My birthday isn’t until the end of April, but this week something particularly tasty came to my attention.
I received a mysterious package in the mail.

Note how it exudes mystery. Exude exude.
When I cracked it open I got a hint of what lay inside . . .

But NOTHING could have prepared me for the gift itself.

IT IS MY OWN PERSONAL COPY OF THE NOISY COUNTING BOOK!!!! WHOOP WHOOP!
You may remember that recently I was moaning and whimpering over the difficulty a person has in obtaining this rarity. The cheapest you can find online is still about $50. And talk about mint condition. Woo-haa. I will be able to entertain tots in programs for years and years to come now. But who could have sent such a lovely little item? The answer lies inside.

In case you can’t make out Duck #2 it’s saying, "The last copy in existence."
Thank you, Susan. Thank you, Jon. They are too good to me, these two. Particularly when you consider the cool logo Jon also made for me.

The SLJ blog format doesn’t allow for banners, but I think it’s pretty swell anyway.
Thanks, guys!






What exactly happened to The Noisy Counting Book? Did it go out of print?
Did it ever! Now finding one is like locating pure unadulterated gold.
Read it in good health!
I was sure this would happen, authors/illustrators, the nicest people in the whole wide world:)
SO COOL! I haven’t ever even seen the book, but somehow I am jealous. Now for the Winged Girl of Knossos…