses. The book is really calming, and would make a great bedtime story.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1 (cut & paste, details below):
“No tricks, nothing fancy--just (in a welcome departure for Bang) a simple, reverberating bedtime count-down. The full-color, flatly-painted illustrations have in fact something of a primitivist Goodnight Moon feel (and somewhat the same coloration). "10 small toes all washed and warm," we begin; "9 soft friends in a quiet room." The feet are brown (with pink-rimmed toes against a red ground); the "soft friends" are stuffed animals and dolls, and a Siamese cat; the one unobtrusive pictorial device is the repetition of motifs from one illustration to the next--the toes poke into the stuffed animal picture, the cat does various cat-like things further on. But there is also of course a natural progression, not only numerically but in-point-of-time. At "5 round buttons on a yellow gown," we narrow in on the father-and-child we saw at the outset--and then proceed, via "3 sleepy kisses," to "1 big girl all ready for bed." Counting-down, from counting toes, is an inspired approach to bedtime. The pictures don't exhaust themselves, and neither does the experience.”
From Kirkus Review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
Professional Recommendation/Review #2 (cut & paste, details below):
Jill Bennett (Books for Keeps No. 33, July 1985)
“A short, gentle mood poem which counts the reader down to bedtime with a black dad and his small daughter. The warmth and leisurely together time is perfectly caught both in the words and the glowing pictures. A lovely book for sharing with the very young. Category: Nursery/Infant. . ...., Picture Puffin, 1.50. Ages 2 to 4.
(PUBLISHER: Puffin (Harmondsworth:), PUBLISHED: 1985 c1983.)”
From CLCD: http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
Response to Two Professional Reviews (3-4 sentences in your own words)
Like the review states, this book perfectly captures the warmth between father and daughter as he tucks her into bed. Until I read the first professional review, I didn’t even notice that each picture foreshadowed what was to come. Both reviews are positive, and after reading this book, I would have written a positive review as well.
Evaluation of Literary Elements (3-4 sentences in your own words):
This book would not be one I would introduce into my classroom, even though I really enjoyed it. I think I would suggest this book to parents as a way to promote literacy skills at home before bed. The book is quick to read, and features simple text that would be great for a parent and a child to read together or even for the child to read to their parents.
January 30, 2019
Ten, Nine Eight was a terrific book written by Molly Bang is a story of a young girl and her father and they are counting down the steps they do before she goes to sleep at night. This book obviously from the title is all about counting as the girl and her father count step by step from ten to one. The final step "1 big girl all ready for bed". This book was a fun way of counting down as well as teaching young ones the importance of doing things like bath time before they go to bed. As far as if I would recommend this book to parents and children today I think I would. With that being said I think that the book may be a little outdated while it was published in 1983. The illustrations are the main issue i have with it being outdated because the illustrations do not look like a house that children are accustom to today. That being said I still enjoyed the book and thought that Molly Bang did a great job with the book.
February 7, 2019
A really lovely book that can be read at all sorts of levels. The counting theme itself is nice, but it's fun to see what else is going on in each illustration - and yet the pictures don't seem busy at all. Quite the opposite - they're so cozy!
I had even noted to myself that it was great how the book depicts a girl with short hair, which was useful in discussing with my toddler that anyone can have any length hair. But then I was reading an article for the book's 35th anniversary in The Horn Book magazine, and it noted that the adult present is a caregiver - not clear if it's the father, mother, or someone else. I'd assumed it was the father, so I guess I needed that toddler discussion myself!
I had even noted to myself that it was great how the book depicts a girl with short hair, which was useful in discussing with my toddler that anyone can have any length hair. But then I was reading an article for the book's 35th anniversary in The Horn Book magazine, and it noted that the adult present is a caregiver - not clear if it's the father, mother, or someone else. I'd assumed it was the father, so I guess I needed that toddler discussion myself!
August 28, 2023
This was an adorable book that I promise I had read as a child since it seems so familiar upon opening it. As a result it was nice to read it again.
The book is a countdown for bedtime with each spread being dedicated to a particular number from ten down to one. As a result the number is provided in large red numerals followed by a small sentence that matches something in the opposite full-page illustration thus allowing caretakers to have their little ones to point out interactively the subject of the page. Furthermore you can track the actions of a cat from number nine to six, which is fun, especially as said cat reminds me of my own little Ellie right down to the shoe.
