Math for Kids: Children's Books that Incorporate Math in Reading

Did you know how well children do math at the start of kindergarten predicts how well they will do in 3rd grade and high school? In addition, it also predicts how well they'll doing in reading.

These books incorporate math in reading and are available at the Sussex County Library System.

Updated May 29, 2024
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1 big salad
Medina, Juana
Paper Book
Juana Medina's ingenious illustrations nearly pop off the page in her new counting book, ONE BIG SALAD. One avocado deer saunters across the spread, two radish mice scurry by, until finally ten clementine kitties prance onto the scene - all of the ingredients in one big salad! Medina's...
Alexander, who used to be rich last Sunday
Viorst, Judith.
Paper Book
Anthony has two dollars and three quarters and one dime and seven nickels and eighteen pennies. Nicholas has one dollar and two quarters and five dimes and five nickels and thirteen pennies. Alexander has...bus tokens. And even when he's rich, pretty soon all he has is bus tokens. ...
Bedtime math
Overdeck, Laura
Paper Book
Bedtime Math wants to change the way we introduce math to children: to make math a fun part of kids' everyday lives. We all know it's wonderful to read bedtime stories to kids, but what about doing math? Many generations of Americans are uncomfortable with math and...
The boy who loved math : the improbably life of Paul Erdos
Heiligman, Deborah.
Paper Book
Most people think of mathematicians as solitary, working away in isolation. And, it's true, many of them do. But Paul Erdos never followed the usual path. At the age of four, he could ask you when you were born and then calculate the number of seconds you had been alive in his head. But he didn't...
The doorbell rang /
Hutchins, Pat,
Paper Book
This enjoyable read-aloud picture book about friendship, sharing, and cookies can also be used to introduce basic math concepts to young children. "Refreshing, enjoyable, and unpredictable."--School Library Journal Each ring of the doorbell brings more friends to share the delicious...
Feast for 10
Falwell, Cathryn.
Paper Book
Enjoy this classic counting book and lively read-aloud featuring a family shopping for food, preparing dinner, and enjoying a meal together. Count from one to ten--then count again! What does it take to make a feast for ten hungry people? Shopping, cooking, setting the table-...
How much is a million? /
Schwartz, David M.
Paper Book
"A jubilant, original picture book." --Booklist (starred review) Ever wonder just what a million of something means? How about a billion? Or a trillion? Marvelosissimo the mathematical magician can teach you! How Much Is a Million? knocks complex numbers down to size in a fun,...
Just a little bit
Tompert, Ann.
Paper Book
When an elephant and a mouse try to play on a seesaw, they need help from a vast number of animal friends to balance the scales.
Lemonade in winter : a book about two kids counting money
Jenkins, Emily
Paper Book
A lemonade stand in winter? Yes, that's exactly what Pauline and John-John intend to have, selling lemonade and limeade--and also lemon-limeade. With a catchy refrain (Lemon lemon LIME, Lemon LIMEADE! Lemon lemon LIME, Lemon LEMONADE!), plus simple math concepts throughout, here is a read...
The lemonade war
Davies, Jacqueline
Paper Book
Here is a clever blend of humor, math wizardry, and business know-how. As it captures the one-of-a-kind bond between brother and sister, this poignant novel also subtly explores how arguments can escalate beyond anyone's intent. For a full hour, he poured lemonade. The world is a thirsty...
Money math : addition and subtraction
Adler, David A.
Paper Book
This primer on money will change how you see addition and subtraction. What can a handful of coins get you? Well, it depends on how many you've got. . . . and what they are. In this fun introduction to American currency, a variety of past presidents introduce...
Mouse shapes
Walsh, Ellen Stoll.
Paper Book
What can you make with one oval, two circles, and eight triangles? Just ask three clever mice--who even find a funny way to trick a sneaky cat.             Ellen Stoll Walsh once again proves that she's a master of concept books in...
One big pair of underwear
Gehl, Laura.
Paper Book
Count and share with...underwear! Come along on a zany adventure with hilarious pictures from the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site. What's one thing that two bears, three yaks, four goats, and six cats have in common?...
Rooster's off to see the world /
Carle, Eric
Paper Book
Count along with Rooster in this Ready-to-Read edition of a favorite story from Eric Carle. One fine morning, a rooster sets off to see the world. Soon he's joined by two cats, then three frogs, then four turtles, then five fish. But one group by one, his new friends decide to...
Rosie's walk
Hutchins, Pat
Paper Book
The Fox is after Rosie, but Rosie doesn't know it. Unwittingly, she leads him into one disaster after the other, each funnier than the last. To enjoy Rosie's walk as much as Rosie does, just look inside!
Round is a tortilla : a book of shapes
Thong, Roseanne.
Paper Book
In this lively picture book, children discover a world of shapes all around them: rectangles are ice-cream carts and stone metates, triangles are slices of watermelon and quesadillas. Many of the featured objects are Latino in origin, and all are universal in appeal. With rich,...
Ten black dots /
Crews, Donald
Paper Book
From Donald Crews, the Caldecott Honor artist and award-winning creator of Truck, Freight Train, and many other classic picture books for young children, this picture book is a fun introduction to basic math concepts. What can you do with ten black dots? <...

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