Baker's Dozen Selections: Counting
Young readers build early numeracy through stories! Engaging activities support counting, number recognition, and problem-solving while meeting early childhood academic standards.
| 10 Dogs by Emily Gravett Boxer Books Ltd., trademark of Union Square Co., 2023 How to Count to ONE by Caspar Salmon, illustrated by Matt Hunt Nosy Crow Inc, 2023 How I Trained My Dog in 10 Days by Norma Lewis, illustrated by Tom Tinn-Disbury Peter Pauper Press Inc., 2020 One Fox: a Counting Book Thriller by Kate Read Peachtree Publishing Company, 2019 1 2 3 Dream by by Kim Krans Random House, 2016 Lifetime: The Amazing Numbers in Animal Lives by Lola M. Schaefer, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal Chronicle Books, 2013 Flight 1-2-3 by Maria van Lieshout Chronicle Books, 2013 Everything I Need to Know Before I'm Five by Valorie Fisher Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011 |
Frankie Works the Night Shift by Lisa Westberg Peters, illustrated by Jennifer Taylor Greenwillow, an imprint of HarperCollins, 2010 One by Kathryn Otoshi KO Books, 2008 Fish, Swish! Splash, Dash!: Counting Round and Round by Suse MacDonald Little Simon, 2007 Heave Ho! By Heinz Janisch and Carola Holland North-South Books, 2006 Mouse Went to Get a Snack by Lyn Rossiter McFarland Farrar, 2005 Construction Countdown by K.C. Olson, illustrated by David Gordon Holt, 2004 Teeth, Tails & Tentacles: An Animal Counting Book by Christopher Wormell Running, 2004 Ten Puppies by Lynn Reise Greenwillow, 2003 |
Pennsylvania Department of Education. Academic Standards for English Language Arts: Grades PreK-5(2014)
Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood: Kindergarten (2016)
10 Dogs
Ten dogs, big and small, spy a link of ten sausages on a table. Tongues are out before the turn of the first page, and readers will laugh as they follow the dogs’ quest for a tasty treat. From a double-page spread with one dog having all the sausages to another showing only one dog without, readers can count down from ten in this funny, clever counting book. Added numeracy vocabulary such as “all,” “couple,” “more/less” and “half” are included to extend the learning. Adult and child readers will enjoy double checking the numbers as they read and emBARK on a counting adventure!
Using props to tell a story is fun and supports comprehension of the story and numeracy skills. Create ten sausages using paper, playdough, or any other material. Present different scenarios and support children in dividing the sausages into two different categories. (For example, what would it look like if 3 children had sausages and 7 were still on the table? What would it look like if 5 sausages were on the plate, and 5 were in a basket?)
This book is a lot of fun and presents the opportunity for adults and children to practice counting together. Adults can consider their young reader’s age, interests, and development and decide if they would enjoy counting the dogs on some of the pages or just allowing time for children to take in the illustrations. Some children might take the lead in pointing and counting, and others may appreciate support and modeling from an adult. A fun idea might be for the adult to count one part of each page (ex: 4 dogs guard the sausages) and the child to count the other part (6 dogs not impressed)
CC.2.2.K.A.1: Extend concepts of putting together and taking apart to add and subtract within 10.
How to Count to 1 (And Don’t Even Think about Bigger Numbers!)
This clever counting book teaches readers to count to one, and cautions them not to even think about going higher. Whether they choose to keep this rule or break it, readers won’t be able to keep from smiling as they count to one…or one hundred! Within the pages of the book, as well as the end pages, there is so much to see, name, and count. The temptation to taunt the narrator by pointing out and counting the fish in the sea, noodles in the soup, or rocks in the fishbowl is just too strong to resist -- you can count on that! For some extra fun, readers can scan a QR code on the back of the book to enjoy a free audio reading of the story, complements of Nosy Crow Stories Aloud.
