Reading counting books to children is a great, stress-free way to ensure that your students are developing math skills! In fact, books and stories are some of the best ways that children learn. We have put together a fantastic list of counting books for kids. We’ve included counting books for all beginning learners:
- Counting books for Toddlers
- Books about Counting for Preschoolers
- Counting Books for Kindergarten
Related: Counting Songs
Counting Books
Teaching children to count seems like a fairly easy task but in reality, it takes plenty of repetition, patience, and dedication. After all, young children who are learning to count are essentially learning a new language! Focusing on building number sense in preschool and kindergarten is time well spent as young children begin to decode how numbers work. Number sense is a critical part of preschool and kindergarten math development which includes many subskills like rote counting, one to one correspondence, and subitizing.
Incorporating counting books for kids helps children practice one-to-one correspondence, number recognition, and number order (both forward and backward). Plus, we are simultaneously building reading skills while we practice numeracy! It’s a win-win!
Get the best learning activities for 3-5 year olds at your fingertips
Picture books that infuse counting practice opportunities help bring numbers to life and encourage children to practice without pressure or tons of materials to prep and assemble. Grab some simple counting books for your learners and watch as their mathematical world gets a little bit clearer!
- Counting Books for Toddlers – exposes toddlers to numbers, number order, and rote counting and listening to the rhythmic counting pattern from their parents and teachers as they read aloud.
- Counting Books for Preschoolers – encourages preschoolers to find the hidden numbers, point and count along with the reader, and develop one to one correspondence.
- Books about Counting for Kindergarteners – develops numeracy skills up to 100 and helps kindergarteners learn more advanced number sense skills like counting teen numbers, skip counting by tens, and learning multiple ways to make one number.
Counting Books for Toddlers
These counting books for toddlers teach numbers up to 5 (and sometimes 10) and encourage children to learn number order and number recognition. These toddler counting books also help build early one-to-one correspondence skills as the adult counts out the items on each page.
1, 2, 3 to the Zoo by Eric Carle
The perfect book for teaching numbers to toddlers! This book counts zoo animals from 0 to 10 and visually shows the numbers on each page and adds the animals to the train as the story progresses. Beautifully illustrated in classic Eric Carle style, this wordless book is a must-have for any toddler learning their numbers.
Bear Counts by Karma Wilson
In this counting book for kids, Bear teaches toddlers to count from 0 to 5 by observing nature and playing with his furry friends. It’s a perfect introduction to teaching numbers to toddlers! Plus, it’s a book in the Bear series that kids absolutely adore
5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
Count along one by one as these little monkeys get ready for bed. Then 5 monkeys begin to jump and fall off the bed and bump their heads! This rendition of the classic song also ends with a surprising turn of events that will be sure to entertain your toddler. Check out our other math songs that teach for more toe-tapping math fun!
Stack the Cats by Susie Ghahremani
These cats love to find themselves in a stack in this counting book for toddlers! Count from 0 to 10 and back again as these fluffy pets find there is more than one way to stack any number of cats. For example, “Nine cats stack three, three, three.” This number book for toddlers certainly helps listeners learn how numbers work!
5 Little Ducks by Denise Fleming
This modern take on the classic Five Little Ducks nursery rhyme teaches numbers to toddlers along with the days of the week. The little ducklings are guided by Papa Duck as they go over the hills and through the fields. This sing along rhyming book is a great introduction to numbers and farm animals!
Pete the Cat: 5 Little Bunnies by James Dean
This book is perfect for teaching counting 0-5 to toddlers who love the Pete the Cat books! In this fun remake of the 5 Little Monkeys song, Pete’s bunny friends hop on the bed until they fall off one by one. Pete calls the doctor and puts those bunnies straight to bed!
1 Big Salad: A Delicious Counting Book by Juana Medina
This counting book for toddlers emphasizes healthy eating habits and playing with our food in the best way! Count along as avocado deer and orange clementine kittens find themselves in a delicious salad bowl. This counting story is perfect for learning numbers 0 to 10 and encouraging toddlers to try new foods!
Counting Kisses by Karen Katz
It’s time to get ready for bed with this toddler counting book! How many kisses does this tired little one need? Family members give kisses all over the baby from 10 to 0 until the little baby is fast asleep. A sweet book with flaps to encourage toddlers to count along with you.
Books About Counting for Preschoolers
In these counting books for preschool, you’ll find books that count up to twelve and give readers a chance to search for hidden numbers, match numerical puzzles, and sing along to catchy counting rhymes.
On the Launch Pad: A Counting Book About Rockets by Michael Dahl
In this preschool counting book about rockets, we go behind the scenes as we prepare the space shuttle for blast off as we count backwards from 12 to 1. It’s a very simple story with bright illustrations and hidden numbers in the artwork to encourage preschoolers to hunt for each number as they turn the pages.
Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews
In this clever counting book, children learn to use black dots to represent numbers from 0-10 in creative ways. From a sun to a seven spotted snake, these black dots can be turned into something creative and artistic with a little imagination. It’s a preschool counting book favorite!
10 Little Rubber Ducks by Eric Carle
This counting book for preschoolers is based on a true story and takes on a worldwide journey via the sea. 10 little rubber ducks find themselves tossed overboard from a large ship and begin to drift away. Each page offers counting and ordinal number practice (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.), plus an adorable and surprising ending.
My Very First Book of Numbers by Eric Carle
A preschool counting book unlike others, this clever book is split into two parts. The goal is to match the number on top to the corresponding number of fruit on the bottom page. It is perfect for helping preschoolers develop one to one correspondence and practice hands-on counting skills!
Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes
Sung to the tune of “Over in the Meadow”, this preschool counting book is so captivating to young children. From 1 to 10, we find all sorts of ocean animals including seahorses, stingrays, and pufferfish. The clay art illustrations are breathtaking and include so many oceanic details. A preschool counting must!
How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten? by Jane Yolen
This counting book for preschoolers is perfect for your little dinosaur lover! Preschoolers love helping dinosaurs learn to count from 1 to 10 with simple rhyming text and hilarious artwork. Check out the whole series of hysterical How Do Dinosaurs stories!
One Duck Stuck by Phyliss Root
This counting book is perfect for preschoolers as it includes rhyming, counting, and rhythm! One duck is stuck in the muck and needs help from 9 other animals as they try without luck to get him unstuck. But when all 10 animals work together, magic starts to happen!
From the Garden by Michael Dahl
A preschool counting book that takes readers all the way to the number twelve as they harvest delicious fruits and vegetables from the family garden. Plus, your preschoolers will love finding the hidden numbers in the artwork on each page!
One is a Pinata by Roseanne Greenfield Thong
This engaging counting book for preschoolers teaches basic counting skills one to ten in both English and Spanish. With rich illustrations and an engaging story, this book is a must-have. This math picture book also includes basic Spanish words in the rhyming text along with a glossary to decode any unfamiliar words.
Counting Books for Kindergarten
In these counting books for kindergarten, children learn how to count beyond 10 (in some books up to 100)! Teen numbers, skip counting, and simple addition and subtraction are just some of the math skills that can be learned from these fantastic read-alouds!
Chicka Chicka 123 by Bill Martin Jr.
This counting book is great for developing advanced counting skills for kindergarteners. Watch as the numbers from 1-20 climb to the top of the coconut tree… but there’s more! Switch to counting by tens as numbers 30 – 100 make their way up the coconut tree too! This zany story follows all the numbers back down again as the tree gets much too full! A great companion book to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom too!
Twenty Big Trucks in the Middle of the Street by Mark Lee
Counting from 1 to 20 sure is fun when you have this counting picture book full of trucks! One ice cream truck breaks down in the street creating a traffic jam of epic proportions. One clever little boy comes up with a plan to get those 19 vehicles back on the road again.
Zero by Kathryn Otoshi
Zero is the perfect kindergarten counting book as it helps kindergarteners learn how to count by 10s and beyond as they realize the value of zero in the mathematical world! Plus, this story models building self-esteem, gaining confidence, and being who you are. This book does the work of two books as it tells multiple stories that include new vocabulary, mathematical concepts, and social-emotional support.
Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On by Lois Ehlert
Bright colors make this counting book visually appealing to kindergarteners! The vibrant fish introduce kindergarteners to counting and simple addition on each page. The holes in the fish eyes on each page give children the opportunity to physically touch while counting.
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by James Dean
This rocking story sure makes counting fun! Great for kindergarteners, this counting book teaches simple subtraction and counting skills. Rock along with Pete as he loses button after button but still manages to keep a smile on his face.
12 Ways to Get to 11 by Eve Merriam
In this counting picture book perfect for kindergarteners, we must answer the question…where might the number eleven be? The author shows us twelve different ways to count to eleven, using all sorts of ways! Three sets of triplets plus one set of twins equal eleven… how about one mama pig and ten piglets?
Counting books for kids are a wonderful way to bring numbers to life! Grab some simple counting books for your learners and watch as their mathematical world gets a little bit clearer.
We hope you’ve loved learning about all the incredible counting books there are! Check out our other book lists below for even more great book ideas, or see out our entire list of best preschool books!
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- Best Read-Aloud Preschool Books
- Rhyming Books for Kids
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- Books to Teach Reading and Letter Sounds
- Best Alphabet Books for Preschoolers
Books for Social/Emotional Growth
- Powerful Preschool Books that Celebrate and Accept Differences
- Books on Kindness
- Gratitude and Thankfulness Books for Kids
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Seasonal Books
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- Fantastic Fall Books for Preschoolers
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- Winter Books
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