One Some Many

One Some Many by Marthe Jocelyn and Tom Slaughter is an excellent early introduction to numbers and to the principles of modern art. It is the perfect companion to 1 2 3, a counting book with a difference. Slaughter’s bold, Matisse-inspired paper cuts illustrate basic artistic elements, including color, form, and line, while the playful and inventive text introduces the concepts of quantity that children find most puzzling (and that adults have the most difficulty explaining!). After all, how many is many? Some? A few?“Indeed, this book…doesn’t underestimate its very young readers… The field of intelligent preschool books is not a crowded one. Both this and Slaughter’s previous book are as smart as they are interesting to look at…”
–Quill & QuireMarthe Jocelyn is the author-illustrator of three picture books and author of several novels, including the acclaimed EARTHLY ASTONISHMENTS as well as THE INVISIBLE DAY, THE INVISIBLE HARRY, and THE INVISIBLE ENEMY, all illustrated by Abby Carter. Of the inspiration for this book she says, "I found my grandmother’s journals, written more than 100 years ago. Hidden on the back pages were her terrible efforts at poetry. My grandmother was more like the pious sister, Viola, than my witty and undaunted heroine, but I am ever grateful for her need to record the particulars of collar-ironing and the selection of hair ribbons." Marthe Jocelyn lives with her husband and two teenage daughters.