A minimalist text uses few words to great effect, as illustrations and text work together in an exploration of number concepts “one” and “two.” A mother bird with her filled nest and a girl walking alone are paired with the description “One bird, two eggs, / One girl, two legs.” The girl and a friend spend time together on the following pages, flying kites (“one cloud, two kites”) and sharing a snack (“one bun, two bites”). Their paths intersect with the mother bird, as “One swoops, two walk, / One sings, two talk.” The number order reverses for the remainder of the book, with the bird flying off (“Two wave, one flies”) and the friends sharing the feather gift she leaves behind (“Two share / one prize”). Charming collage art and a cozy size contribute to the intimate ambiance. (Ages 2–5)

Marthe Jocelyn’s ability to present important-to-learn concepts to the very young has garnered accolades from around the world. Ones and Twos is her first book collaboration with her nineteen-year-old art student daughter, Nell, and, together, they explore numeracy, sorting, and pairing. Each brightly illustrated page invites children to identify familiar objects ranging from kites to socks, from one nest to the two birds sitting in it. Ones and Twos gives little toddlers and their caregivers much to discuss and to enjoy together, and it introduces an exciting new creative team.