Thrice Upon a Number: Even More Preschool Math Books We Love
For this week’s Talking Math, we gathered even more of our favorite math books for preschool and pre-kindergarten age kids. Below each book is a link to rent it from KCLS, and a link to buy it on Bookshop through one of our favorite local bookstores. This is not an exhaustive list, so look out for more book recommendations from us!
What Will Fit?
written and illustrated by Grace Lin
“Take a trip to the farmers' market in this playful story about spatial sense. Olivia is searching for something just the right size to fill her basket. The apple is so small that it rolls around. The zucchini is so long that it sticks out. What will fit just right?”
What it teaches: spatial relationships, size relationships, 3D spatial sense
Shape Up, Construction Trucks!
by Victoria Allenby
“It's no secret that toddlers of any gender love big vehicles. Shape Up, Construction Trucks! uses rhyming verse and bright photographs to celebrate this enthusiasm in a unique take on conceptual shape books. Each spread highlights geometric shapes hiding in plain sight on excavators, bulldozers, cranes, and more. And after the toddlers have browsed the pages to their heart's content, a final note to parents offers enriching, age-appropriate activities to keep building their child's foundational skills.”
What it teaches: geometry, spatial sense
One is a Piñata: A Book of Numbers
written by Roseanne Greenfield Thong
illustrated by John Parra
“One is a rainbow. One is a cake. One is a piñata that's ready to break! In this lively picture book, a companion to the Pura Belpré-honored Green Is a Chile Pepper, children discover a fiesta of numbers in the world around them, all the way from one to ten. Many of the featured objects are Latino in origin and all are universal in appeal. With rich, boisterous illustrations, a fun-to-read rhyming text, and an informative glossary, this vibrant book enumerates the joys of counting and the wonders that abound in every child's day!”
What it teaches: multilingual number sense, counting
Have You Seen My Dragon?
by Steve Light
“In the heart of the city, among the taxis and towers, a small boy travels uptown and down, searching for his friend. Readers will certainly spot the glorious beast, plus an array of big-city icons they can count. Is the dragon taking the crosstown bus, or breathing his fiery breath below a busy street? Maybe he took a taxi to the zoo or is playing with the dogs in the park. Steve Light’s masterful pen-and-ink illustrations, decorated with meticulous splashes of color, elevate this counting book (numbers 1–20) to new heights. Maybe the dragon is up there, too!”
What it teaches: counting, number sense
Marta! Big and Small
by Jen Arena
illustrated by Angela Dominguez
“¡Hola, Marta! Marta is una niña, an ordinary girl . . . with some extraordinary animal friends!
As Marta explores the jungle, she knows she's bigger than a bug, smaller than an elephant, and faster than a turtle. But then she meets the snake, who thinks Marta is sabrosa--tasty, very tasty! But Marta is ingeniosa, a very clever girl, and she outsmarts the snake with hilarious results. With simple Spanish and a glossary at the end, this fun read-aloud board book teaches little ones to identify opposites and animals and learn new words.”
What it teaches: spatial relationships, size relationships, multilingual number sense
If you’re feeling generous, SUMM is looking to expand our own library! You can find our book wishlist through Bookshop, an organization that connects readers with the booksellers near them by donating to local sellers.
We work with Ada’s Technical Books and Café, a bookstore in the Capitol Hill neighborhood that specializes in STEM-focused and technical books. We encourage interested families to stop by in person!
