...wonderfully wayward illustrations... -- The Sunday Telegraph 20040718 ...a funny take on the counting game, accompanied by jazzy knockabout pictures that will have children squealing with laughter. -- The Mail on Sunday 20040718 Funny, cute and quirky. -- Bournemouth Daily Echo 20040821 Defying all stereotypes of being merely silly and woolly, these 10 quick-witted sheep with attitude see off the cunning wolf when Sam, their foolish owner, threatens to let him in... Mij Kelly's rhyming text has terrific panache, while Russell Ayto's illustrations - especially the ones of the sheep in their stripey socks and nightcaps - are hugely engaging. -- The Guardian 20040710 What with Mij's powerful words and Russell's dramatic illustrations, there seems little chance of anyone reading this story without expression. In fact, the combination of interaction, lively characterisation and dramatic build-up, make it a perfect storybook to share with your child. -- Junior 20040710 '...amusing and entertaining with wonderful pictures...' -- Writing Magazine 20040710 Dramatic, hilarious and with a witty rhyming text that turns every reader into a great performer. -- The Scotsman 20040710 A cunning book which turns the sheep-counting and big bad wolf tales on their heads, this is an interesting read for the under sevens. -- Evening Echo, Cork 20040710 ...delightfully silly... a visual treat -- Junior Education 20040710 ...unrestrained entertainment... -- Carousel 20040710 ...a quite delicious story and idiosyncratic illustration... -- Books for Keeps 20040710 This book has a strong storyline, dynamic illustrations and interesting counting. -- Books for Keeps 20040710 There is a great sense of humour in this book ... A lively and creative book which will be well used in Key Stage 1. -- English 4-11 20040710 The comic illustrations are great and really make the sheep seem like people with their own personalities. It moves along at a great pace and has lots of opportunities for even very young children to join in. -- Newcastle-upon-Tyne Evening Chronicle 20040710 Kelly's jovial rhyming text bounces along... Ayto's pen-and-ink and watercolour illustrations, with their sharp angles and large, rotund figures, steal the show. -- Horn Book Inc, Nov/ Dec 2006 20040710

Mij Kelly had an extremely colourful and varied childhood house-hopping around the UK, not to mention skipping across to India as well. Mij has worked as a newspaper editor, an oral historian and now, a specialist journalist in artificial intelligence. Mij has two children. Russell was born in Chichester, Sussex and bought up in Oxfordshire. At school he loved both drawing and sciences. He has illustrated many picture books and been shortlisted for the Smarties Prize, the Mother Goose Award and the Blue Peter Book Awards.