What child isn't fascinated by skeletons, spiders, and the other scary folk usually associated with Halloween? This book successfully uses that attraction to tell an engaging bedtime tale--and to reinforce the concepts of counting and basic addition in the process.

While the mother and child go through their bedtime rituals, the mother encourages her child to name her fears. Once the "nightmare monsters"--including bats, goblins, and witches--are located and accounted for, the child (and yours) can rest assuredly, knowing that goodness (in the form of angels, and her mother) is all around, keeping the sleeping child safe from harm.

Although the multitextured collages that illustrate the story may be a bit abstract, most children can easily identify (and, with help, count) the creatures from page to page. (One five-year-old did wonder how those sharks ever got in the bathtub!)

From the very first page (when the mother asks her child, "What do you see in the backyard tonight?") young children of all ages are enthralled. One three-year-old enjoyed the book so much he howled along with the wolves. Be prepared for similar reaction to each page of this nighttime book that's more fun than fright.

Susan L. Roth also wrote and illustrated The Biggest Frog in Australia. Jonathan Emmett's 10 Little Monsters also combines counting and scary creatures. Other excellent number books include Sandra Boynton's One, Two, Three! and Anno's Counting Book.