Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Table of Contents
Introduction
Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
General Childrens Books
Good Night Gorilla written and illustrated by Peggy Rathmann
Goodnight Moon written by Margaret Wise Brown and
illustrated by Clement Hurd
Just a Little Bit written by Ann Tompert and illustrated by Lynn
Munsinger
More More More, said the Baby: 3 Love Stories written and
illustrated by Vera B. Williams
The Carrot Seed written by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by
Crockett Johnson
Whistle for Willie written and illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats
Books That Highlight Math
Is It Larger? Is It Smaller? written and illustrated by Tana Hoban
The Very Hungry Caterpillar written and illustrated by Eric Carle

Part II: Highlighting Number and Operations

Annos Counting Book written and illustrated by Mitsumasa
Anno
Feast for 10 written and illustrated by Cathryn Falwell
Over in the Meadow written and illustrated by Paul Galdone
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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Table of Contents
Quack and Count written and illustrated by Keith Baker
Ten Black Dots written and illustrated by Donald Crews
Ten, Nine, Eight written and illustrated by Molly Bang

Part III: Highlighting Geometry and Spatial Sense in

development
Part IV: Highlighting Patterns in development
Part V: Highlighting Measurement in development
Glossary
Bibliography

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Introduction
Childrens books help open the world to young children. Books
offer staff a powerful tool for expanding young childrens
mathematical vocabulary and supporting their developing
mathematical knowledge.
Through book reading, children can have mathematical
experiences during a familiar and engaging activity. As children
and adults talk about the math concepts and relationships they
find in the story or illustrations, children build their conceptual
understanding and their math-related vocabulary. Problems found
in books can stimulate childrens mathematical thinking.
Through book-reading experiences children can:
practice their developing mathematical skills
develop their abilities to reason about mathematical situations
solve problems
express their thinking through their actions and words
increase their natural interest in math
Sharing books with children is a way for staff to learn more about
what children know and understand about math and to expand
childrens understanding of math. This guide provides information on
how to use books to highlight math learning. Staff may also want to
share this information with the families of the children in their
classroom.
Children often reveal what they know about math as they interact
with books. For example, children will often spontaneously count
objects in a book or make comments about the size or position of
characters in a book (That dog is so big!). Childrens questions and
their responses to adults comments let us know (1) what they know
and (2) what they are thinking.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Introduction
Staff can use books, with individual children or small groups, to assess
childrens mathematical understanding and help them to solidify
and expand their knowledge and their vocabulary.
Many childrens books are rich in math and math-related content.
Some childrens books focus specifically on math concepts. These
range from simple counting books to books that embed math
concepts or problem solving in the story or pictures.
Others, including many favorites, are not specifically mathematical
but include situations in their text or illustrations that invite
mathematizing. Such books allow staff to intentionally expand
childrens understandings and their vocabularies.

For example, Good Night Gorilla is a story about a zookeeper saying

good night to each of the animals in the zoo. While this is not
specifically a number book, staff can encourage children to count
the animals, to talk about the sequence of events in the story (Who
did the gorilla let out last?), and to learn ordinal number words (first,
second, third).

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Introduction
How can staff mathematize book reading? It is helpful
for staff to read the book to themselves before reading
it to children. This enables them to identify
vocabulary words and concepts that they want
to focus on to expand childrens knowledge.
Staff can enhance the book-reading experience
in these ways:
Use a variety of mathematical vocabulary to describe pictures
or events in the book. For example, use math language to talk
about the scenes in Goodnight Moon The two little kittens
are in the middle of the rug.
Draw childrens attention to mathematical relationships, such
as same, more than, less than.
Encourage children to solve problems posed in the story line.
Pose natural mathematical questions that follow from the text
or illustrations of the book. For example, books like Is It Larger? Is
It Smaller? picture many objects that children will enjoy
counting. Ask How many hats are hanging on the wall?
Use childrens natural interests to introduce new math
concepts. For example, use a childs interest in animals to talk
about the number of animals on each page.
Carry the mathematical concepts and language from a bookreading experience to daily experiences. For example, after
reading The Carrot Seed, plant seeds and keep a record of
how long it takes for the seeds to come up.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Introduction
Consider the cultural and linguistic characteristics of individual
families when selecting books. People enjoy and are
comfortable with different things. Choose a variety of books,
including books that reflect the cultural heritage and
languages of families in your program. Give lots of options!

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
This section offers a small sample of childrens books that are
appropriate for supporting a wide variety of math concepts. Most
are general childrens books that arent necessarily thought of as
books for math, for example The Carrot Seed. However, these
books are rich in math and math-related content, and contain
multiple opportunities for mathematizing.
Several of the books in this section focus specifically on one or
more math concepts. For example, Is It Larger? Is It Smaller?
focuses on measurement. However, this book is also full of
opportunities for teaching number concepts and skills.
For each book, there is a brief summary of the book and
suggestions for how to support math learning. This includes ideas
for sharing the book with families. There are also multiple examples
of the mathematical ideas that each book contains. You and the
children may find many more.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
General Childrens Books
Good Night Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
Spanish edition: Buenas Noches, Gorila
About the book . . .
This book relates a story with pictures and very few words. As the
zookeeper says Good night to the animals one by one, the gorilla
unlocks their cages one by one, and all the animals follow the
zookeeper home.
Appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers

Using this book . . .

