10 of Our Favorite Kids Math Picture Books in English and Spanish
You don't have to wait until kindergarten to teach kids math. Starting can be as easy as incorporating it into story time.
1. "Ten Tiny Toes /Diez deditos," (Ages 0-3)
By Caroline Jayne Church
Head, shoulders and 10 tiny toes. As you read, count the number of toes on the baby's feet together.
2. "Ten Little Ladybugs /Diez pequeñas mariquitas" (Ages 1-2)
Written by Melanie Gerth and illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith
You can easily turn this counting book into a song. The repetition of the storyline will have your kids singing along as you count down from 10 to one.
3. "Count on Clifford /Cuenta con Clifford" (Ages 2+)
By Norman Bridwell
With big large numbers on the pages, children can count from one to 10 with their favorite big red dog, Clifford, as he celebrates a birthday party.
4. "Count Me In: A Parade of Mexican Folk Art Numbers in English and Spanish" (Ages 2-6)
Written by Cynthia Weill and illustrated with ceramics by the Aguilar Sisters: Guillermina, Josefina, Irene and Concepción
Join a Oaxacan parade to practice counting in English and Spanish from one to 10.
5. "Opuestos: Mexican Folk Art Opposites in English and Spanish" (Ages 2-6)
Written by Cynthia Weill, featuring wood sculptures from Oaxaca by Quirino and Martín Santiago
Learn the English and Spanish words for common opposites (like arriba y abajo for up and down) with the help of some intricately carved and painted wooden animal sculptures made by talented Oaxacan artisans.
6. "Round Is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes /Las tortillas son redondas" (Ages 3-5)
Written by Roseanne Greenfield Thong and illustrated by John Parra
Discover the shapes and Spanish names for all kinds of items.
7. "Lia y Luís: ¿Quién Tiene Más? / Lia & Luis: Who Has More? /Lia y Luís: ¿Quién Tiene Más?" (Ages 3-6)
Written by Ana Crespo and illustrated by Giovana Medeiros
Learn how a little girl named Lia uses some clever math tools to show her brother how much they both really have using measurement and comparison in this bilingual book. Learn more about the author's inspiration for the book.
8. "Not a Bean" (Ages 3-7)
Written by Claudia Guadalupe Martínez and illustrated by Laura González
Take a trip to the desert to see how a Mexican jumping bean travels throughout the day and helps kids review counting one through 10.
9. "Too Many Tamales"/"¡Qué montón de tamales!" (Ages 4-8)
Written by Gary Soto and illustrated by Ed Martinez
After a tamal-making session with her mother goes horribly wrong, María tries to solve a mystery wrapped in masa. This book is available in English and Spanish.
10. "How Big is a Million? /¿Cuánto es un millón?" (Ages 5-6)
Written by Anna Milbourne and illustrated by Serena Riglietti
Pipkin sets off to find out how big a million is. On his journey, he meets a new friend and counts to bigger and bigger numbers.
