Ready, Set, Count! Four Tales to Help Introduce Number Recognition and Counting Skills

 

     There are so many ways that you and your family can start to incorporate into your daily routines that will help guide your little one on the road to number identification and early counting concepts.  With amusing games that you can create while your out and about; collecting and sorting the ingredients to cook up a batch of gooey, delicious double chocolate chip cookies on a rainy day; to creating silly imaginative songs for an impromptu scavenger hunt while out for a walk-- you'll soon be on your way to opening up your child's comprehension of these basic but extremely important early learning skills.
     And, you all probably know me well enough by now to guess that I've always been a loyal advocate of the strong influence that picture and beginning-to-read books play in reinforcing all of those early number lessons, most especially those that we instilled in our son when he was small.  Teaching these vital skills through the use of imaginative stories, like the ones featured below, are a simple way that will always help to guide you in making learning about numbers exciting and fun for your little ones!

Everything Goes 123 Beep Beep Beep!  A Counting Book

       Just an absolutely amusing, sturdy picture book by author/illustrator Brian Biggs for your little boy (or girl!) who is fascinated by all things with wheels.   This picture book features a modern update on the different modes of transportation---instead of the familiar tug boats or small cars, your little ones will count and be on the lookout for colorful food trucks, compact cars and RV's. 

Everything Goes 123 Beep Beep Beep!  A Counting Book
Written & Illustrated by Brian Biggs
Publisher:  Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers (December 2012)
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com
ISBN: 978-0-06-195812-0
For Ages: 3 and up
Retails for: $7.99 (Hardcover)

Six Little Chicks
     As our tale begins, five little chicks are nestled comfortably in a farm deep in a lush meadow.  They are looked over by their proud yet fiercely overprotective mother,  Red Hen.  One day, on a typical beautiful morning on the farm, Red Hen decides to let her little brood out of their cozy wooden hut to explore.  Your little ones will count along with mama Red Hen, as she checks on each of her five little chicks, but they will also delight in repeating each of the chicks actions ("The first little chick going  Peck Peck Peck," and "The second little chick going Cheep Cheep Cheep," and so on and so forth.), actions in which we soon learn will come in quite handy when the "Big Bad Fox", enticed by the scent of a potential dinner, comes strolling into the farm. 
     Filled with vibrant illustrations and delightfully rhyming text by author/illustrator Jez Alborough (Alborough's story, Duck in the Truck, was a favorite among my PreK class last year during library storytime),  Six Little Chicks,  will not disappoint, and it will make for a funny read aloud with a class to reiterate a counting/number recognition lesson, or just read alone one-on-one with your little ones!

Six Little Chicks
Written & Illustrated by Jez Alborough
Publisher:  Barron's Educational Series, Inc. (2012)
Website:  www.barronseduc.com
ISBN: 978-1-4380-0181-4
For ages: 3 and up
Retails for $6.99 (Softcover)



123 versus ABC

     It's an all out war as numbers and letters clash in their downright silly attempts to proclaim themselves as the dominant leaders in this zany tale by the author/illustrator of Little Jack Horner LIVE From the Corner, Mike Boldt.
     Suddenly, as if out from the blue, 1 alligator shows up, followed by 2 bears, who arrived in 3 cars (you're starting to get the picture!), and all of the warring numbers and letters are quickly overwhelmed.  Will the letters and numbers draw a truce and learn to agree and get along with one another before it's too late?  With vivid illustrations and a hilarious storyline, you and your little ones will be laughing right up to the surprise ending!

123 versus ABC
Written & Illustrated by Mike Boldt
Publisher:  HarperCollins Childrens (2013)
Website:  www.harpercollincschildrens.com
ISBN: 978-0-06-210299-7
For ages 4 thru 8
Retails for $17.99 (Hardcover)

Richard Scarry's Let's Count with Lowly!
     Come along on a counting journey with Lowly, the lovable, helpful worm, as he guides your little ones through his hometown, Busytown, in this delightful tale by the beloved late children's author/illustrator Richard Scarry.  At first, Lowly starts out at the number one, for there is only one Lowly, as he sweetly reminds us, and then, we meet Lowly's friend, the cheerful Huckle Cat, and when you put them together, they make two!  This book features handy number tabs at the top of each page, along with numbered dots, which encourage number recognition with your little ones, prompting them to take a moment on each page to count the other animals and other items that surround.

Richard Scarry's Let's Count with Lowly!
Written & Illustrated by Richard Scarry
Publisher: Barron's Educational Series, Inc. (2012)
Website:  www.barronseduc.com
ISBN: 978-07641-6600-6
For ages:
Retails for $7.99 (Hardcover)