"Rooster's Off to See the World" and "The Midnight Farm"

Rooster's Off to See the World (Aladdin Picture Books)
by Eric Carle
Rooster begins a journey and invites groups of animals he meets along the way: 2 cats, 3 frogs, 4 turtles, and 5 fish. As the day fades, each group of animals decides to head for home, leaving Rooster alone once more. This book provides excellent opportunities to teach counting on, addition, and subtraction accompanied by the visual treat of Eric Carle's vibrant illustrations.


The Midnight Farm (Picture Puffins)
By Reeve Lindberg
This is a beautiful counting book that presents farm and woodland animals at night for counting (1-10) all in rhyme. The illustrations are richly colored and detailed and make darkness seem soft and cozy rather than scary.


Story Props for "Rooster's Off to See the World" and The "Midnight Farm"

"Jack the Builder" and "98,99,100, Ready or Not, Here I Come!"

Jack the Builder (MathStart 1) by Stuart Murphy
Jack is a boy playing with blocks and counting them as he builds. Instead of starting from the beginning to count how many blocks are in his construction, Jack "counts on" beginning where he left off, which can be a difficult concept for young children. Counting on is essential for efficient addition. Kids love to build and will enjoy this math lesson.


98, 99, 100! Ready or Not, Here I Come! (Hello Reader! Math, Level 2)
by Teddy Slater
Hide-and-Seek is still a popular game for children, and it presents an ideal opportunity to apply counting skills. In this story, the youngest child slowly counts to 100, and while waiting for her to get there, the older children play "speed" hide-and-seek by counting by 2's, by 5's and finally by 10's. On each page, numbers show where Maggie is on her way to 100, illustrating "counting on". No props are needed to play hide-and-seek and practice oral counting.


Story Props for "Jack the Builder" and "98,99,100 Ready or Not, Here I Come!"

"Mouse Count" and "Mouse Paint"

Mouse Count is a simple but pleasing story that lends itself to teaching counting forward and backward and counting on for addition with numbers 1-10. It can also be used to practice number word reading. Ten mice, a jar and a hungry snake interact to create the plot. Use an empty clear plastic food jar, 10 furry mice and a hungry snake for the retelling.


Mouse Paint, another story involving mice by the same author, follows the exploration of 3 white mice into the world of color as they dip into paint cans and dance in paint puddles. With 3 empty cans or cups to represent paint cans, 3 white mice, and 3 mice in primary colors, the tale can begin. You may want 3 more mice in purple, orange, and green to tell the rest of the story. Oh, and did I mention that there was a black cat?


Books and Story props for "Mouse Count" and "Mouse Paint":