Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes

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She paints the places where the babies were born, establishing distance and difference, and then draws them together on a white background. It begins with telling the readers about two different babies that are born and then explains that they both have “ten little fingers and ten little toes”. We work directly with social workers, health visitors and other local charities and services who refer people to us. It shows that no matter the color of skin, or location of birth, everyone is the same on the inside. We provide free (mostly pre-loved) baby and child equipment and supplies, including clothing, nappies, prams, cots and bedding and safety equipment such as highchairs and stair gates - pretty much anything!

I would use this book in my classroom during cultural units to show that even though we all have differences, we are still the same person and should all be treated with the same respect. Born in Melbourne in 1946, Mem's missionary parents took her to Africa at the age of just six months. The text of the book does not mention any differences at all but Helen Oxenbury's illustrations show babies from many different races and the book subtly and beautifully suggests that we all have more in common than we are different.The luminous watercolor illustrations of these roly-poly little ones from a variety of backgrounds are adorable, quirky, and true to life, right down to the wrinkles, dimples, and pudges in their completely squishable arms, legs, and tummies. Her books, loved for their exquisite warmth of feeling and pitch-perfect language, have become classics all over the world. In “Lazy Little Loafers,” a know-it-all big sister sets out to understand why babies are such freeloaders. Somehow Mem Fox's voice just seems to be there when I read it - you know her voice - soothing, and peaceful, but fun at the same time?

In “Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes,” two beloved picture-book creators — the storyteller Mem Fox and the artist Helen Oxenbury — merge their talents in a winsome look at babies around the world. I noticed the same thing as many other reviewers: they replaced the asian baby that’s inside the book with a white baby on the cover. Great for the youngest of babies as it invites adults to talk about the pictures and to interact with their baby as they look at the book together. The book has a rhythmic pattern throughout; the author states where two babies are from, but reminds the reader, both of these babies, as everyone knows, has ten little fingers and ten little toes.

I can only imagine that young children are going to want this book read aloud over and over, they will pour over the images, and, yes, instant classic is what I think! Ten years ago, the international press went bonkers over Japanese-invented “Baby Mops,” mop-lined garments that take advantage of crawling babies to sweep the floor. Fox's simple yet perfect verse is perfectly illustrated by Oxenbury's lovely drawings and together they make this a completely and perfectly delightful book. And in the USA Time for Bed and Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge have each sold over a million copies.