GEORGE'S STORE AT THE SHORE

A counting book with the tang of the south of France; animating the spare text are deceptively simple watercolors. George, a duck, and Mary, a cat, go about their daily routine of setting up their shop at the seashore. There are a number of standard items, such as one umbrella, two nets, three ``ducky floaty things,'' four beach balls, six buckets, and eight shovels. But then there are those five unmistakable blue-and-white horizontal-striped sailor shirts with the buttons on the shoulder, seven funky beach hats, and don't forget ten individually flavored lollipops, including apricot and black currant. Readers can almost feel the force of the midsummer Mediterranean sun, but if nothing else they will enjoy counting along with George and Mary and spending a little time at the beach. In addition, there is some good-humored industriousness involvedthe notion that work can be fun, perhaps especially when it is done among baguettes and the seaside lavender of France. (Picture book. 2-6)