Best Math Books for Preschoolers
It’s no surprise that children love stories and colorful pictures. This is why math books for kids can be such powerful learning tools. By combining engaging narratives with colorful illustrations, these books can help preschoolers learn math concepts in a fun and enjoyable way.
Read on to explore the benefits of early math exposure to children, the best types of picture books to choose from, and how to effectively use them for learning. We absolutely LOVE using fun picture books to teach math concepts. Kids delight in learning through stories, and this helps make math concepts stick in their minds! Be sure to check out our huge list of awesome hands-on math activities for preschoolers that go perfectly with our favorite math-themed picture books. We guarantee it is a winning combination!
Why do we need math concept books? Imagine this: a captivating story filled with fun illustrations, where counting ladybugs becomes an exciting adventure, and a brave triangle’s journey introduces the world of shapes. This isn’t just playtime; it’s the magic of math books for preschoolers.
These books cleverly use catchy rhymes and phrases for repetition, solidifying those new math concepts. They also become interactive experiences, prompting critical thinking skills through open-ended questions and playful prompts. Some of the very best books connect math to the real world. An example of this is a book that compares animal sizes to understand “big” and “small.”
This practical approach makes learning fun and lays the groundwork for a lifelong love of math!
If you are looking for a complete comprehensive math curriculum to go along with some of your favorite math books, check out our Daily Lessons in Preschool Mathematics curriculum.
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Product on sale*** Daily Lessons in Preschool Mathematics CurriculumOriginal price was: $135.00.$99.00Current price is: $99.00.
What Math Should a Preschooler Know?
Preschoolers are naturally curious and eager to learn. Exposing them to math concepts early on helps build a strong foundation for future learning. Here are some basic math skills and concepts that are important for preschoolers to grasp:
- Number Recognition: Recognizing and identifying numbers
- Counting: Counting objects helps children understand number sequence and quantity.
- Shapes: Recognizing and identifying basic shapes like circles, squares, and triangles lays the groundwork for geometry.
- Sorting and Comparing: Sorting objects by size, color, or shape teaches children about classification and organization.
- Measurement: Comparing and ordering objects, understanding relationships between different objects, using simple tools to measure and compare
- Graphing and Data Analysis: Collecting data, sharing data, pictorial representation of data; in preschool it is best to collect and graph data from the kids (ie: taste test apples and put your favorite on the class graph)
There are many benefits to introducing math early on. It enhances cognitive development, improves problem-solving abilities, fosters a positive attitude toward math and more!
Math Books for Preschoolers
Math picture books for preschoolers should be visually appealing, interactive, and engaging. They often incorporate playful rhymes and colorful illustrations to capture a child’s attention.
Here are some key topics you might find in these books:
- Number Sense
- Counting
- Comparing & Sorting
- Graphing
- Positions & Patterns
- Measurement
- Order & Position (ie: first, next, last)
- Addition & Subtraction
How to Use Picture Books to Teach Preschool Math
Picture books can be a springboard for interactive and engaging math lessons. Here are some tips on using them effectively:
- Read aloud with enthusiasm– Use expressive voices and emphasize key math concepts.
- Point to objects and shapes– This helps children make connections between the words and pictures.
- Ask open-ended questions– “How many birds are there?” or “Can you find all the circles on the page?”
- Incorporate movement and songs– Counting songs and fingerplays can make learning more fun.
- Connect math to everyday activities– While baking cookies, count ingredients or shapes.
Best Math Books for Kids
Math books for preschoolers are a fun and magical way to both teach and review early math skills. These books cleverly weave math concepts into pictures and stories. Your preschoolers will be so engrossed in these fun picture books, that they might not even realize they are doing the “work” of learning math!
Here are some of our favorite math picture books:
One is A Snail, Ten is A Crab by April Pulley Sayre and Jeff Sayre
Dive into an ocean adventure and learn to count from 1 to 10! This exciting book is filled with friendly ocean creatures that will help your little ones discover numbers along the way.
- Sayre, April Pulley (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages – 03/14/2006 (Publication Date) – Candlewick (Publisher)
How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
Get ready for BIG fun! This award-winning team brings their beloved dinosaurs to life in this delightful board book. Roar along as your little ones learn to count from one to ten with these playful prehistoric pals!
- Yolen, Jane (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 12 Pages – 09/01/2004 (Publication Date) – The Blue Sky Press (Publisher)
Circus Shapes by Stuart J. Murphy
From the elephants marching in a perfect circle to the daring tigers leaping through a fiery triangle, every page brings shapes to life with vibrant pictures and playful rhymes. This delightful book is perfect for pre-K and kindergarteners, making shape recognition a journey filled with wonder and laughter!