This is a nice book to share
with family members who
may have a wide range of
reading abilities. The story
line is easily picked up from
the illustrations, and family
members can be
encouraged to talk about
whats happening in their
own words.

Encourage preschoolers to
notice the storys repeating
pattern, to count the
animals, and to identify
which animal gets out of the
cage first, second, and so
on.

Talk with toddlers about

whats happening in the
picturesfor example, The
gorilla opened the cage
door. The giraffe is coming
out. and Where is the little
mouse now? Hes sleeping in
the drawer.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
General Childrens Books
Good Night Gorilla by Peggy Rathman
Spanish edition: Buenas Noches, Gorila
Mathematical ideas . . .
Numbercounting, cardinal numbers, ordinal numbers
Count the animals with the children to find out how many there
are altogether. Lets count the animals on this page . . . one, two,
three. Thats right, there are three! Encourage preschoolers to
count by asking questions like How many animals are following
the zookeeper? (cardinal numbers)
Ask preschoolers to identify which animal is first, second, third in
line. The gorilla is walking behind the zookeeper. Hes the first
animal in line. Which animal is second? Which animal is third?
(ordinal numbers)
Measurementsize comparisons
Compare the animals by size. Which animal is tallest? Which
animal is fattest? Which animal has the longest tail?
Spatial senseposition
Describe or ask the children where the animals are sleeping. The
mouse is sleeping in the drawer. Where are the elephant and
the lion? Yes, the elephant and lion are on the floor. Who is
sleeping in the bed? The gorilla is beside the zookeepers wife in
the bed.
Patternsrepeating patterns
Encourage the children to notice the predictable, repeating
sequencethe zookeeper says good night, the gorilla unlocks the
cage, and each animal follows one by one. The zookeeper says
good night to the animal. Next the gorilla unlocks the door. And
then the animal gets in line and follows the zookeeper and the
other animals. The line of animals keeps getting longer.
Encourage children to predict what will happen next. What will
the gorilla do now?

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
General Childrens Books
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrated by Clement Hurd
Spanish edition: Buenas Noches, Luna
About the book . . .
This lyrical book with its warm, detailed illustrations is a favorite for
generations of children. At bedtime, the bunny takes us on a tour of
the great green room by naming the special things in it. Then he
says goodnight to each oneand to a few things he hasnt named
beforeand then he falls asleep.
Appropriate for infants and toddlers, and very young preschoolers
Using this book . . .
As the bunny bids goodnight
to all the things in his room as
well as the moon and other
things he sees out the
window, notice that his
words form a simple
repeating pattern of
goodnights.
Infants enjoy hearing the
words and looking at the
pictures. Point to the objects
as you name them. Stress the
number words when
pointing to multiples, such as
two kittens and two mittens.

This is an excellent book for

supporting toddlers and
young preschoolers number
sense, spatial sense, and
vocabulary.
Family members will be
pleased to hear that this
popular book can help very
young children to begin to
learn math concepts. Share
some ideas for supporting
childrens learning about
two and three.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
General Childrens Books
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Spanish edition: Buenas Noches, Luna
Mathematical ideas . . .
Numbervery small number words (one, two, three), identifying
how many, counting, comparing
As you read the book, stress the numbers of things that are named
and/or pictured. There are three bears in the picture. I see two
kittens and four mittens.
Many things in the great green room come in groups of two
(socks, clocks, slippers). Ask Where are? questions that
emphasize number. Where are the two kittens?
With older toddlers, ask How many? questions. How many
clocks are there? How many windows do you see?
Compare numbers of things (same number, more than, less/fewer
than). There are more mittens than slippers.
Spatial senseposition, spatial vocabulary
Describe the cow jumping over the moon and the bears sitting
on chairs. Use these words as a starting point to talk about
position. The kittens are on the rug. The bowl, comb, and brush
are on the table. The little bunny is in bed.
Ask Wheres the mouse? Even very young children enjoy finding
the mouse that moves from place to place on different pages
and pointing to it. Use spatial position terms to describe where the
mouse is. The mouse is on the floor. Ohnow the mouse is in
front of the fire. The mouse is on the window sill looking out.
Patternrepeating pattern
Young children learn to anticipate that each goodnight is
followed by the name of whatever is pictured on that page. They
may begin to participate in the reading by saying goodnight
and/or naming what is pictured.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
General Childrens Books
Just a Little Bit by Ann Tompert
Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
About the book . . .
An elephant and mouse are at the park and want to play on the
seesaw together. Their animal friends come to help them out when
they encounter the obvious problem.
Appropriate for preschoolers
Using this book . . .
Encourage children to talk
about their own experiences
with seesaws. What
happened when you sat on
the seesaw by yourself?
What happened when your
friend got on the other
side? Share with families
that asking these kinds of
questions can help children
relate their own experiences
with weight and balance to
what happens in the story.