A dramatic and humorous reading of this book will inspire children to notice as well as to count. After hearing a few pages, children will begin to understand that they are looking for the one thing that is different on each page, and that’s why they will only need to count to one! They may even enjoy studying a picture and guessing what they will be asked to count, and not be “fooled” again! Children can keep the fun going by drawing pages for their own How to Count to One book. Older children could even try their hands at a “How to Count to Two” book! This book delivers fun experiences in listening, counting, language, and playing with number sets!
Adults may notice ellipsis (…) on several pages in this book. This kind of punctuation sometimes means that words are missing. In this case, an ellipse means that the reader should pause before reading on. When pausing before reading the rest of the question, it is easy to trick the listener into counting further than one. But children soon learn to wait and listen carefully! Adults can scan the QR code on the book’s back cover to provide children with multiple opportunities to listen to the story, turn the pages themselves, and recognize some of the printed words.
During adult-child re-reads, take turns choosing something else to count on each page, e.g., “How many ducks are NOT wearing rollerblades?” This is a good game to use while waiting while out and about with children too: “How many chairs in this room. . . have arms?”
CC.2.4.K.A.1: Describe and compare attributes of length, area, weight, and capacity of everyday objects.
How I Trained my Dog in 10 Days
Scamp’s new owner is determined. With a little dose of tough love, he is certain he can train Scamp to behave and follow the household rules. From “Day 1,” however, it is clear that Scamp is not only cute as can be, but also a master negotiator. Each day is introduced with a list of dos and don’ts for Scamp, which his owner edits based on his pet’s response to each of the rules. By the end of the book, readers get to decide who is really training whom!
Read the title of the book and look at the picture on the cover with the children. Ask them if they think that this will be an easy dog to train, and why/why not? Children who have dogs or other pets at home may have some experiences in training animals. After the children have finished sharing and you are ready to read the story, ask them to recall how long it is supposed to take to train the dog. As the story progresses, help children keep count of how many rules Scamp breaks in those ten days—it will be nine. After reading the last page, invite the listeners to tell who was trained—the child or the dog? Can the children recall any ANY rules that Scamp learned? Invite children to draw a picture of one rule that Scamp would need to learn if he came to live with their families. Help children write the rule, and allow them to share their ideas.
As the adult reads this book to children, repeat each new rule to the listeners. Then before turning the page, ask them to tell what they imagine Scamp will do. Be sure to look at the pictures for evidence of Scamp breaking the rules. For example, he comes inside with muddy feet and flowers hanging on his fur after being told that he has to “stay out of the flower bed.” Children will enjoy noticing how the list of things that Scamp is ALLOWED to do continues to get longer each time he breaks a rule. Scamp’s lists provide a good springboard for discussing the importance of families making lists for organizing and remembering. Children can assist in creating, writing, drawing, and reading lists such as ones for groceries, tasks to be done, etc.
CC.1.3.K.G: Make connections between the illustrations and the text in a story (read or read aloud).
One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller
This book calls itself a thriller, and it is indeed. Through use of engaging text and alliteration, enticing illustrations, and a suspenseful storyline, this is much more than a counting book. Anticipation increases (along with the numbers) as readers watch a sly, famished fox creep its way toward three unsuspecting hens. Once he arrives, both the excitement (and counting) hit an all-time high. The author assures readers at the end of this thrilling tale that “no hens or foxes were harmed in the making of this book.” That is one big relief.
Invite children to read and count along during the sharing of this thrilling tale. Point to the numeral, the words, and each picture as you read them. For example, the reader will say and point to “2” and the children will repeat “two” while looking at the number 2; then the reader will say, “Two sly eyes,” tracking each word as you say it and again as the children repeat it. Ask one of the children near you to point to the two eyes of the fox on the page. Continue this method of reading the story and the numbers to the end. Finger pointing helps an emergent reader and viewer learn to look carefully at print while supporting two important early reading behaviors—directional movement and voice-print match. Eventually, children will begin to track with their eyes as they become stronger in their literacy skills.