- Circus Shapes By Murphy Stuart J Miller Edward ILT
- Murphy, Stuart J. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Is a Blue Whale the Biggest Thing There Is? by Robert E. Wells
You probably know that the blue whale is the biggest creature on earth. But did you know that a hollow Mount Everest could hold billions of whales inside? This book takes you on an amazing journey to explore how big things can be, and how they compare to each other!
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Wells, Robert E. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Hippos Go Berserk! by Sandra Boynton
Hippos Go Berserk is the first published book by children’s author Sandra Boynton, perfect for creating giggles on car rides, before bed, or anytime you’re ready for a party! This fun book uses silly rhymes and playful illustrations to introduce counting and subtraction.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Boynton, Sandra (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
The Best Bug Parade by Stuart J. Murphy
Is it the bouncy caterpillar or the spiky stink bug? Find out in this colorful adventure as all the creepy crawlies in Ladybug’s garden line up for the biggest and best bug parade ever! With simple, rhyming text and playful pictures, this book is a perfect introduction to comparing sizes.
- Murphy, Stuart J. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages – 04/01/1996 (Publication Date) – HarperCollins (Publisher)
The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns
Get ready for a shape adventure! This exciting math picture book features playful characters who teach children all about shapes and their properties in a fun and interactive way.
- Item #:NTS504220
- ISBN13:9780545042208
- Format:Paperback Book
When a Line Bends…A Shape Begins by Rhonda Gowler Greene
This book takes children on a journey of shapes, exploring how lines and curves combine to create different forms. It is full of rhyming fun and “look and find” pictures where the children get to search for a variety of shapes.
- Rhonda Gowler Greene (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 09/24/2001 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)
The Berenstain Bears Inside, Outside, Upside Down by Stan & Jan Bernstein
Simple, colorful art and playful rhyming text make this a perfect choice for children learning about spatial concepts like up, down, inside, and outside. Join Brother Bear on his exciting journey and learn with him along the way.
- Berenstain, Stan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 12 Pages – 07/08/1997 (Publication Date) – Random House Books for Young Readers (Publisher)
A Pair of Socks by Stuart J. Murphy
Get ready for giggles! This book makes understanding comparisons a breeze, with clear examples that show how math works in everyday life. Plus, it includes engaging activities for adults and kids to do together, extending the learning and making math fun at home!
- This award-winning series by Stuart J. Murphy teaches math through stories and visual models
- 63 books divided into three levels with 21 books in each
- Fun activities kids will love are included to help parents and teachers emphasize the lessons
Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Mouse Shapes is a fun-filled adventure book with three playful mice! Join them as they use just a few ovals, circles, and triangles to create a world of amazing things.
- Walsh, Ellen Stoll (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages – 09/12/2017 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)
Just a Little Bit by Ann Tompert
In Just a Little Bit, an elephant and a mouse discover they need help from animal friends to balance on a seesaw. This playful story makes learning about weight and balance a fun adventure.
- Tompert, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 03/27/1996 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)
Mr. Noisy’s Book of Patterns by Rozanne L. Williams
Mr. Noisy’s Book of Patterns is a fun story filled with illustrations that will help your preschoolers learn about patterns in everyday life. This engaging book uses easy-to-read text, rhymes, and songs to keep children interested and support their reading development.
- High-interest topics for beginning readers
- Humorous or surprise endings that children love
- Predictable story lines with repeating text to help early readers develop reading strategies and…
One Chicky, Two Chicky: A Counting Book by Cheryl Casey
Get ready to cluck-le and count with this silly rhyming adventure! These adorable chicks aren’t just learning their numbers; in the book’s first half, they’re rhyming from 1 to 10. In the second half, the fun gets interactive! Kids can test their counting skills by tapping the correct number on each page. A pop-up surprise lets them know if they got it right, making learning numbers a blast!
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Casey, Cheryl (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Picture Books in Preschool Math Curriculum
Integrating math picture books into your preschool curriculum is a fantastic way to make math learning engaging and interactive.
Our Preschool math curriculum offers lesson plans that use picture books to help teach various math concepts. These lesson plans include 80 hands-on literacy activities that integrate into the math lessons. There is a wide variety of fun games, math/counting songs, and activities based on the books’ themes. Wait until you see just how easy (and fun!) it is to incorporate literacy into your mathematics lessons.
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Product on sale*** Daily Lessons in Preschool Mathematics CurriculumOriginal price was: $135.00.$99.00Current price is: $99.00.
Preschool classrooms should absolutely be literacy-rich environments. Math books for kids can be powerful tools for igniting a lifelong love of learning. By integrating them into the curriculum, parents and educators can help preschoolers develop a strong foundation in math concepts while fostering a positive and curious approach to numbers and problem-solving.
I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