Share with family members

that this book about friends
cooperating is also about
solving a problem involving
weight. Family members and
children can talk about the
problem that the mouse and
elephant face, using words
such as lighter and heavier.
Questions such as What
should the animals do
now? encourage children
to think about the problem
and suggest solutions.

This book could be used

along with classroom
activities related to weight
and balance, introducing
words such as heavier,
lighter, and same weight as.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
General Childrens Books
Just a Little Bit by Ann Tompert
Mathematical ideas . . .
Measurementweight and size comparisons and vocabulary
Compare the sizes and weights of the various animals (heavy,
light, big, small; heavier, lighter, bigger, smaller). Which animal
looks biggerthe bear or the monkey? Which animal do you
think is lighterthe lion or the ostrich?
Compare the collective weight of the animals on the mouses
side of the seesaw to the weight of the elephant. How can you
tell if the elephant weighs more than the mouse, giraffe, and
zebra all put together?
Problem solving involving concepts of weight, size, and balance
Ask the children to predict what will happen as each friend joins
the mouse on his side of the seesaw. What do you think will
happen when the bear gets on?
Ask the children to give explanations for why it's not working when
different animals get on the seesaw. Why didnt the seesaw go
down? What should the animals do now?

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
General Childrens Books
More More More, Said the Baby:
3 Love Stories by Vera B. Williams
Spanish edition: Ms Ms Ms, Dijo el Beb:
3 Historias de Amor
About the book . . .
This book consists of three short stories about adults interacting with
babies they love. Each of the beautifully illustrated stories depicts a
similar sequence of catching the running baby, picking the baby up,
holding the baby close, and kissing and playing with the baby until
the baby laughs, More More More.
Appropriate for toddlers
Using this book . . .
The overall sequence of
events in each story forms a
sort of simple repeating
pattern: We meet the baby;
the adult picks up the baby,
plays with and talks to the
baby; and so on. This
repetition helps the very
young child follow the story
and begin to anticipate
what will happen next.

Share with family members

that while reading this book,
they may want to playfully
do the same actions as
those described in the book
and encourage use of the
word more.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
General Childrens Books
More More More, Said the Baby: 3 Love Stories by Vera B. Williams
Spanish edition: Ms Ms Ms, Dijo el Beb: 3 Historias de Amor
Mathematical ideas . . .
Patternrepeating pattern
The sequence of events in each story forms a simple repeating
pattern. After hearing the book a few times, toddlers may repeat
some of the words and phrases as you come to them in the book.
Toward the end of a story, ask And, then, what did the baby
say?
Number, spatial sense
The dynamic illustrations bring to life concepts such as speed
(running fast), motion (swinging all around), and position in space
(lifting up high), all in relation to the babys own experience and
body. Little Guy is running fast. Lets see if his daddy can catch
him.
Other concepts include number and quantity (two eyes, ten toes;
more) and location (middle, side, end). Grandma is tasting Little
Pumpkins ten toes. Lets count your ten little toes. Heres your
belly button. Its right in the middle of your tummy.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
General Childrens Books
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
Illustrated by Crockett Johnson
Spanish edition: La Semilla de Zanahoria

About the book . . .

This classic favorite tells the story of a little boy who plants a carrot
seed. No one but the boy believes the carrot will come up. He pulls
the weeds and waters it carefully day after day and, finally, a very
big carrot grows!
Appropriate for preschoolers
Using this book . . .
Along with many other
important concepts, the
story illustrates the passage
of time in a way that is
understandable and
interesting to young children.
Extend these time concepts
to other activities. For
example, plant seeds and
keep track of how long it
takes for them to come up.

Share with family members

that this story about growing
a carrot can encourage
children to think about and
begin to understand time
concepts and words related
to time. They can point out
the passage of time and the
order of events by asking
questions such as What
happened first? Next? Every
day?

