Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Audience: Toddlers, preschoolers, and the adults who swore they’d never use silly voices — but did anyway
Length: 32 pages of pure counting chaos
Author: Sally Morgan
Illustrator: Ambelin Kwaymullina
💕 Quick Summary
Joey Counts to Ten follows a little kangaroo named Joey as he hops through the Australian bush, counting his way from one to ten. Along the way, he meets all sorts of Aussie friends — birds, frogs, and even a sleepy koala or two. It’s a joyful, rhythmic journey through numbers, nature, and curiosity, wrapped up in bright illustrations that make little ones want to count right along.
💬 What I Loved
- The illustrations: Bright, bold, and basically toddler catnip. Every page looks like it’s powered by sunshine.
- The rhythm: The text has that sing-song flow that makes reading aloud easy — even when you’ve only had half your coffee.
- The Aussie wildlife: Koalas, kookaburras, kangaroos… it’s like a safari without needing sunscreen or bug spray.
- It actually teaches something: The counting sneaks in so naturally that your little one thinks it’s fun, not “learning.” (We love a stealthy education moment.)
What was surprising was that after several repetitive reading of Joey Counts to Ten, per request of our toddler, we didn’t know she has digested the counting process until she started reading aloud the numbers on the panel of the elevator indicating the floors. 😮
😅 What Could Be Better
If you’re looking for a complex storyline — this isn’t that book. But for toddlers and preschoolers, simplicity is the magic. It’s one of those books you’ll finish and immediately hear, “Again!”
🌈 Auntie Book Metrics
| Category | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Laugh Level | 🤣🤣 | Mostly giggles from the little ones — bonus laughs if you add funny animal noises. |
| Heart Squeeze Factor | 💓💓💓💓 | That wholesome, “my kid just counted to five!” feeling. |
| Relatability | 🙋♀️ | As someone who’s lost count of nieces, nephews, and snacks — very relatable. |
| Snack Worthiness | 🍪🍪🍪 | Best paired with animal crackers or anything shaped like numbers. |
| Gift Potential | 🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁 | Ideal for baby showers, birthdays, or bribing your sibling’s toddler. |
| Re-read Value | 📚📚📚 | You’ll read it until you can recite it in your sleep (and probably will). |
💡 Final Thoughts
Joey Counts to Ten is that perfect mix of cute, clever, and chaos-proof. Sally Morgan captures the joy of discovery through a character who’s as bouncy as the toddlers reading it. It’s quick, charming, and guaranteed to make you smile — even after you’ve counted to ten… again… and again.
Overall Aunt Score: 💯 Aunt-Approved, Toddler-Tested, and Coffee-Compatible!
📖 Where to Find It
Grab a copy online or at your favorite bookstore — it’s the kind of gift that says, “Yes, I’m the fun one in the family, and I bring good books.”
👉 Find Joey Counts to Ten on Amazon
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