Pairing math and literature together?! YES PLEASE! Anytime I can pull in literature for a math concept, I do. Why you may ask? Children’s books make tricky concepts more relatable, you can pair them with fun activities for students to do, they help connect concepts to the real world, and they can increase engagement while making students feel less intimidated by math. On this list you’ll find some of my absolute FAVORITE books to use while teaching different math skills to students!
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Books about Number Sense
1. Chicka, Chicka 1,2,3– Another classic Chicka Chicka book that helps students learn how to count in a fun way.
2. One is a Snail, Ten is a Crab– Students learn how to count numbers in an engaging way by seeing how different combinations of numbers work together.
3. Zero the Hero– A great and funny book for teaching the concept of zero.
4. 100 Hundred Hungry Ants– Teaches students about different combinations of numbers to count as quickly as possible to get to 100.
5. More or Less– Help students understand the concept of more or less. A great introduction to comparing numbers.
6. Place Value– Introduce place value with this fun book about monkeys and numbers!
7. How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten?– Who doesn’t love the dinosaur series?! Now they’ll help you learn how to count too!
8. Even Steven, Odd Todd– Learn about even and odd numbers. This also makes a great analogy for students as they begin to learn the difference between even and odd numbers.
9. How Many? A different kind of counting book– This is a great book for sparking number talks and how we all conceptualize numbers in different ways.
10. Numbers Everywhere– Students will learn about numbers in real ways!
Books about Addition and Subtraction
11. The Mission of Addition– This author does it again with another colorful and engaging book to teach students about how to add.
12. The Action of Subtraction– Just like the Mission of Addition but teaches students how to subtract.
13. Animals on Board– A great way to show students how to add and set up equations.
14. Quack and Count– Tons of combinations of seven. Helps students form and say equations using words.
15. Ten on a Twig– Show students how to count backwards from 10 in an interactive way.
16. Monster Musical Chairs– Students will learn how to take away with great visuals and an engaging story.
17. Elevator Magic– Go on a subtraction adventure on an elevator!
18. Each Orange had 8 Slices– This book is full of great questions for students to learn about while working through math problems.
19. Pete the Cat and His 4 Groovy Buttons– Pete the Cat is ALWAYS a hit. Join along for a great song about subtracting as he loses his buttons.
Books about Graphing, Measurement, and Time
20. The Great Graph Contest– Students will learn about different types of graphs in a fun way.
21. Tally O’Malley– Teach about tally marks through this funny book!
22. The Best Vacation Ever– A fun way to learn about how to ask questions, create graphs, and collect data.
23. Family Reunion– When a kid doesn’t want to attend the family reunion but surveys family members instead, he learns about collecting and analyzing data.
24. Measuring Penny– Learn about measuring in standard and nonstandard units.
25. How Long or How Wide?– A great book from the Mission Addition author. Learn about measuring in fun and engaging ways.
26. How Big is a Foot?– A wonderful story and great activity for introducing measurement to students. Grab the book and this FREEBIE activity below!
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27. It’s About Time– A fun book for learning about time and the parts of a clock.
28. A Second is a Hiccup– Teach about the concept of time with this entertaining book.
29. What Time is it Mr. Crocodile?– Check out this cute book for different times of the day. Pair it with a clock and have students practice making times on their clock while the crocodile does different activities throughout the day.
Books about Geometry and Fractions
30. The Greedy Triangle– Such an adorable book that students LOVE. A great one for teaching about different shapes.
31. Shape By Shape– Students will learn how different shapes can make an animal. Have students create their own shape animal after reading.
32. Captain Invincible and the Space Shapes– An adorable book about a space adventure full of different shapes.
33. When a Line Bends a Shape Begins– Learn about all kinds of shapes including the difference between curved and straight lines.
34. Skippyjon Jones Shape Up– Skippyjon is at it again with a book full of fun shapes.
35. Equal Shmequal– Students will begin to learn about what equal means and how to balance equations.
36. Whole-y Cow– Teach students about fractions with this silly book.
37. Give Me Half– A great way to introduce equal shares to students. Bring in some cookies and you have a great introductory lesson to fractions and equal shares.
38. A Fraction’s Goal-Parts of a Whole– Just like “How Long or How Wide?” Students will learn all about fractions in a bright and colorful way.
Books about Money
39. A Dollar A Penny How Much and How Many?– Learn about the value of coins with this adorable read.
40. Once Upon a Dime– A cute story about money growing on trees teaches students about the value of funny in an engaging way.
41. The Coin Counting Book– Students will learn about the coins and how to count them!
42. A Dollar for a Penny– An adorable rhyming story about the lessons a little girl learns from earning her own money at a lemonade stand.
43. Coin Series– Simple books that teach students about the value of coins.
There are a number of ways to utilize math books during your math block with students. You can use them as an introduction to a new topic or pair them with an activity. One of my favorite activities is pairing the Grouchy Ladybug with a clock and having students make the times on their own clock. It’s fun, engaging, and a great way to practice through literature. Check out THIS growing math centers bundle for first grade to see some great activities to pair with these amazing books. You can also learn more about the benefits of math workshop and how to get it up and running in your classroom HERE!
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