My first Caldecott contender! This is a beautifully illustrated book. It's quite clever, as the aunts go marching into town (hurrah hurrah). They march in time with umbrellas held high. It's a simple text, but the aunts vs. ants is a wonderful twist. I love this book.

In Maurie Manning's charming picturebook story The Aunts Go Marching,, a young girl marches through falling rain beating a drum, which draws a battalion of aunts into the street behind her. An unusual counting song which leads to a parade and some zany rainy day results ensues.

A small pun - a humorous play on the words "ant" and "aunt" - becomes a fun, counting, sing-along story when applied to the familiar "The Ants Go Marching" song. The book begins with an adorable little girl dressed in a bright yellow slicker and matching hat with a matching drum. Poised at the top of a stoop with her an elderly aunt and her puppy, the cheerful girl begins to play her drum as it starts raining. The three "go marching one by one" down the neighborhood. Other "aunts" continue to join in as the group switches to "marching two by two," then "three by three" and so on until they reach the end with "ten by ten." By then, they have become an army of merry "aunts" with umbrellas in pouring rain. Only slight changes are made in the familiar and repetitive verse of the original song so the book is ideal for preschoolers. Combined with Manning's engaging illustrations, this is an irresistible picture book. The only glitch is a minor one, easily overlooked: The little girl performs all of the activities attributed in the text to an "aunt." Highly recommended for ages 3 to 8.

This was a great gift from all of the aunts to our new twin nieces. it is a very sweet book.