My Very First Book of Numbers

Author: Eric Carle

Publisher: Philomel Books

Publication Date: 2006

Genre: Concept Book

Audience: Gr. Pre K-2

Overview: This is a book that the pages are divided into halves. The bottom half has the number of fruits that match up with the top half that has the correct number.

Activity: Have cards with numbers on them and cards with pictures of fruit on them. Have the children try to match up the card with the number of fruit with the card with the numbers.

Reviewer’s Name: Erin Mazzatta

One For Me, One For You

Author: C.C. Cameron

Illustrator: Grace Lin

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Publication Date: 2003

Genre: Concept Book, Math, Picture Book

Audience: Gr. Pre-K-2

Overview: Two friends, a hippo and an alligator, learn the fundamentals of counting and the concept of sharing in this vividly illustrated book. Using familiar items, cookies and cars, the two friends learn what happens when you give and take away and the value of sharing things equally. The simple illustrations leap off of the page and excite the reader.

Activity: After reading the book, use physical objects such as cookies and cars to illustrate the math concepts of addition and subtraction and the idea of keeping things equal to share.

Reviewer’s Name: Alison Jakovics

Countdown to Spring

Author: Janet Schulman

Illustrator: Meilo So

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf.

Publication Date: 2004

Genre: Concept book, Math

Audience: Gr. 2, 3 

Overview: It is an animal counting book which starts with 10 ladybugs with opportune children illustrations. It also includes the onomatopoeic sounds of every animal.

Activity: Go outside to the schoolyard and try to find and count as animals as possible. You can also use usual items.

Reviewer’s Name: Jose Morales 

The Greedy Triangle

Author/Illustrator: Marilyn Burns / Gordon Silveria
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: 1995
Genre: Fiction, Picture Book
Audience: Gr. K-3

Overview: A triangle not satisfied with his shape goes to a shape sifter for more lines and angles. He thinks the more angles the better until he no longer knows which side is up.

Activity: Use this book to teach the students about the names of the different shapes and identify them. They also learn that shapes are all around us. The class then becomes shape detectives, make detective hats, and take clipboards to find the newly learned shapes around the school. Documenting them using tally marks.

Reviewer’s Name: Nina Penman

Inch by Inch

Author/Illustrator: Leo Lionni
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: 1995
Awards: Caldecott
Genre: Fiction Picture Book
Audience: ages 4-10

Overview: Leo Lionni uses bold collage illustrations to describe how an inch worm outsmarts his would be predators, the birds, to escape. The worm measures an intangible object, the birds' song, and cleverly inches away. In this thought-provoking tale, Lionni shows children that you don’t have to physically beat an opponent to beat them mentally.

Activity: Make collage illustrations!

Reviewer’s Name: Erin Beskid