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
General Childrens Books
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
Spanish edition: La Semilla de Zanahoria
Mathematical ideas . . .
Timepassage of time, ordering of events in time, time-related
vocabulary
Encourage children to think about and retell the order of events in
the story. What did the little boy do first? What did the boy do
every day to make the carrot come up?
Try to figure out how long it took to grow the carrot. How many
days do you think it took for the carrot to come up?
Measurementsize comparisons, ordering by size
The carrot that the boy grows is very, very big. Ask children to
compare the size of the carrot the boy grew to the size of the little
boy. Which is biggerthe carrot or the boy?
Compare the size of the carrot in the story to the size of real
carrots. Are the real carrots that we eat this big? How big are
they?
Have carrots for snack and compare their sizes. Help the children
to put the carrots in order by size. Talk about same size, longer,
shorter, and middle-sized. These carrots look like theyre the
same size. Which carrot is longeryour carrot or my carrot?
Then take the carrots to the kitchen so that the cook can clean
them and cut them up for future snack, soup, or stew. Talk about
the carrots and their new shape, size, and taste when the
children are eating the cooked carrots.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
General Childrens Books
Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats
Spanish edition: Slbale a Willie
About the book . . .
Peter wants so much to be able to whistle for his dog, Willie, to come
to him. The book follows Peters adventures as he practices and
practices his whistling around the neighborhood and at home. The
book is full of very rich language describing Peters actions. These
actions come to life in the simple but vivid illustrations.
Appropriate for preschoolers
Using this book . . .
Read the book outside with
the children. Then give them
chalk and encourage them
to draw their own paths on
the playground. Talk with
them about where their
chalk lines go using different
spatial vocabulary.
Share with family members
that they can use this book
to help their children
develop spatial concepts
and language. Suggest that
they talk with their children
about the various places
that Willie practiced whistling
using position/location words
such as in, on, and in front of.

After reading the book, ask

the children to imitate some
of the things Willie did
turning around and around,
walking on a crack or line,
jumping, hiding in a box. Ask
them to tell you what theyre
doing, and model using
spatial words. For example,
Youre walking on the chalk
line you drew. Rashad and
Emily went under that big
box.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
General Childrens Books
Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats
Spanish edition: Slbale a Willie
Mathematical ideas . . .
Spatial sense and vocabulary
As Peter practices his whistling, he whirls around and around, he
hides in a carton, he draws a long line, and so forth. Ask Where
did Peter practice his whistling? Help children to use spatial
vocabulary when they reply: on the sidewalk, in the carton, in
front of the mirror, and other places.
Follow the path of the long line that Peter draws, and talk with the
children about where the line goes. Where did Peters line go?
Again encourage the children to use different spatial words as
they describe where the line goes: out of the box, around the
corner, along the sidewalk, in a circle around the girls jumping
rope, in another circle around the barber pole, and right up to
Peters door.
Geometryshapes
Find other circles in the pictures. Where else do you see a
circle? Encourage the children to find other shapes (lots of
rectangular shapes). What shapes do you see on the building?
Numbercounting
Count the locations in the book where Peter tried to whistle. How
many different places did Peter practice his whistling? Together,
you and the children can find and count all the places that Peter
practiced whistling. Lets find where Peter first tried to whistle.
Where did he go next?
Patterns
Encourage children to notice the visual patterns in the colorful
illustrations. For example, point out the repeating zigzag pattern
on Peters shirt See the pattern up, down, up, down. or the two
different color patterns on the barber pole (white, red, white, red
and white, blue, white, red).
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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
Books That Highlight Math
Is It Larger? Is It Smaller? by Tana Hoban
About the book . . .
In this wordless book, beautiful photographs show a wide variety of
objects, and sometimes people, of various sizessome large, some
small, and some middle-size. The objects in the photographs also
vary in shape, color, number, and other qualities.
Appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers
Using this book . . .
This book provides many
opportunities to
mathematize. Draw
childrens attention to size
relationships in the
photographs by using words
such as bigger/smaller and
longer/shorter. There are lots
of things to compare on
every page. The more you
look, the more you find to
compare.
When reading this book with
toddlers, focus on identifying
big and little objects and
counting small numbers of
objects.

When reading this book with

preschoolers, compare the
sizes of objects using a
variety of comparison terms.
Share with family members
ways to use comparison
terms when looking at the
pictures. Family members
and children may also enjoy
making real life comparisons
for example, comparing
the size of parents hand
with childs hand when
looking at the photograph of
the hands.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
Books That Highlight Math
Is It Larger? Is It Smaller? by Tana Hoban
Mathematical ideas . . .
Measurementsize comparisons, measurement vocabulary (big,
little, small, middle-sized, short, long; larger, smaller, shorter, longer;
largest, smallest)
With toddlers, you may want to simply identify, and eventually
have the child identify, the objects by size using words like big and
little. Heres the big fish, and theres the little fish.
With preschoolers, use comparison terms to order objects by size
(larger, smaller, longest, shortest). Which leaf is the biggest?
Which leaf is the smallest? Which one is middle-sized? The
blue pitcher with the pink flowers is larger than the white pitcher
with the yellow flowers.
Numbercounting, comparing
Count the objects in the photographs. Ask How many?
questions. How many hats are hanging on the wall? Lets count
themone, two, three, four.

Count and compare numbers of objects by type, size, or other

properties such as color or shape. How many big hats are
there? How many little hats? I see one big pig. Lets count the
little pigs. There are two white shoes and two black shoes.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
Books That Highlight Math
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Spanish edition: La Oruga Muy Hambrienta
About the book . . .
This classic childrens book tells the story of a caterpillar and what he
eats in the one week before he builds a cocoon and, two weeks
later, turns into a butterfly! On Monday he eats through one apple.
Each day after, he eats one more fruit than the day beforeup to
five oranges on Friday. On Saturday, he eats 10 things and grows
very big!
Appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers
Using this book . . .
For toddlers and younger
preschoolers who are
learning to count, provide
plastic fruit that they can use
to practice counting.
Older preschoolers may
enjoy acting out the story or
retelling the story with a felt
or flannel board.

