I love counting books and this is a great book for me to add the the library collection and to my storytime rotation.

This book was super adorable. My toddler and I had fun reading it a few times and counting. The illustrations are colorful, kept his attention and are beautifully done.

Thanks NetGalley for an early peek at this book.

Fun, rhyming story with a playful twist on the last page. Fun to read aloud, short enough to keep a young one's attention in story time, or to have a fun wiggle read for readers that have a hard time sitting still. There is a fun game at the end with a fun ostrich fact as well!

The illustrations are fun, full of movement, and provide a good opportunity to practice counting.

I could see this being used in the classroom, story times, and one on one reading.

Five ostriches (okay, I know they aren’t the cutest, but let’s roll with it, it’s fun) are running for their lives from a terrifying lion. In the end, though, it appears that the fears of the ostriches were unmerited, as the lion was only trying to play a friendly game of hide and seek with them. Bonus: this one comes with five fun facts about ostriches, and includes instructions for a game that will get your little ones off the couch and off their devices and into the yard for some good old fashioned fun.

If you have a little person in your life that needs to be introduced to books and counting, I have a great suggestion. Five Hiding Ostriches by Barbara Barbieri McGrath is just out. With a rhyme scheme that is reminiscent of “Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,” five ostriches suddenly find themselves in fear of the lion lurking behind them and flee for safety. The beautiful artwork by Riley Samels adds to the entertainment as they try to escape until the end when the lion makes a surprising twist.

In a bonus at the end, the author gives facts about ostriches and explains the true ostrich behavior that cancels the old myth that they hide their heads in the sand when they are afraid. She uses her own text to explain what they really do. She also adds a “Rock and Roar” game that will be great fun for the readers as they put the ostrich and lion behavior into practice.

A good picture book is one a kid will ask for over and over but the adult will not tire of reading. I think this one will fit!

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of Five Hiding Ostriches by Barbara McGrath.
The rhyming text adds to this delightful story of five ostriches hiding from a lion. Ending in a game of hide-and-seek, this book will keep preschoolers smiling as they learn to count. Additional facts about ostriches hiding techniques creates a learning platform for young children who want to know more. We've added this book to our library collection and I plan to use it for a fun counting stortytime.

Thank you to the author, Charlesbridge and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This children's book is great for reading aloud, the text flows well - rhyming, but not forced - and the story is simple but satisfying. It encourages counting for young children, and looking for details, and includes a surprising fact about ostriches. I loved the illustrations, which are vibrant and dynamic.

Immediately I fell in love with the art style. The color palette's simply beautiful, and I appreciated the font style as well. The story itself is a simple, quick read that felt like I was transported by to my childhood with a WeeSing cassette tape playing in the background-if only I could remember which one it was.

Either way, it was a short, cute read that I could definitely see myself picking out for a storytime. I also appreciated the backmatter that included both facts and a game!

Hahahaha! Forget the toddlers! I did laugh out loud at the unexpected content of the last page! And I did hear the lion's voice in my head. (Ok, ok. Calm down, you adorable children's book reader!)

The book is such a fun read!

I love how basic and solid colourful this book is for the very young readers with an aim to teach about counting.

I love the basic illustrations. Just the perfect toddler book.

And don't ask me about the lion thing. Read this book with the toddlers. You will know!

Thank you, Charlesbridge, for the advance reading copy.

Such a fun story! My son requested to be read this book five times in a row! Great rhymes and illustrations sure to keep all animal lovers entertained with a great little twist at the end!

Five Hiding Ostriches by Barbara Barbieri McGrath is currently scheduled for release on August 9 2022. Count five fast ostriches as they flee—and hide—from a lurking lion in this playful, rhyming twist on an early concepts counting book! Five ostriches run, stomp, and hide from a sneaky lion. But a surprise ending reveals that the lion is only trying to play hide-and-seek! The back of the book includes five fun facts about ostriches and an idea for a game that will inspire your little readers to get moving, too.

Five Hiding Ostriches is a fun and charmingly illustrated picturebook. I love the playfulness of it, and that information about ostriches is included in the book as well. I think the book does a good job of supporting the teaching of counting skills, entertaining readers, and encouraging further activities. This is a well rounded and engaging book that will stand up to repeat readings.

An amazing tale about a lion hunting ostriches who talk in rhymes. Rhymes are just so wonderful to behold. Each page has such serene and well-depicted illustrations. Plus, such a beautifully made cover by Riley Samuels!

Five fast ostriches are trying to hide from a lion in this counting book.
Good illustrations, cute rhyming and an ending that the kids won't see coming!

This book is absolutely adorable! A great twist on the poem “5 little pumpkins” “Five Hiding Ostriches” tells the story of ostrich friends hiding from a lion. The illustrations are beautiful and the whole story is a lovely! Highly recommend!

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review

Using a rhyming text similar to the fingerplay “Five Little Pumpkins,” five ostriches hide from a lion they think is hunting them. It begins “Five little ostriches, huddled in one spot. The first one said, ‘It’s getting rather hot.” The text uses dialogue balloons when the ostriches are speaking.
The full color digital illustrations depict the African savannah, and resemble gouache paintings. This is a great choice for storytime, since the audience can help by calling out the number of ostriches or by doing some of the movements with their hands. The book ends with a description of a Hide and Seek game you can play outside after the reading.

This was wonderfully done. Start with five ostriches and unlike other books where one expects a countdown, all these ostriches get to stay together. Which is a good thing since there is a lion on the prowl and they’re playing hide and seek. One of my favorite things is that at no point in time do the ostriches put their heads in the sand. The author knew that that is not what truly happens. Overall, this book works, and I see it being really really fun for story time.

This was adorable and I will get it on the library order list! Wonderful artwork, a bit of excitement, a ton of running, and a huge smile at the end :)

'Five Hiding Ostriches' is an amusing rhyming read. Little ones will enjoy the repetition, reminiscent of five little monkeys. The story is cute with a fun little twist at the end. The last page gives a few fun facts about ostrich behavior. I love the artwork too!

WHO SHOULD READ IT:

Thank you @Netgalley and @charlesbridgepublishing for early access to this ARC in return for an unbiased and voluntary review

This is a children's book about five little ostriches. Using the same rhythm as fife little monkeys. Simple and bed time friendly.

Five ostriches run and hide from a lion stalking the savannah. Will their running and hiding be enough to disguise them from the lion?

This lovely book would be an excellent reading opportunity for young readers learning how to count and the beautiful and dynamic illustrations make this a pleasure to read. The book also contains an activity for young readers. This would be a great addition to any library, but particularly for families with young readers or a library.

Thank you to NetGalley and Charlesbridge Publishing for this free eARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.