This Australian cumulative counting (up to ten) book, Joey Counts to Ten, by Sally Morgan, and illustrated by Ambelin Kwaymullina, will introduce animals, some native to Australia, to kids. American parents may want to do a little Google-searching to explain to children that Joey is not only the name of the main character in this book, but Joeys are baby kangaroos.

“Little Joey, what can you see?”

Each introduction of a new animal begins with the question, “Little Joey, what can you see?” by Joey’s mother. Joey answers, and the illustration colorfully shows the answer: “One kookaburra laughing…” After each question and answer, Joey performs an action such as drinking water. Beginning readers will eagerly turn the pages to see the next animal and to count them.

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