Share with family members

that they can use this book
to help their children learn to
count. Together with their
children they can notice the
pattern of one more fruit
each day and count the
number of fruits the
caterpillar eats each day.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part I: Some Books for Mathematizing
Books That Highlight Math
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Spanish edition: La Oruga Muy Hambrienta
Mathematical ideas . . .
Numbercounting, comparing
Count the items the caterpillar eats each day. On Wednesday
the caterpillar ate plums. How many plums did he eat? How
many things did he eat on Saturday?
Compare the amounts the caterpillar eats each day. Did the
caterpillar eat more plums or more strawberries? Did he eat
more on Friday or more on Saturday?
For very small numbers (one, two, three), children may just want to
say the number without counting. Encourage children who are
learning counting to count two or three items.
Ask older preschoolers to show how many items the caterpillar ate
by holding up the same number of fingers.
Number operations, number patterns
Point out the pattern in the story. For the first five days, the
caterpillar eats one more fruit each day.
Ask children to make predictions. The caterpillar ate three on
Wednesday. Each day he eats one more fruit. How many will he
eat the next day? Ask older preschoolers How many will he eat
on Thursday?

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part II: Highlighting Number and Operations
Many childrens books help young children learn about number
and operations. They provide opportunities for staff to help
children explore number (counting, quantity, comparing quantity,
ordering numbers, and numeral recognition) as well as operations
(addingjoining to, taking awayseparating, multiplying, and
dividingsharing).
There are excellent books written to support counting and other
number skills and concepts. Many of the number concepts are
found in the illustrations. These books also contain other math
concepts that you can point out and discuss with children.
Six books are described. For each book, the story line is described
and suggestions are made for ways that staff can use the books
with young children. Specific ideas are included on how to read
each book to highlight the mathematical content. The glossary
defines mathematical terms that are used.

Infants and toddlers enjoy hearing simple, rhyming

language and looking at the pictures in counting
books even before they understand the
mathematical content.

What infants and toddlers can

learn from counting books:
Begin to understand that
number words are about
amounts of things
Begin to learn math words

How staff can use counting

books with infants and toddlers:
Point to the pictures that the
number words refer to
Model counting small
numbers of objects
Relate the words and
pictures to the childs own
experience

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part II: Highlighting Number and Operations
Preschool children love to count and explore
number concepts in all their activities, including
book reading.

What preschoolers can learn

from counting books:
Develop their counting skills
Explore number relationships
and concepts in the books
text or illustrations.
Practice using mathematical
operations to solve real-life
problems
Make connections between
numerals, number words,
and the number of objects
they represent

How staff can use counting

books with preschoolers:
Count objects with the
children.
Encourage children to count
to find out how many and to
solve simple problems.
Ask questions that guide
children to explore number
relations and concepts in the
books text or illustrations.
Encourage older
preschoolers to recognize
and name some written
numerals and notice that
each numeral and number
word stands for a particular
number of objects.
Plan activities that extend
the mathematical ideas in
books.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part II: Highlighting Number and Operations
Annos Counting Book by Mitsumasa Anno
About the book . . .
This wordless book represents the numbers 1through 12 in scenes of a
growing village across the 12 months of the year. The first page has a
snowy landscape with a river running through it. On the next page,
the village begins to appear with one house, one child, one adult,
one pine tree, and so forth. Objects are added as the village grows.
The seasons and activities change. The scenes become more and
more complex as the numbers of objects increase.
Appropriate for preschoolers
Using this book . . .
Some objects in the pictures
are much easier to count
because they are large or
are in a line. Others are
scattered about on the
page, and you have to look
for them. Count the easier
ones first. Try the harder ones
as childrens skills develop.
Read this book again and
again over time as the
children and you find new
things to think about and
more concepts to explore.
Older preschool children
can create their own
counting books with scenes
of their community, using

