7.4 /10 1 Votes7.4
Originally published 29 November 1996 Illustrator David Axtell | 3.7/5 Goodreads Genre Children's literature | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Similar Works by Valerie Bloom, Children's literature | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fruits: A Caribbean Counting Poem (ISBN 0805051716) is a children's picture book written by Valerie Bloom and illustrated by David Axtell. In 1997 it won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Bronze Award.
Reception
Kirkus Reviews found that "Although authentic to the Patwa language, the pronunciations and cadences can, for unpracticed readers, result in a halting tempo rather than the intended rhythmic lilt." while Publishers Weekly saw that "Readers may need guidance deciphering some of the words" and "First-time illustrator Axtell gives ... evocation of the poem's lush tropical setting and brightly painted buildings offers a lively backdrop for Bloom's bouncy poem." The BookTrust called it "A sumptuous book, with rich, vibrant and distinctive illustrations."