One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller is a terrific title to explain some of the components of picture books and how they enhance a child’s beginning literacy. First talk to adults about the front and back endpapers of a book. In this case, many-colored fox paw prints illustrate the front endpapers, while the back endpapers show multi-colored chickens. It’s an opportunity to discuss the idea of predicting what the story might be about. Predicting helps children prepare for reading and begin to make meaning. You might ask children to start thinking about what might happen between the fox prints in the beginning and chickens at the end. Another component of this picture book is that all of the pages are double-page spreads. A double-page spread means that the text or the image crosses over the binding in the middle to create one page. Some picture books will have a combination of double-page spreads and single pages of text and images. These page distinctions influence how a reader’s eyes move when reading and looking at the illustrations. Remind adults that when they point and count objects from left to right or top to bottom they are teaching their children an important tracking skill in learning to read.
CC.1.2.K.G: Answers questions to describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear.
CC.1.3.K.C: With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.
123 Dream
Do you ever wake from a dream and pause to think about its meaning? This book’s images elicit the same response. 123 Dream is a book about counting from one to twenty, with a twist. Each object being counted begins with the same first letter as its corresponding number. From one owl to twenty toes, each page features a numeral paired with an otherwise wordless image, and readers must determine which element in the image is to be counted (e.g. ears or toes?) Highlighted with watercolor, the beautiful pen and ink illustrations balance simple scenes with more challenging ones that open doors for conversation between adults and children. Correctly predicting that readers will enjoy this literary seek-and-find, the author has included a double-page spread at the end of the book with more objects that eager detectives will relish.
Children enjoy being active and adding movement to story time is a wonderful way to engage young readers. After children have had the opportunity to connect the first letter of each object and number on each page, add some movement as you count together. For example, adults and children can stick their tongues out six times like a snake, bend to plant ten trees, or tiptoe to the count of twenty. Adults can also extend counting into daily routines with children. How many steps does it take to walk to the lunch area? How many squirts of soap are used to wash hands? Adults can encourage children to count the number of carrots on their plate at snack time. Modeling these practices encourages children to seek, find, and count objects in their everyday environment.
By previewing the book ahead of time, adults can recognize the author’s intentional matching of the first letter of each number and object to be counted. With this knowledge, adults can allow children to explore each page in their own way and help them problemnsolve when a page contains more than meets the eye. 123 Dream combines counting with the game of “I Spy,” which is something that can extend beyond the book. For example, after counting “two turtles” in the book, an adult can ask a child to look around their environment for something else that begins with letter “t.” Or, while waiting at the doctor’s office, an adult could ask a child to find something red. When the child discovers the object, the adult can add a new challenge by asking the child to count the number of red objects they can find in the room.
CC.1.2.K.G: Answer questions to describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear.
CC.2.1.K.A.1: Know number names and write and recite the count sequence
Lifetime: The Amazing Numbers in Animal Lives
This is not your typical counting book, though its clear and interesting illustrations invite children to count to—10, 20, 40, 50, 100, even 1,000. These opportunities to count and recognize numbers are accompanied by fascinating number facts about eleven various animals depicted within the book. For example in one lifetime, the female red kangaroo will give birth to 50 joeys. Children will have fun finding all 50 of them while contemplating what it would be like to have 49 siblings! Endnotes provide further intriguing information such as the fact that a newborn joey weighs about the same as two raisins. A great book for number and animal lovers alike.
Encouraging children to count and talk about the items in this book will strengthen their understanding about numbers. For example, they can count their own teeth and compare them to the dolphin's 100, or their own height in inches to the giraffe's 200. Build children's number memory by asking questions such as, "Who gives birth to 1,000 babies in a lifetime?" This will make for fun and lively snack time conversations. Where developmentally appropriate, help children organize their counting on the page as the numbers of items grow larger. For instance, show them how to count the woodpecker's holes in vertical rows, to count the rattlesnake's rattles by twos, and to count the dolphin's teeth in four sets of twenty-five.
This book is a perfect vehicle for introducing families to the importance of incorporating "math talk" into children's daily lives, thereby making mathematics and numbers more familiar when children begin formal schooling. Activities could include: measuring and recording children's height and weight regularly, counting items while setting the table, making certain to find all eight crayons at clean-up time. These activities help children understand numbers and their usefulness. Discuss other ways families can incorporate "math talk" into their children's lives.