numbers one to five (or more

or fewer, as appropriate).
This is a nice book to share

with families who may have a

wide range of reading
abilities. Encourage family
members to talk about the
scenes in the book and
count the objects with their
children. Explain that children
who are starting to count
have an easier time counting
large objects that are
arranged in a line. Suggest
that they and their children
can make a game out of
finding and counting the
children, animals, flowers, or
other objects that are
scattered on the page.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part II: Highlighting Number and Operations
Annos Counting Book by Mitsumasa Anno
Number and Operations ideas . . .
Counting up to 12 objects, cardinal numbers, comparing quantity
Count the buildings, trees, adults, children, animals, and other
objects with the children. Depending on childrens counting
knowledge and skills, you may want to count the objects for
them, ask them to count with you, or encourage them to count
on their own. Lets count the ducks walking in a rowone, two,
three, four, five, six. Six ducks!
Ask questions about the numbers of objects. How many pigs is
the lady feeding? How many of the same kind of flowers (or
trees) do you see?
Ask questions to encourage children to compare numbers of
items in the pictures. Do you think there are the same number of
dragonflies and horses? Lets count to find out.
Number composition (composing and decomposing), addition
(joining to)
Ask questions to guide the children in exploring the math
concepts and relations. Two children are holding the rope. How
many are running? How many children are there altogether?
Encourage children to describe and tell stories about what is
happening in the scenes using number words and other mathrelated vocabulary. See the children playing at the river? How
many are in the water? What are the other children doing?

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part II: Highlighting Number and Operations
Feast for 10 by Cathryn Falwell
Spanish edition: Fiesta para 10
About the book . . .
In this counting book, a mother and children go shopping for food
and then cook and serve a feast to their family. As the family
shops for food, the numbers 1 through 10 are represented by one
shopping cart and the items they put into it (two pumpkins, three
chickens, and so forth). The sequence (1 to 10) is repeated at
home when the family prepares and serves the meal. The book
uses numbers in a real-life activity that children may relate to their
own experiences.
Appropriate for preschoolers
Using this book . . .
Objects in this book are
pictured as they might
appear in real-life activities
shopping, cooking, and
serving food. Children can
practice counting objects
that are not organized in lines
or rows for easy counting.
Help them, as needed, to find
and count the objects.
Have the children retell the
story using props and math
language from the book.

Staff can set up a grocery

store for children to pretend
to go shopping and practice
their number skills.
Share some ideas for math
learning with family
members. They can
encourage children to tell
their own story about going
shopping or helping with
cooking at home using the
numbers 1 though 10.
Children can also count to
find out the answer to How
many? on each page.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part II: Highlighting Number and Operations
Feast for 10 by Cathryn Falwell
Number and Operations ideas . . .
Counting up to 10 objects, cardinal numbers, comparing, numeral
recognition
Count the pictured items with the children. Lets count the
pickles in this jar. Help me count how many children are helping
with the shopping.
As you read the number words, point out the numeral on the
page. Once children have learned to recognize and read some
of the numerals, instead of saying the number word, point to the
numeral and let the children say it.
Ask How many? questions that encourage children to compare
numbers. How many pumpkins for pie? How many chickens to
fry? Are there more pumpkins or more chickens? How many
ripe tomatoes? How many plump potatoes? Are there fewer (or
less) tomatoes or potatoes?
Number composition (composing and decomposing), addition and
subtraction, problem solving
Ask mathematical problems suggested by the text and pictures.
How many pans are on the stove? How many are in the oven?
How many pans altogether?
After reading Ten hungry folks to share the meal, ask How
many chairs are at the table? If necessary, go back to the page
before to see that there are nine. Ask How many people dont
have a chair? Are there more people or chairs? What should they
do?

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part II: Highlighting Number and Operations
Over in the Meadow by Paul Galdone
About the book . . .
This book is an adaptation of the old nursery counting rhyme
counting baby animals from 1 to 10. Each rhyming verse has two
parts. First, we see a group of baby animals in their habitat (by the
barn door, in their nest of sticks). Second, the mother tells the
babies to do something, for example squeak or caw. The
repeating pattern of the rhyme makes this an especially nice book
for helping children learn the number sequence 1 to 10.
Appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers
Using this book . . .
Read the book enough
times to familiarize children
with the repeating, rhyming
pattern so that they can
participate in the reading by
saying the number, naming
the animals, or making the
animals sounds.
Toddlers will enjoy the
rhyming and repetition and
may want to join in with
number words or animal
sounds. They may want to try
counting some of the
animals.

In addition to learning the

rhyme, preschoolers will
enjoy counting the animals
and recognizing numerals.
Share with family members
that they can enjoy the
repeating, rhyming pattern
of the story as they read the
book to their children. They
can also count the animals
together and look at the
corresponding numeral to
build childrens
understanding of numerals.
There are many book
versions of this counting
rhyme. Use the one you
have or prefer.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part II: Highlighting Number and Operations
Over in the Meadow by Paul Galdone
Number and Operations ideas . . .
Counting to 10, repeating and growing patterns
Read the book to familiarize children with the repeating, rhyming
pattern. Once they are familiar with the verses and the regular
predictable pattern, children can anticipate the number words.
Children will enjoy participating in the reading by saying the
number of baby animals. For example, after reading . . . in a nest
built of sticks, lived a noisy mother crow and her little crows, stop
and let the children say the number of crows.
Encourage children to notice the growing pattern each verse
includes one more baby animal (from one to ten). Older
preschool children can help you represent the pattern by
creating a drawing or graph with symbols or pictures. Arrange the
symbols or pictures to show the growing pattern.
Counting to 10, cardinal numbers, number representation, numeral
recognition, comparing number
Count the baby animals with the children; stress the last number
counted. One, two, three, FOUR. There are four mice.
Encourage older preschoolers to use their fingers to show how
many.
If the version of the book you are using includes written numerals,
point to the numeral when children say the number word to build
their knowledge of written numerals.
Ask questions that encourage children to compare numbers of
things, for example Count the flowers and the bees. Are there
more flowers than bees? or Are there fewer (or less) ducks or
fewer crows? Lets count them to find out.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part II: Highlighting Number and Operations
Adding one more, counting on
Add one more by including the mother animal when counting.
There are four baby mice, and the mother mouse makes one
more. How many mice altogether? The children may need to
count all the animals (the four babies and the mother) to get the
answer. Encourage older preschoolers to count on from four to
get the answer. Four, five. Five mice altogether!

