The reader is subtly led to see and understand the real meaning of numbers. But the seemingly simple plan of the book is deceptive: look more carefully and you will see one-to-one correspondences groups and sets scales and tabulations changes over time periods and many other mathematical relationships as they occur in natural, everyday living. Gentle watercolor pictures show a landscape changing through the various times of day and the turning seasons, months and years, and the activities of the people and animals who come to live there.

Best Illustrated Books of the Year citation, New York Times, 1970, Spring Book Festival Award, Chicago Tribune Book World, 1970, Brooklyn Art Books for Children citation, 1973, German Children's and Youth Book award, 1973, Notable Book citation, American Library Association (ALA), and Horn Book honor list, all for Topsy-Turvies: Pictures to Stretch the Imagination Brooklyn Art Books for Children citation, 1973, for Upside-Downers: More Pictures to Stretch the Imagination named among best fifty books of the year, American Institute of Graphic Arts, and Kate Greenaway Medal commendation, both 1974, Boston Globe/Horn Book award for illustration, and Best Illustrated Books of the Year citation, New York Times, both 1975, Christopher Award, and Children's Book Showcase selection, both 1976, Brooklyn Art Books for Children citation, 1976, 1977, 1978, and ALA Notable Book citation, all for Anno's Alphabet: An Adventure in Imagination Golden Apple Award, Bratislava International Biennale, 1977 Outstanding Science Books for Children citation, New York Academy of Sciences, 1978, and Horn Book honor list, both for Anno's Counting Book Brooklyn Art Books for Children citation, 1979, ALA Notable Book citation, and Horn Book honor list, all for Anno's Journey ALA Notable Book citation, for The King's Flower first prize for graphic excellence, Bologna Children's Book Fair, 1978, for The Unique World of Mitsumasa Anno Parent's Choice Award for illustration in children's books, 1980, for Anno's Italy first prize for graphic excellence, Bologna Children's Book Fair, 1980, for Nippon no uta Best Illustrated Books of the Year citation, New York Times, 1982, for Anno's Britain prize from Bologna Children's Book Fair, 1982, and Notable Book citation, both for Anno's Counting House Hans Christian Andersen Medal, 1985 Jane Addams Children's Book honorary award, 1987, for All in a Day the Mitsumasa Anno Museum was established in Tsuwano, 2001, Japan, to honor Anno.With Anno’s Counting Book, the creator of the brilliantly inventive Anno’s Alphabet invites young readers on another stimulating adventure of the imagination-this time into the world of numbers and counting.

Anno's Counting House by Mitsumasa Anno