For the summer issue of Small Magazine, the editors asked me to contribute by reviewing my favorite books and magazines for kids. They asked me to pick only books produced by independent or small publishing houses. You can see the feature right here with lots of images. Some of the books have been reviewed on the blog before and some are new. One that I haven’t shared here yet, is another from my favorite, Harriet Russell. Here’s what I say in the blurb for Small Magazine about this tiny accordion fold: Harriet Russell’s work is quirky and ironic in a way that appeals to kids and adults alike. This Utterly Pointless Counting Book won’t help your child learn to count but they will definitely have fun reading it, and so will you. In this small accordion book Harriet counts things you can’t really see- “3 coats of paint on the wall” in all the same color, “7 snails moving so fast you can’t see them”, “1 pigeon surrounded by a lot of other pigeons”. Her ridiculousness is the perfect catalyst for a round of giggles. You can get a copy of this book here. And be sure to check out Small Magazine here.

© Julia Rothman 2007