A classically illustrated Caldecott Honor Book counts to twenty in rhyming short sentences. The author notes, "There will...always be children who must learn to count. Teach them also to enjoy the process and to count those things that are important to them," and she does.
1 is One is classic Tasha Tudor. The illustrations are of days gone by ~ bonneted girls and a boy writing on a slate; simple, natural settings with some of a whimsical nature (I especially enjoyed the "12 baby birds learning how to sing"). In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, the text teaches the numbers 1 through 20 in a rhythmical way. A joy for adult and child alike!