“Ten timid turtles are lounging in a line. Started by a bullfrog . . . now there are nine.” A rhythmic, rhyming countdown book descends from ten to one as various other creatures startle or lure each turtle into the water. By the story’s end, the ten turtles are together again, burrowing in the mud under the water for the night. The full-color, mixed-media collages are a graceful, textured backdrop for the text. The author/illustrator also provides brief information about each of the creatures and instructions for making leaf prints, one of the techniques used in creating the artwork. (Ages 3–6)