CC.2.1.K.A.1: Know number names and write and recite the count sequence.
CC.2.1.K.A.2: Apply one-to-one correspondence to count the number of objects.
Flight 1-2-3
When taking a flight, what do you see? This counting concept book takes young readers on a tour of an airport and the in-flight signs that can be found around the world. There are named items to count on each page (1 airport, 2 luggage carts, 3 check-in desks, etc...). This helps preschoolers build their number sense. There are also other items and multiples of the same number to count on each double-page spread. For example, on the 5 trash cans page there are also 5 items in each trash can.
This is the perfect story to share with young travelers preparing for an airplane trip. In a classroom setting, it's the perfect book to help instigate a "pretend" airport visit and imagining an airplane ride to another destination. It's also a terrific counting book that introduces young people to the signs that can be found at an airport. Airport signs can be created to imitate those in the book. After "picture talking" the book, children can be invited to "act out" the trip to the airport with adult guidance.
This book can help demonstrate to families the importance of sign and symbol recognition in early emergent literacy. Share the book and discuss with families other known signs that children often recognize in their environment. One behavior that can help develop a child's reading ability is to identify signs and labels in their environment. Families can encourage early literacy by pointing out environmental print in the child's world. A fun activity at a parent meeting might be creating an airplane travel prop box for children to use in the classroom. The prop box could include signs, passports, luggage, paper money, and so on.
CC.1.1.K.B: Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.
CC.1.3.1.J: Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading, and being read to, and responding to texts, including words that signal connections and relationships between the words and phrases.
Everything I Need to Know Before I'm Five
Through its realistic illustrations of toys from different eras, this concept book will engage children in learning about numbers from 1-20, opposites, shapes, colors, seasons, the weather, and the upper and lower case letters of the alphabet. Children will be enthralled by the large pictures, brilliant colors, and arrangements and actions of the toys. What a playful way to learn or practice everything they need to know.
The illustrations on each page of this book are large enough for children to easily point to and touch while exploring the concepts. They can count toys and trace the numerals on the number pages. Encourage them to act out or find examples of the opposites and to think of other words that are opposites. Children could trace letters and name the toys that begin with the letters. On every page, there are opportunities for children to learn new vocabulary through the many categories of toys and their actions. Ask the children to choose and tell about their favorite pages.
Encourage families to let children explore this book at their own pace. Some will want to hear you read and talk about the whole book, while others may only want to read a few sections at a time. Children will like sitting with family members and taking turns naming letters, counting, naming colors, etc., with them. They would enjoy extensions to the book such as mixing colors, finding their own toys that begin with certain letters, or counting groups of toys. Children can learn new vocabulary if families encourage them to tell about the toys and what they are doing on many of the pages.
CC.2.1.PK.A.1: Know number names and the count sequence.
CC.1.2.PK.A: With prompting and support, retell key details of text that support a provided main idea.
Frankie Works the Night Shift
When the lights go out at the hardware store, Frankie the cat is hard at work. “He empties one wastebasket, he cleans two counters, he calls three meetings” and when he finds an intruder in the store, he knows exactly what to do! Digital illustrations and concise, bold text makes this thrilling adventure a great choice for young children’s participation and offers a unique change to traditional counting books.
Read the story to children and have them look closely at the illustrations in this book. Children may notice that some look like real photographs. Have children create their own illustrations like the ones in this book. Using markers, crayons, paper, photographs, and magazine clippings, allow children to make a picture and come up with a story. If a child has a pet, let them incorporate a photograph of the animal into a funny illustration.
Explain to families that the digital photography in this book offers many opportunities for children to interact with the illustrations. Read the story to children and have them count specific items mentioned on each page (e.g., one wastebasket, two counters). Some of the illustrations resemble “I Spy” books and can be used for additional activities that incorporate counting. For example, on the first double-spread, ask, “Can you find three lamp posts?” or “How many windows do you see on this building? Can you find a building with more windows?”
CC.1.3.PK.B: Answer questions about a particular story (who, what, how, when, and where).
CC.2.1.PK.A.1: Know number names and the count sequence.
