Book Finder

The class homework assignment is to draw “12 things, but in sets.” How the kids do it is up to them. Annamarie decides to present 3 types of music represented by 4 instruments each while classmates do it in different, creative ways. This clever presentation is both reading and math (and maybe music) made clear in easy graphic format.

Five elephants, each a different pastel color parade across and through the pages introducing numbers from one to five, over and under, and more until it’s time to sleep. Simple forms, gentle hues, and comfortable language are sure to create an enduring classic. 

Five penguins await snow while avoiding a seal that is chasing them. When the seal catches up with the penguins, it shouts “you’re it!” so the game of chase continues. Expressive illustrations and a familiar rhyme make an appealing tale with just a touch of tension.

One sunny morning, two children bounce out of bed to start counting and exploring insects. What they find — leafhoppers, ladybugs, and more — are presented through rich, rhyming text and in numbers that always add up to 10. Colorful illustrations depict an idyllic countryside and young, cheerful explorers.

Pete the Cat is marching with his look-alikes from one to ten, each adding an instrument to the cheerful conclusion. The riff on a familiar rhyme (“Ants go marching”) may inspire others as listeners or readers enjoy the humor.

A mother duck and 5 ducklings waddle onto a bridge. And one by one, the ducklings fall (or perhaps dive) into the water below. What’s a mother duck to do? She joins them, of course. Simple illustrations extend the fun of the repeating narrative.

Mama and baby go to a colorful, crowded market to buy fruits and other staples. While Mama is busy, baby is so curious, cheerful and funny that each vendor gives the baby something a little extra for Mama’s basket. Expressive illustrations and rhythmic text make a tale to share again and again.

Earth is surrounded by stars of which the sun is only one. Earth is blue “because it is covered by 370,000,000.000,000,000,000 gallons of water.” It has trillions of trees and millions of cities …. but “only one of YOU…” This imaginative presentation is enjoyable to read and may well encourage closer observation of what is all around. 

This vibrant counting book introduces children to the rich traditions of the Vietnamese New Year. A playful village of mice lead young readers through the joyful celebration, as embroidered illustrations recreate ten scenes of preparation, gift giving, feasting, and firework displays.

A little old lady complains to a wise old man that her house is “a squash and a squeeze.” She follows his advice is to bring her hen, pig, goat, and cow into her cozy abode with chaotic results. When the animals leave, however, the house becomes incredibly spacious! Humor abounds in rhyme and comic illustrations in this fresh take on an old tale.

Private I tries to assuage 6 who just knows that 7 is coming to get him! Why? Because 7 8 9, of course! Wordplay and over-the-top humor make this satire of old detective stories sophisticated. Told with tongue in cheek language and colorful illustrations, this is a very funny tale.

Can you find the ice cream cones that look alike?  How about the tractors? Can you spot the leaves that are the same? It’s not as easy as it looks! Poems ask readers to identify the pair on the opposing page from among similar, clear but tough-to-tell-apart illustrations in this playful book that requires a keen eye!

The humble and sometimes abused copper penny tells its own story in this humorous combination of fact and fantasy. It begins, “I was born in Philadelphia, where the United States was born” and continues revealing its adventures small and historical. Cartoon illustrations in simple line and real pennies augment the combination of fiction and information. The penny’s history and additional resources conclude this entertaining book.

From 1 to 10 race cars with personalities line up to begin the race. When the lights go from red to yellow to green – off they go!  Who will win? Playful, rhyming text accompanies the colorful, angular illustrations.

Simple rhymes and colorful, flat illustrations introduce familiar farm animals and their sounds. In addition, young readers are encouraged to count from 1 to 5. Die-cuts for each animal’s eyes add texture and interest before the last animal and number roundup.

Flora places an empty bowl near a hen’s nest filled with eggs. One by one as the eggs hatch, Flora fills the bowl the yellow, orange, and even a brown chick. Expressive illustrations on plain backgrounds and large numbers from 1 to 10 convey the story.  The use of sturdy foldouts increases the delightful surprises as the chicks meet their new friend, Flora.

Observing birds and eating berries just may lead to a summertime exploration of colors and counting. Meet the yellow goldfinch, a pink flamingo, and other well and less familiar birds in brief text and realistic illustrations. In The Very Berry Counting Book (opens in a new window) by Jerry Pallotta (Charlesbridge; 1580897843), you can count realistic, luscious looking berries from 1 to 10.

Different animals have different rituals before bed. From “ten terribly tired tigers” to “one weary wombat” — alliterative language counts down to sleep. The cozy countdown is illustrated with soft lines and comforting colors for a sweet bedtime book.

In this playful introduction to number values, readers are reminded that “Order is important in both words and numbers.” Cheerful monkeys, chefs from the Banana Café, host this exploration making place values from one to upwards of a trillion understandable and relatable. 

Join the train as it begins its rhythmic, rhyming counting expedition. It starts with one engine and a happy bear and ending with the caboose with 10 windows and a “goodnight!” wish. Colors are presented in the same format in Steam Train, Dream Train Colors.

Crisp color photographs of living creatures not only encourages counting from 1 to 10 but introduces a range of animals. Find a similar use of photographs in Colors (opens in a new window), another title in the series.

Cars from one to ten line up to race in this rhythmic countdown. The rhyming text is a lively accompaniment to stylized illustrations and the final “GO!” as colorful vehicles zoom through the pages.

A lighthearted look at a family from different viewpoints. The five members of the household, both human and feline, share many traits with one another while maintaining their individuality. The narrator (and only child in the group) sorts the five by their various commonalities from hair color to leisure activities to food preferences. “Three who like to hide in boxes./Four who have a knack with yarn”

Richly hued illustrations and an engaging text (that reads aloud well) present a brief look at the life of a girl who was well ahead of the 19^th century in which she lived. Ada’s mother left her husband, the philandering poet Lord Byron, moving to London. There she encouraged Ada’s passion for all things math, including developing algorithms for Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, an early computer.