My first Tashi 1, 2, 3 by Anna Fienberg and Barbara Feinberg

Illus. by Kim Gamble, Arielle & Greer Gamble. Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760525286.
(Ages: 1-3) Counting book. Many older readers know and love the vivid illustrations and characterisation of Tashi, but this is an early introduction for the very youngest of readers. The beautiful bright colours bring his world to life from the cover and the fantastical illustrations will delight the younger generation. It's a simple counting book but the large illustrated numbers and the illustrations taken from previous Tashi publications make it something quite special. 'In this world of caves and castles, you can count . . . 1 clever Tashi. 2 sly demons. 3 white tigers'.
Fantasy is not something done often in books for young children so it is quite unique to see phoenixes, ogres and mixed-up monsters in a counting book. Hopefully this early introduction will inspire a whole new generation of future Tashi fans and plant some imaginative seeds. The last page has a fair scene and asks 'What else can you count at the fair?', encouraging parent-child interaction and discussion. Unfortunately, there isn't a great deal of items that stand out for easy counting for young ones. At the end of the book is a short letter from Anna Fienberg about the creation and continuation of Tashi that might be of interest to Tasha-loving parents or older siblings.
Nicole Nelson