One
Personalities come in many colors, and this book celebrates them! Children will learn about numbers, counting, and primary and secondary colors, as well as about bullying, healthy assertiveness, forgiveness, and cooperation.
While reading the story with children, pause to talk about feelings. After reading the story, talk about the importance of standing up for somebody using brave talk. You might want to include examples from children’s everyday life (e.g., sharing and turn-taking). Ask each child to paint him/herself as a spot of color. Ask the children to describe some of their personality traits. Are you quiet, loud, energetic, still, cheerful, a leader or a follower? Print those words beside their painted spot. Make a display and encourage children to look at and read their classmate’s pictures.
Suggest families involve the children in color and number naming while they share the book. Discuss with families the message of this book and how we can build empathy with children through story. Help families construct questions they might ask while they read the story. For example: How did Blue feel? Why didn’t Yellow say anything? Was that fair? Encourage families to model statements about feelings on everyday life. For Example, “I’ll bet that hurt Ethan’s feelings.”
CC.1.3.PK.C: With prompting and support, answer questions to identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.
CC.16.2.PK.D: Recognize that conflict occurs and distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate ways to resolve conflict.
Fish, Swish! Splash, Dash!: Counting Round and Round
There is something fishy about this book—it is actually two books in one! Readers will enjoy this colorful, creative concept book that counts from one to ten, and then back again! With each turn of the page, readers will be treated to die-cut underwater wonders that they can count. When readers arrive at what they think is the “end” of the book (number ten), they are delightfully surprised when asked to turn the book around and count back down to where they began. This is a great way to introduce counting to ten, and as the book says, readers can “follow the leader and do it again!”
Before reading, point out the front and back of the book. Open the book, and look at the pages together. Guide children as they follow the text and count the sea life on each page. At the end of the book, follow the little fish and turn the book around. After reading, involve children in a game of follow the leader. Try to find objects to count as you travel!
Encourage families to build fun counting games into everyday activities. While reading the story, adults and children can count together. What other objects can they count at home? Using a stamp pad, children can make fingerprint designs on paper. Add to the picture using markers or crayons to turn these prints into creatures. After the artwork is completed, count the creatures created.
CC.1.1.PK.A: Practice appropriate book handling skills.
CC.2.1.PK.A.1: Know number names and the count sequence.
Heave Ho!
It only takes 12 sentences for a lot of mischief to occur in this rollicking picture book! Encouraging young readers to count each sentence, each page spread advances the line-by-line story of a hungry (and inventive) group—a dog, a cat, and three mice. Though it’s over far too soon, the humorous tale and light-hearted, cartoon-like illustrations reveal the essential, enumerated elements of a story.
Help your child look for and identify the number words on each page spread (twelve, first, second, etc.) For each number word, write out its numeric equivalent (12, 1, 2, etc.) and discuss with your child.
Involve family members in encouraging children to invent their own stories in sentences, and in writing down each sentence for the children. Then, help the children count the number of sentences in their stories. Talk about the basic elements of a story, and ask children to help identify the beginning, middle, and end of their tales.
CC.1.5.PK.A: Participate in collaborative conversations with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
CC.2.1.PK.A.1: Know number names and the count sequence.
Mouse Went Out to Get a Snack
Mouse keeps an eye out for the cat on the way to the delicious spread on the dining room table, but by the time he has piled a plate with 1 piece of cheese, 2 plump plums, 3 baby carrots, 4 fried chicken legs, 5 ears of corn—you get the idea—the cat is out of sight and out of mind. When the hero has to make a dash for his hole he manages to keep everything balanced until he realizes the plate won't fit. Kids probably already guessed the ending, but in a twist—the majority of the food and the plate flatten the cat (temporarily) and the cheese slips through the door with Mr. Mouse.
Encourage your child to use story words and ideas after reading the book together. The author uses the phrases, "Flex those muscles. Crack those knuckles." before the mouse starts to load his plate with the snacks to indicate that mouse was ready for some serious work. Remind your child of the story by using the same phrases, "Flex those muscles. Crack those knuckles." before daily routines such as setting the table, picking up toys, or energetic outdoor play.
