15 Best Counting Books for Preschool: Favorite Numbers Books
Counting Books for Preschool and Kindergarten. Children gain a wealth of knowledge through play and storytelling. While flashcards can be beneficial, especially when integrated into play, pick one or two living books from the Counting Books for Preschool list to introduce numbers during story and playtime. Our preferred method for learning numbers is through play, stories, and recipes. This booklist was thoughtfully compiled with my middle daughter, who adores numbers and building. I hope you discover a favorite among these titles.
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15 Best Counting Books for Preschool and Kindergarten
1. One Duck Stuck: A Mucky Ducky Counting Book by Phyllis Root
In this delightful counting picture book, Duck finds himself with a leg trapped in the mud, and his animal friends come together to help him get unstuck
2. The Big Storm: A Very Soggy Counting Book by Nancy Tafuri
In this favorite counting book, ten woodland creatures rush to seek refuge as a storm approaches, but there is a mysterious resident in the cave. This book is fun with an unexpected twist that leads to enjoying a beautiful day.
Dark clouds started to gather. Bird flew for cover. Now there was 1 in the hill hollow.
The wind started to blow. Mouse ran for cover. Now there were 2 in the hill hollow.
3. Counting Winter by Nancy White Carlstrom
This delightful winter favorite is perfect for young readers learning to count. It features snowy poetic verses, captivating scratchboard illustrations, and a captivating story.
4. Anno’s Counting Book by Mitsumasa Anno
In this stunning book, children are invited to compare, count, and explore the development of the landscape and village across different seasons. Although this picture book has no words, the watercolor illustrations are captivating. It’s one of my personal favorites, and we often use the book alongside counting manipulatives like blocks and counting sticks.
5. The Very Berry Counting Book by Jerry Pallotta
This lovely board book introduces young readers to various types of berries while learning to count to ten. This is a fun one to accompany with Blueberries for Sal and Jamberry. 🙂
6. One is One by Tasha Tudor
1 is one duckling swimming in a dish
2 is two sisters making a wish
3 is three swallows up in the sky
4 is four sheep nibbling rye
Books are a child’s first introduction to art. This is a beautifully illustrated book by the beloved Tasha Tudor.
7. A Frog in the Bog by Karma Wilson
This is our all-time favorite frog book. This book is illustrated with splashes of moody watercolors to capture the bog. A frog, sits on a log, eating quite like a hog. He learns a lesson quickly about sitting on a “half-sunk log in the middle of the bog.” The rhyme and rhythm will have you reading it repeatedly.
8. Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins
I found this book after reading Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins, and it is just as fun. This fun book is a simple counting book (backward from 10-1) featuring farm animals and a funny storyline. I did struggle with the rhythm.
9. Turtle Splash!: Countdown at the Pond by Cathryn Falwell
This fun counting book follows ten timid turtles as they splash one by one into the pond.
10. Ten Fish by Audrey Wood
This is a fun counting book with rhyming text to help young children count from down to ten.
“Ten little fish, swimming in a line. One dives down and now there are…”
11. Baby Goes to Market by Atinuke
This vibrant story is the perfect counting book for little readers. Baby takes a bite and stores all his yummy gifts in Mom’s basket. I had to include this book on this list because it’s one of my girls’ favorite books.
12. Bear Counts by Karma Wilson
If your little one loves Bear from Bear Snores On, then this one is an excellent counting book to grab!
13. Counting Creatures by Julia Donaldson
This brightly illustrated counting book features lift-the-flap fun as young readers are encouraged to find and count baby animals.
“1 baby holding on tight as they fly through the night.”
14. Counting with Barefoot Critters by Teagan White
From reading to playing pirates with animal friends, this counting book is a great way to introduce numbers to your little readers. I love that the numbers are printed in the upper left corner and the numbers are written out in the text.
“All nine squeeze together in a fort made from scratch.”
15. 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo: A Counting Book by Eric Carle
This is a fun counting book featuring Eric Carle’s collage-like illustrations of zoo animals.
Honorable Mentions: More Counting Books for Kids
- Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews
- Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On by Lois Ehlert
- Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh (We enjoy the book Mouse Paint)
- Usborne Count to 100 by Felicity Brooks (out of print but a great find at a secondhand bookstore)
- Ten Seed by Ruth Brown (out of print but great)
- Over in the River Flowing Out to Sea by Marianne Berkes (this one is out of print, there is a board book version but I have not been able to proof it yet)
Interested in More Booklists for Kids: Check These Out!
Best Picture Books for the Letter A
View the complete Letter A Booklist {HERE}.
Best Board Books Collection
Get the board book collection {HERE}.
Favorite Fall Picture Books
Get the complete list of Fall Picture Books {HERE}.
Featured outdoor math activities
Thanks for Stopping By!
Lastly, thank you for stopping by! I hope you find a favorite counting book from the Best Counting Books for Preschool Booklist. It’s hard to pick just one from this counting booklist but if I must, I would pick Anno’s Counting Book. We use this one frequently in learning our numbers. Do you have any favorite Math picture books? Please feel free to tag me on Instagram @mudpieswithsprinkles or reply to my newsletter. My comment section is currently closed.
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HAPPY READING!
– With Great Joy, Katie
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