The illustrations are brightly colored, full of details and at the same time a bit on the muted side thus providing a nice soothing image to look at. Again there is a lot going on in some of the pages so the reader may want to pause at times too see what they can find on the page.
All in all this will make for a nice bedtime read in which you may want to snuggle your own little one before putting them down for the night.
The book is a countdown for bedtime with each spread being dedicated to a particular number from ten down to one. As a result the number is provided in large red numerals followed by a small sentence that matches something in the opposite full-page illustration thus allowing caretakers to have their little ones to point out interactively the subject of the page. Furthermore you can track the actions of a cat from number nine to six, which is fun, especially as said cat reminds me of my own little Ellie right down to the shoe.
The illustrations are brightly colored, full of details and at the same time a bit on the muted side thus providing a nice soothing image to look at. Again there is a lot going on in some of the pages so the reader may want to pause at times too see what they can find on the page.
All in all this will make for a nice bedtime read in which you may want to snuggle your own little one before putting them down for the night.
September 16, 2020
A short simple book full of bright colourful pictures. Good practise for being able to count backwards as well as forwards. I would probably keep it in a reception classroom as a free reading book as the numbers are big and the pictures offer a chance for counting.
July 26, 2021
A classic for lots of good reasons. Valuable for diversity of 'race' and of gender roles (yes, still, we unfortunately don't always see this representation). But universally sweet & charming. Even children who have mastered counting to ten find it very soothing to count backwards towards sleep.
May 18, 2023
1984 Caldecott Honor
This is a sweet countdown to bedtime. Rich illustrations with simple text pair together perfectly with this number book. Share as a bedtime and counting book.
This is a sweet countdown to bedtime. Rich illustrations with simple text pair together perfectly with this number book. Share as a bedtime and counting book.
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August 23, 2025This book made me very sleepy
January 29, 2018
I really liked this cute book, and I thought it was an effective bedtime book.
The colors were soft and made the feeling of a calming goodnight sink in because there wasn’t any sharp imagery. Each [age and subsequent thing includes a piece of the other page to connect them. For example, there are nine stuffed animals, and in the next page the stuffed animals are in the background. One of the seven shoes is shown on the next page too. The lines aren’t aggressively outlined, providing a calming, soft image further throughout the book.
The colors are very vibrant and eye catching, but not in a way that it distracts from the story or are too loud for a book about bedtime. The book also uses good descriptive words to describe the things, ranging from simple words like “square windowpanes” to “pale seashells.” This matches the images on the page and helps kids learn the adjectives surrounding them. The pictures really add to the story, since the sentences themselves are rather simple. Readers see all the words really come to life with the illustrations of the snowy weather outside the windowpanes and the little girl being held by her father as she hugs a soft bear.
The book doesn’t have a moral story to it, but the calming process of reading through to the things that lead to a goodnight was written and illustrated well. It’s a countdown not only in the book, but to falling asleep. The last line is “one big girl all ready for bed,” a lovely ending as it makes the child feel as if they’ve been very big and responsible for getting ready for bed and not fussing over it. I would like to read this to my niece when I go home to see her, as she has difficulty wanting to go to bed sometimes and loves to be read to.
The colors were soft and made the feeling of a calming goodnight sink in because there wasn’t any sharp imagery. Each [age and subsequent thing includes a piece of the other page to connect them. For example, there are nine stuffed animals, and in the next page the stuffed animals are in the background. One of the seven shoes is shown on the next page too. The lines aren’t aggressively outlined, providing a calming, soft image further throughout the book.
The colors are very vibrant and eye catching, but not in a way that it distracts from the story or are too loud for a book about bedtime. The book also uses good descriptive words to describe the things, ranging from simple words like “square windowpanes” to “pale seashells.” This matches the images on the page and helps kids learn the adjectives surrounding them. The pictures really add to the story, since the sentences themselves are rather simple. Readers see all the words really come to life with the illustrations of the snowy weather outside the windowpanes and the little girl being held by her father as she hugs a soft bear.
The book doesn’t have a moral story to it, but the calming process of reading through to the things that lead to a goodnight was written and illustrated well. It’s a countdown not only in the book, but to falling asleep. The last line is “one big girl all ready for bed,” a lovely ending as it makes the child feel as if they’ve been very big and responsible for getting ready for bed and not fussing over it. I would like to read this to my niece when I go home to see her, as she has difficulty wanting to go to bed sometimes and loves to be read to.