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part II: Highlighting Number and Operations
Quack and Count by Keith Baker
About the book . . .
This counting and adding book follows seven ducklings as they slip
and slide through the forest, swim and splash in the water, and
finally fly away. Even very young children will enjoy the ducklings
antics and the simple rhyming verse. Preschoolers will enjoy
exploring the number concepts and practicing their counting,
number composition, and adding skills.
Appropriate for preschoolers
Using this book . . .
The illustrations and rhyming
text show all possible number
combinations for seven, for
example 7 ducklings, 6 plus
1 and, on the next page, 7
ducklings, 5 plus 2.
Encourage children to notice
all the different combinations
of numbers that make seven.
Talk about all the ways to
show seven.
Children can draw pictures or
use duck stickers to make
their own pictures of seven
ducks (or a different number
of ducks or other animals or
items) in different groupings.
For example, children might

make pictures that show

some ducks in the pond and
some playing in the grass.
Older children may write, or
have staff write, the
corresponding numeral on
each page of their books.
Organize and display the
childrens pictures to show
the possible number
combinations for seven.
Share with family members
that they can encourage
their children to notice all of
the different ways to show
the number seven as they
are counting the ducklings.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part II: Highlighting Number and Operations
Quack and Count by Keith Baker
Number and Operations ideas . . .
Concept of seven, counting
Count the ducklings with the children. Emphasize the meaning of
the number words by pointing to the groups of ducklings as you
read the numbers. 7 ducklings, 5 plus 2.
Count the ducks for toddlers, and encourage them to help you
count. Have them help you find the ducks who are playing
peekaboo.
Encourage preschoolers to count the groups of ducks, such as 5
and 2, then to count all seven.
Number composition (composing and decomposing), addition and
subtraction, math vocabulary (plus to signify addition)
Older children can explore the addition problems in the book.
After reading 4 plus 3, say Four ducklings over here and three
ducklings over here. How many ducklings altogether? Count with
the children to check.
The word plus may be an unfamiliar term to children. Explain that
4 plus 3 means the same thing as 4 and 3.
As you read, encourage children to represent the numbers in the
groupings with their fingers and to notice that they always add up
to seven.
Practice adding by counting on instead of counting all the
objects. For example say Five ducklings here. Then point to the
sixth and seventh duckling as the children count six, seven. Ask
How many ducklings altogether?

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part II: Highlighting Number and Operations
Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews
Spanish edition: Diez Puntos Negros
About the book . . .
In this book, large black dots (1 through 10 of them) become the
eyes of a fox, spots on a snake, wheels on a train, and more. For
example, five dots appear in a straight vertical row as buttons on a
coat and then as the portholes of a boat, two at deck level and
three below. This book helps children begin to understand that
changing the arrangement of objects doesnt change their
number.
Appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers
Using this book . . .
When reading to toddlers,
point to the groups of dots
when you read the numbers.
Count the dots and talk
about how many there are.
Because the dots are large
and easy to count, toddlers
may want to try counting
them, too!
When reading to
preschoolers, ask them to
compare the numbers of
dots in the pictures. This will
help them discover that
rearranging objects does not
change their number.

This book can be used with

other preschool activities
that are based on various
configurations of dots, such
as card games, dice games,
and dominos.
Share with family members
that as they read this book,
they can encourage their
children to compare the
number of dots to find the
same number.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part II: Highlighting Number and Operations
Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews
Number and Operations ideas . . .
Counting up to 10 objects, recognizing number in different
configurations, comparing quantity, math vocabulary (number
words, same number)
Seeing the same numbers of dots in different arrangements helps
children learn to recognize the patterns that particular numbers of
objects form.
Draw toddlers attention to the pictures with the same small
numbers of dots. See, there are two dots here the foxs eyes
and two dots here the holes in the keys.
Preschoolers can count and compare the numbers of dots in
different arrangements. How many dots make the spots on the
snake? How many dots are stones to rake? Lets count to make
sure there are the same number of dots here (spots) and here
(stones).
Compare the number of objects by asking How many foxes?
How many keys? Are there more foxes or keys? Lets count to find
out.
As preschool children look at the different pictures and count the
dots, encourage them to notice that the dots are the same
number no matter how they are arranged. For example Here
are the five dots in a straight line on the coat. Here the five dots
are in two rows on the boat. How can we check to make sure the
pictures have the same number of dots five here and five here?

