One, Two, Cockatoo

Sarah Garson (author)

Random House, Australia: 2009

ISBN: 9781741664454

Genres: counting book, picture book, poetry

‘One cockatoo on his own in a tree./ Two cockatoos fly over.../ ... that's three!'

So begins this charming counting book from English award-winning author/illustrator Sarah Garson. Currently living in Australia, Garson has been inspired by some of our loudest and cheekiest birds - the white cockatoos. Delicate watercolour and pencil illustrations take a slightly cartoonish approach, capturing the clownish antics of the cockatoo both as an individual and in groups.

While there are occasional pictorial references to Australian flora, the pictures concentrate mostly on the personality of the birds. Although the rhyme is sometimes contrived and the rhythm is at times uneven, One, Two, Cockatoo! is going to be a popular addition to the early childhood bookshelf.

Good fun but not exceptional.