September 19, 2018
"Ten, Nine, Eight" by Molly Bang is a sweet rhyming bedtime story. It counts down from ten as it describes the process of a father and daughter getting ready for bed. At first, this story did not seem interesting to me but when I remembered the intended audience I thought changed my mind very quickly. Despite it being a very simple story, it has a lot to offer with rhyming, counting, and a comforting story for younger children. I really appreciate that the story counts down from ten instead of counting up from one which is what is typically seen in counting books. It helps to teach kids how to count backward, which is a very important skill as well. The illustrations are simple as well but go along very well with the tone of the story. There are many colors that are warm and inviting and the illustrations do a good job of explaining the text. Each page has items that the children can count as well. For example, the page that represents the number seven says "7 empty shoes in a short straight row", and the illustration has seven pairs of shoes. This could be really helpful for kids to not only learn their numbers but also how to recognize what 7 items look like. They could count them one by one, which would really help them with their counting skills.
I think this story would be great for preschool children or younger who are learning their numbers. It is a very simple read that would be easy to understand for very young children. It doubles as a bedtime story so it would be great to read at home (before bed) or even at school, which the children would love as well as they are reminded of their comforting bedtime routine. I think this book is very useful for children who are learning to count.
I think this story would be great for preschool children or younger who are learning their numbers. It is a very simple read that would be easy to understand for very young children. It doubles as a bedtime story so it would be great to read at home (before bed) or even at school, which the children would love as well as they are reminded of their comforting bedtime routine. I think this book is very useful for children who are learning to count.
Read
December 11, 2011Caldecott Honor Book
Notable Children’s Books (ALA)
Where’s the Math: This is a counting book, but all the items being counted backwards from 10-1 are related to a young African American girl who is going to bed. So, we begin with “10 small toes all washed and warm” and end with “1 big girl all ready for bed”, and in between we see 9 stuffed animal friends in her room, her 8 window panes with snow falling outside, 7 of her shoes, a mobile made of 6 shells, 5 buttons on her nightgown, 4 sleepy eyes (hers and her fathers), 3 kisses, and 2 strong arms as she hugs her teddy bear. The descriptive language of items that are important to this child combine with the colorful and folksy illustrations to create a really charming counting book that shows that even at the youngest ages, numbers are all around us. Age 2 and up.
Genre: Concept/Picture book
Theme/Keywords: Counting (in relation to a child’s environment), features African American family, features child’s perspective of nightly routine
Features of print: Small amount of text, very descriptive in nature; folksy, painterly, colorful illustrations.
Language considerations: English text.
Cultural considerations: Features African American family.
Open Ended Question to invite mathematical thinking: What else can we count in this book?
Extension Activity: Assign groups of students to different parts of the room and ask them find out “how many” there are of at least 3 things in the room. Alternatively they could “find the math” in their own bedtime routines with their parents.
Notable Children’s Books (ALA)
Where’s the Math: This is a counting book, but all the items being counted backwards from 10-1 are related to a young African American girl who is going to bed. So, we begin with “10 small toes all washed and warm” and end with “1 big girl all ready for bed”, and in between we see 9 stuffed animal friends in her room, her 8 window panes with snow falling outside, 7 of her shoes, a mobile made of 6 shells, 5 buttons on her nightgown, 4 sleepy eyes (hers and her fathers), 3 kisses, and 2 strong arms as she hugs her teddy bear. The descriptive language of items that are important to this child combine with the colorful and folksy illustrations to create a really charming counting book that shows that even at the youngest ages, numbers are all around us. Age 2 and up.
Genre: Concept/Picture book
Theme/Keywords: Counting (in relation to a child’s environment), features African American family, features child’s perspective of nightly routine
Features of print: Small amount of text, very descriptive in nature; folksy, painterly, colorful illustrations.
Language considerations: English text.
Cultural considerations: Features African American family.
Open Ended Question to invite mathematical thinking: What else can we count in this book?
Extension Activity: Assign groups of students to different parts of the room and ask them find out “how many” there are of at least 3 things in the room. Alternatively they could “find the math” in their own bedtime routines with their parents.
