SuitabookTen Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes
Mem Fox
- Reading
- Read it aloud slowly, letting the child supply familiar repeated words. Pause to count fingers, toes and babies, then revisit the final spread to talk about the feeling created by the mother-and-child scene.
- Themes
- Shared humanity across difference: Babies are presented from different places and with varied appearances, clothing and surroundings, while the repeated verse identifies a shared physical feature. The book clearly celebrates common humanity alongside visible variety, rather than treating difference as a problem.
- Counting through rhythm: The verse repeatedly names ten fingers and ten toes, while the illustrations allow readers to count babies as earlier children reappear. Counting is integrated into the poem’s structure and pictures, making participation part of the reading experience rather than a separate lesson.
- Family closeness: The final stanza shifts from two children to one sweet little child, and the last spread depicts a mother and baby. The ending presents closeness between mother and child as tender and emotionally meaningful.
- Worth knowing
- The repeated focus on babies, bodies and family closeness may suit a calm shared reading moment. Some adults may wish to discuss whether the illustrations’ settings feel equally familiar or detailed.