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part II: Highlighting Number and Operations
Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang
Spanish edition: Diez, Nueve, Ocho
About the book . . .
In this counting book and bedtime story told in rhyme, a father and
his little girl count down to bedtime. Beginning with 10 small toes
and ending with 1 big girl all ready for bed, the book counts
backward in scenes of bedtime routines in the childs room. Even
hugs and kisses are counted (3). The warm illustrations and simple
lullaby-like quality of the language make this book appealing to
even the youngest children.
Appropriate for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers
Using this book . . .
When reading this book to
infants and toddlers, relate
the number concepts to the
childs own experiencefor
example, their own two
strong arms.
With preschoolers,
encourage children to count
and compare pictured
objects, recognize the
numerals that tell how many
objects, and learn to count
backward from 10.

Have children practice

counting backward by using
songs or short chants during
large group activity time. For
example, chant "Five, four,
three, two, one" gradually
moving from standing to a
crouched position and then
jump up saying "Blast off!
Share with family members
that while reading this story,
they can relate the number
concepts to their childs own
experiences. For example,
count the babys ten toes,
then count their childs toes
and talk about the same
number.

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Part II: Highlighting Number and Operations
Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang
Number and Operations ideas . . .
Counting up to 10, counting objects, number correspondence
Call the young childs attention to the relation between what is
pictured on the books pages, the books words, and her own
world. See the babys 10 toes. Here are your 10 toes. You have
the same number of toes as the baby.
Numeral recognition, counting backward
Preschool children can also use this book to learn to recognize
and read written numerals and to practice counting backward.
Ask What number comes next?
Comparing number, correspondence, addition and subtraction
Older toddlers and preschoolers can also begin to notice the
numerical relationships in the pictures. There are 8 square
windowpanes. Seethere are 4 in each window, 4 here and 4
here. They are the same number. Where are the 4 sleepy eyes?
Whose eyes are they?
The page with 7 shows pairs of shoes. Ask What is missing? How
many shoes should there be? How many shoes make a pair?

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Glossary
Cardinal number: the last object that has been counted also
represents the total number of objects in a group; answers the
question how many?
Composing and decomposing number: discovering the many ways
that one number can be taken apart and put togetherfor
example, five is 2 fingers plus 3 fingers or 4 fingers plus 1 finger
Geometry: the area of mathematics that studies shape, size, space,
position, direction, and movement
Mathematize: highlight mathematical concepts in everyday
activities
Number: quantity
Number word: spoken word to represent a quantityfor example,
one, two, or three
Numeral: written symbol that represents a numberfor example, 1,
2, or 3
Operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of
numbers
Ordinal number: number word that describes the order of
objectsfor example, first, second, or last
Represent number: show a number with concrete objects such as
blocks, dice, fingers; spoken number word such as four; or written
symbols such as a numeral (4) or tally marks (/ / / /)
Spatial sense: knowing about the position of people and objects in
space

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Finding the Math in Books: Ideas for Staff

Bibliography
Anno, Mitsumasa. Annos Counting Book. New York: HarperTrophy, 1986.
Baker, Keith. Quack and Count. San Diego, CA: Harcourt, 1999.
Bang, Molly. Ten, Nine, Eight (Diez, Nueve, Ocho). New York: HarperTrophy, 2003.
Carle, Eric. The Very Hungry Caterpillar (La Oruga Muy Hambrienta). New York:
Philomel, 1981.
Crews, Donald. Ten Black Dots (Diez Puntos Negros). New York: HarperTrophy,
1995.
Falwell, Cathryn. Feast for 10 (Fiesta para 10). Boston: Clarion, 1993.
Galdone, Paul. Over in the Meadow. New York: Aladdin, 1989.
Hoban, Tana. Is It Larger? Is It Smaller? New York: HarperTrophy, 1997.
Keats, Ezra Jack. Whistle for Willie (Slbale a Willie). New York: Viking Juvenile,
1964.
Krauss, Ruth. The Carrot Seed (La Semilla de Zanahoria). Illustrated by Crockett
Johnson. New York: HarperTrophy, 2004.
Rathmann, Peggy. Good Night Gorilla (Buenas Noches Gorila). New York:
Putnam Juvenile, 1994.
Tompert, Ann. Just a Little Bit. Illustrated by Lynn M. Munsinger. New York:
Scholastic, 2000.
Williams, Vera B. More More More, Said the Baby: 3 Love Stories (Ms Ms
Ms, Dijo el Beb: 3 Historias de Amor). New York: HarperCollins, 1990.
Wise Brown, Margaret. Goodnight Moon (Buenas Noches, Luna). Illustrated by
Clement Hurd. New York: HarperCollins, 1991.

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