Supporting Numeracy, Operations, and Measurement
Books with math-based stories and language to set the stage for future math learning
Young children develop foundational math skills through exploration and daily activities. The books in this series are designed to support children’s growing understanding of counting, combining, and comparing sets of objects.
FEATURED BOOKS - PRESCHOOL
Numeracy
Be a Friend
I Know Numbers!
Written and illustrated by Taro Gomi, this book shows how people notice and use numbers throughout their everyday lives. It also explores the different meanings that numbers can hold.
Numeracy
One Family
Written by George Shannon and illustrated by Blanca Gomez, this story follows the lives of a busy family and offers many opportunities to count and find out “how many.”
Operations
Caps for Sale
Written and illustrated by Esphyr Slobodkina, this classic tale of a peddler and his colorful caps gives open-ended opportunities to try adding and splitting up different amounts.
Operations
Luna’s Yum Yum Dim Sum
Written by Natasha Yim and illustrated by Violet Kim, this story shows how three siblings figure out a way to evenly share their delicious Chinese dim sum lunch.
Measurement
Just How Long Can a Long String Be?!
Written and illustrated by Keith Baker, this story is about a bird and an ant that follow a thread of string across the pages of this book. Along the way, they discover the string’s many uses and sizes.
Measurement
Too-Small Tyson
Written by JaNay Brown-Wood and illustrated by Anastasia Magloire Williams, this story follows Tyson, the youngest and smallest of his brothers, as he uses measurement and creativity to solve a big problem.
FEATURED BOOKS - TODDLER
numeracy
Ten Black Dots
Written and illustrated by Donald Crews, this book invites you to count along as dots appear and are arranged in new and creative ways.
Ten Black Dots
Written and illustrated by Donald Crews, this book invites you to count along as dots appear and are arranged in new and creative ways.
Numeracy
Anno's Counting Book
Written and illustrated by Mitsumasa Anno, this book shows colorful illustrations of a growing town with many people and activities to see and count as the year goes by.
Measurement
Inch by Inch
Written and illustrated by Leo Lionni, this book follows an inch worm who measures birds all the way from their tails to their beaks.
measurement
So Big and So Small
Written by John Coy and illustrated by Steph Lew, this story is about noticing how your size may feel different when standing next to something as small as a seashell or as large as a mountain.
Exploring Early Math with Infants Through Books
Sharing books with infants helps set the stage for later math learning. We’ve highlighted six books especially for infants that explore mathematical concepts. These stories support fun and engaging interactions about math in our world.
TEACHING THROUGH BOOKS
Key Takeaways
Showcase numbers
The printed numbers on book pages, along with the quantities children can count during reading, support different numeracy skills.
Promote counting
Illustrations provide chances to count objects in groups. Putting sets together and taking parts away supports future operations learning.
Encourage comparison
Giving a value to an object’s attributes is the foundation of measurement. Notice and compare relative lengths and sizes within illustrations.
