When I was taught to outline, there was a protocol using for numbers, Roman numerals and letters. In word, when bulleting, you get the same three choices if you want something other than an actual bullet or arrow. But which is best? How do you chose?
In Mike Boldt’s 123 versus ABC numbers and letters both want to be the stars of the book.
Their debate escalates when funny animals and props start arriving: 1 alligator, 2 bears, 3 cars. You can see where this is going. Each grouping of new animals and objects are highlighted in the text and I found myself wanting to count each monkey or lion to make sure there were, in fact, that exact number. This is not a number/alphabet book for beginners. Some of the humor is a little sophisticated for early readers, but made me laugh, like the page on which A states that “today is Bring Your Lowercase to Work Day. Here is little a.” Of course I loved the fact that 25 balls of yarn were needed to knit sweaters for 26 zebras. I always enjoy a good knitting reference.
This book would be a fun read aloud, as 1 and A both have very strong voices.
booksandbassets 
What a clever idea for a book. I think sophisticated humor makes the reader appreciate the book for years to come. Example, as a child I did not get all the humor in Rocky & Bullwinkle and Fractured Fairytales – now I love it! I wish the shows could be seen on TV on Saturday mornings.
It makes it enjoyable for an adult reading the book with a child, too. I was thinking about the Flintstones as I was writing the post. It was also written with some sophisticated humor that I didn’t get as a kid, but see now.