Read
December 7, 2012Ten, Nine Eight is a recipient of the Caldecott Honor. It was written and illustrated by Molly Bang. It is a countdown from ten to one in a little girl’s room who is getting ready for bed. The main characters are the little girl and her father. The point of view switches from the little girl to a third person perspective (only in the illustrations). It is written in a lullaby format. She starts with ten, when she counts her ten toes. The countdown continues to number five, where the little girl counts the five buttons on her gown. It continues to number one, where “1 big girl all ready for bed”.
This little African American girl gets ready for bed with the help of her father. It is a good book because not many books include father figures in them. Ten, Nine, Eight shows the bond between the little girl and her father. This book is good for preschool kids and kids who are transitioning to sleep in their own bedrooms or even for those moving from a crib to a big girl/boy bed. The illustrations have very bright colors. These colors can also stimulate even younger kids.
Teachers can use this book for kindergarten and first graders. Ten, Nine, Eight can help students with number recognition and how to count backwards. Kids can also share some of their own routines for going to bed or their routines when getting ready for school. This book also contains rhyming words. Kids can find these words and come up with other rhyming words. Even though this is a fairly short and easy read book, there are many different things that kids can get out of it.
This little African American girl gets ready for bed with the help of her father. It is a good book because not many books include father figures in them. Ten, Nine, Eight shows the bond between the little girl and her father. This book is good for preschool kids and kids who are transitioning to sleep in their own bedrooms or even for those moving from a crib to a big girl/boy bed. The illustrations have very bright colors. These colors can also stimulate even younger kids.
Teachers can use this book for kindergarten and first graders. Ten, Nine, Eight can help students with number recognition and how to count backwards. Kids can also share some of their own routines for going to bed or their routines when getting ready for school. This book also contains rhyming words. Kids can find these words and come up with other rhyming words. Even though this is a fairly short and easy read book, there are many different things that kids can get out of it.
October 16, 2012
1. Counting
2. This is a counting book that uses large numbers and colorful pictures introduce children to the idea of counting backwards.
3. Critique
a. Ethnic Diversity
b. I was glad to see an African American family featured as the characters in the illustrations in this book. The majority of the children’s books I read as a child, and have read through school, typically feature a white family. Providing counting books with diverse ethnicities gives all children a chance to feel more connected toward the story. The reading is made more meaningful, which helps children remember the concept of the book more easily.
c. The warm illustrations in this story show a father putting his daughter to bed. On one page it shows the little girl kissing her father goodnight. Bang was smart to use this bedtime ritual that almost all children can relate to. This helps children gain the notion that although they may look different, they really aren’t that different after all.
4. Students could make their own counting books using their bedtime routines. They could go home that evening, and count the things in their room and draw pictures of them. They could then write sentences explaining what they drew like in the book. The last picture in the book would be them lying in their bed. This could also be done with photographs and their parent’s assistance. Students could share their final products with the class. Students could make a class book using counting and some type of procedure in their classroom such as lining up.
2. This is a counting book that uses large numbers and colorful pictures introduce children to the idea of counting backwards.
3. Critique
a. Ethnic Diversity
b. I was glad to see an African American family featured as the characters in the illustrations in this book. The majority of the children’s books I read as a child, and have read through school, typically feature a white family. Providing counting books with diverse ethnicities gives all children a chance to feel more connected toward the story. The reading is made more meaningful, which helps children remember the concept of the book more easily.
c. The warm illustrations in this story show a father putting his daughter to bed. On one page it shows the little girl kissing her father goodnight. Bang was smart to use this bedtime ritual that almost all children can relate to. This helps children gain the notion that although they may look different, they really aren’t that different after all.
4. Students could make their own counting books using their bedtime routines. They could go home that evening, and count the things in their room and draw pictures of them. They could then write sentences explaining what they drew like in the book. The last picture in the book would be them lying in their bed. This could also be done with photographs and their parent’s assistance. Students could share their final products with the class. Students could make a class book using counting and some type of procedure in their classroom such as lining up.
November 7, 2011
1. Counting Picture Book
2. This Caldecott Honor book is dedicated to those final moments before bedtime. The reader counts backward from ten as he or she inspects the warm and washed toes of a young girl getting ready for bed, see the five round buttons on her gown and feel the two strong arms of her dad as he gives her a hug goodnight.
