"Corduroy is a bear in the toy department of a store. He does not look new because one of the buttons on his overalls is missing, but he wants a home of his own." --

Lonely in his house beside a road in the desert, Alejandro builds an oasis to attract the many animals around him.

Encourages children to explore their own faces, as an African American baby boy discovers the unique features that make his face so special.

"In this counting book, increasingly larger groups of animals try to help a duck that is stuck in the sleepy, slimy marsh. One duck is stuck in the muck. Can two fish, tails going swish, help? What about three moose, munching on spruce? Will four crickets, chirping in the thickets, be able to pull the unlucky duck out of the muck? With bright, spirited illustrations by Jane Chapman, this counting tale by Phyllis Root is a feast of sounds and numbers...