In addition to the funny story, Mouse Went Out to Get a Snack reviews the concept of counting up to 10 and counting back down again. Remind the families that letting the children look for, point to, and count the food items will add time to the reading session, but is an important way that children interact with books and reinforces the children's concept of counting.
CC.2.1.K.A.2: Apply one-to-one correspondence to count the number of objects.
CC.1.2.K.J: Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading, and being read to, and respond to texts.
Construction Countdown
Children will enjoy pointing to every colorful truck as they count down from "Ten mighty dump trucks." The name of each truck is presented in large print and the truck's function is told in a rhyming couplet. The final double-page spread provides a creative surprise when the construction site is revealed as "One gigantic sandbox with room to drive them all."
Read this book before taking children to the sandbox to play with their trucks, or before taking a field trip to a construction site. Prompt them to use words and phrases from the book as they participate in the activity. Make a lotto game with cut-outs of the various construction vehicles to help children learn the specific names and thereby expand their vocabularies.
Read this book aloud, modeling how to read it to children. Drop your voice on the rhyming words, point to them, and ask families to fill in the word. Explain that this is one of the ways children learn to read and that it is a good technique to use with similar books. This book is also a good example of a topic that is often interesting to even the busiest of preschoolers. Finding the right book is a great way to develop readers. Point out that counting down is related to learning to subtract.
CC.2.1.PK.A.2: Count to tell the number of objects.
CC.1.3.PK.E: With prompting and support, recognize common types of text.
Teeth, Tails & Tentacles: An Animal Counting Book
Count from one rhinoceros horn up to twenty whale barnacle shells! This unique book celebrates (and enumerates) different parts and characteristics of animals (e.g., 13 caterpillar segments, 8 octopus tentacles, 7 black ladybug spots). Vibrantly colored linoleum block prints provide close-up views of each featured animal and invite fun pointing and counting. There's more information on each featured creature at the back of the book.
The large text and vivid illustrations provide a perfect math activity. Youngest counters can count along and point to colors, while older children will enjoy the fun of counting various parts of animals. Having children point to the number "2" and also to the word "two" will help them differentiate those two kinds of print.
Share information about the importance of math literacy: reciting numbers in sequence, rational counting using one-to-one correspondence, recognizing number symbols, etc. Remind families that children need lots of time and practice to really acquire this knowledge and that enjoying this book together over repeated readings is a perfect way to practice. Teach your families how to encourage these two skills as they share this book: counting on from a given number and counting objects that are not in a neat or linear array (e.g., the spots on the leopard).
CC.2.1.PK.A.2: Count to tell the number of objects.
CC.1.3.PK.E: With prompting and support, recognize common types of text.
Ten Puppies
In a book that celebrates uniqueness, Mother Dog has ten puppies that are all different from one another. The simple watercolor pictures show that some of the puppies have pointed noses, others have flat ones, some of them have blue eyes, and others have brown ones. With the lively exuberance of a basketful of puppies, this book introduces the concepts of shapes and colors, as well as the different number combinations that make ten.
After reading this book, follow up with a nonfiction book about dogs, such as Dog by Matthew VanFleet (2008 Baker’s Dozen). Use the photographs to help children identify characteristics of dogs (e.g., plain, spotted, pointy nose, flat nose, curly hair, straight hair). This will help extend the characteristics of dogs discussed in Ten Puppies.
Explain to families how to use this book as a learning tool for shapes, colors, and combinations of ten. Reinforce colors by having children identify colors on each page. Help children understand combinations of ten by having them count objects on the page and add the numbers together. For example: “Six plain dogs + four spotted dogs = 10 dogs.” Use the final page of the book to create number sentence flash cards. Suggest that families match the number sentence flash cards with the pictures in the book that depict the number sentence displayed. (e.g., Nine pink tongues + one blue tongue = 10 or 9+1=10).
CC.3.1.PK.A.5: Name basic parts of living things.
CC.2.2.PK.A.1: Understand addition as putting together and adding to, and understand subtraction as taking apart and taking from.