3. A. Illustrations. B. The brightly colored illustrations in this book are an interesting contrast to the soft and quiet mood the book creates. C. The book is drawn using vivid primary colors that include a red carpet, the family’s black cat and the dad’s green sweater. The oil based illustrations are drawn with solid colors devoid of much shading, all of which help support a simple child-like viewpoint. Primary colors are emphasized on things like the buttons of the girl’s yellow nightgown and the numbers on each page of text. The richness of colors is even displayed through the little girl’s own dark skin tone. Her dark brown toes on the first page stand in stark contrast to the solid red carpet on her floor and her sleepy face at the end of the book is snuggled warmly against a solid white stuffed teddy bear. The colors are a celebrated and comforting addition to the text of this counting lullaby.
4. This book can be used in an early elementary classroom to teach the skill of counting backwards. Children might be encouraged to think of similar things in their own rooms that they could count.
2. This Caldecott Honor book is dedicated to those final moments before bedtime. The reader counts backward from ten as he or she inspects the warm and washed toes of a young girl getting ready for bed, see the five round buttons on her gown and feel the two strong arms of her dad as he gives her a hug goodnight.
3. A. Illustrations. B. The brightly colored illustrations in this book are an interesting contrast to the soft and quiet mood the book creates. C. The book is drawn using vivid primary colors that include a red carpet, the family’s black cat and the dad’s green sweater. The oil based illustrations are drawn with solid colors devoid of much shading, all of which help support a simple child-like viewpoint. Primary colors are emphasized on things like the buttons of the girl’s yellow nightgown and the numbers on each page of text. The richness of colors is even displayed through the little girl’s own dark skin tone. Her dark brown toes on the first page stand in stark contrast to the solid red carpet on her floor and her sleepy face at the end of the book is snuggled warmly against a solid white stuffed teddy bear. The colors are a celebrated and comforting addition to the text of this counting lullaby.
4. This book can be used in an early elementary classroom to teach the skill of counting backwards. Children might be encouraged to think of similar things in their own rooms that they could count.
December 8, 2011
Citation: Ten, Nine, Eight, Molly Bang, Greenwillow Books, 1983, 22p., Picture Book/Concept Book
Genre: Concept Book/Counting
Summary: This concept book is a countdown to bedtime using the things in a child’s real world.
Critique: A. I like the way this book uses a theme of order to let help the child feel at ease so that she can sleep.
B. What makes this theme strong is that the objects that the author has chosen to order her world are quiet things. There is no indication of talking, singing, or music to get the child to bed. Only quiet order is used.
C. This can be seen best on page 6. The number eight is shown with the words “square windowpanes with falling snow.” The windowpanes are lined up side by side. Two at the top two, at the bottom with the adjacent window exactly the same. They remind me of eyes that help the child look out into the night to see snow falling. The eyes are quiet, night does not make a sound, snow is calm, and the windowpanes frame the silence outside...neat and orderly.
Curriculum Connection: This counting book can be used with K-1 math curriculum teaching number recognition and beginning subtraction skills by learning to count backwards. This book can also be used with K-3 language arts to teach adjectives, rhyming words, and, with the exception of about 5 letters, the student could construct an alphabet book with words from the text that begin with letters a-z.
Genre: Concept Book/Counting
Summary: This concept book is a countdown to bedtime using the things in a child’s real world.
Critique: A. I like the way this book uses a theme of order to let help the child feel at ease so that she can sleep.
B. What makes this theme strong is that the objects that the author has chosen to order her world are quiet things. There is no indication of talking, singing, or music to get the child to bed. Only quiet order is used.
C. This can be seen best on page 6. The number eight is shown with the words “square windowpanes with falling snow.” The windowpanes are lined up side by side. Two at the top two, at the bottom with the adjacent window exactly the same. They remind me of eyes that help the child look out into the night to see snow falling. The eyes are quiet, night does not make a sound, snow is calm, and the windowpanes frame the silence outside...neat and orderly.
Curriculum Connection: This counting book can be used with K-1 math curriculum teaching number recognition and beginning subtraction skills by learning to count backwards. This book can also be used with K-3 language arts to teach adjectives, rhyming words, and, with the exception of about 5 letters, the student could construct an alphabet book with words from the text that begin with letters a-z.
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