Activities

Reading Together

Picture books can be an opportunity to develop children’s math and reading skills at the same time. Many storybooks have pictures and storylines that feature important early math concepts, such as numbers, shapes, patterns, and measurement. Talking about the math found in picture books can support children’s curiosity and enjoyment of math.

Tips for Using These Activities with Families

  • These storybook guides help parents and caregivers talk about math with their children while reading together. Each storybook guide corresponds to a specific picture book, many of which can be found in public libraries. Point out the author’s name and the title of the book so families can search for the books on their own.
  • Every storybook guide includes a description of the plot, vocabulary words found in the book, a description of the math in the story, suggested questions and comments to encourage children’s math thinking, and an activity to do after reading the book.
  • The storybook guides include suggested age ranges, but children of all ages will enjoy reading the books.
  • Suggest that parents read the storybook guide before reading the picture book with their children so they’ll know what words and pictures to point out in the story.
  • The storybook guides can be used as part of a workshop about reading and math, or as a handout to review with families. You can demonstrate how to use one of the guides as you read its corresponding picture book.
  • After parents read the storybook guide and ask their children suggested questions from the guide, help them brainstorm some math questions of their own.
  • Help parents notice math concepts, such as objects that can be counted, shapes, and patterns in their children’s favorite picture books at home.
  • After parents finish reading the story, encourage them to continue noticing and talking about the math concepts from the book in their everyday lives.
  • Families can ask their librarian for more recommendations of picture books that present math concepts in fun and engaging ways.

Many picture books have examples of math in the story and the pictures. Each storybook guide explores one of the math categories listed below. You can help parents engage their children in conversation about these math concepts by suggesting questions that parents can ask. Every storybook guide includes specific math questions about the picture book. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

  • Numbers & Counting. When reading a counting book, notice and talk about objects that can be counted in the pictures. You can ask children to count: “How many are there?” Learn more about counting.
  • Measurement. When reading a book about size or measurement, notice and talk about the height, length, width, and weight of different things in the story. You can ask children to compare: “Which one is the tallest? Which one is the widest?” Learn more about measurement.
  • Adding, Subtracting & More. When reading a book about numbers, notice and talk about the number of objects in the pictures. You can ask children to compare: “Are there more of this object or more of that object?” Learn more about numbers and addition and subtraction.
  • Patterns. When reading a book about patterns, notice and talk about patterns that repeat or grow. You can ask children to extend the pattern: “If the pattern continues, what will come next?” Learn more about patterns.
  • Shapes & Spatial Relations. When reading a book about shapes, notice and talk about examples of shapes and their properties. You can ask children to describe the shapes: “How many sides does this shape have?” Learn more about shapes and spatial relations.

Tips for Using These Activities with Families

  • These storybook guides help parents and caregivers talk about math with their children while reading together. Each storybook guide corresponds to a specific picture book, many of which can be found in public libraries. Point out the author’s name and the title of the book so families can search for the books on their own.
  • Every storybook guide includes a description of the plot, vocabulary words found in the book, a description of the math in the story, suggested questions and comments to encourage children’s math thinking, and an activity to do after reading the book.
  • The storybook guides include suggested age ranges, but children of all ages will enjoy reading the books.
  • Suggest that parents read the storybook guide before reading the picture book with their children so they’ll know what words and pictures to point out in the story.
  • The storybook guides can be used as part of a workshop about reading and math, or as a handout to review with families. You can demonstrate how to use one of the guides as you read its corresponding picture book.
  • After parents read the storybook guide and ask their children suggested questions from the guide, help them brainstorm some math questions of their own.
  • Help parents notice math concepts, such as objects that can be counted, shapes, and patterns in their children’s favorite picture books at home.
  • After parents finish reading the story, encourage them to continue noticing and talking about the math concepts from the book in their everyday lives.
  • Families can ask their librarian for more recommendations of picture books that present math concepts in fun and engaging ways.

Many picture books have examples of math in the story and the pictures. Each storybook guide explores one of the math categories listed below. You can help parents engage their children in conversation about these math concepts by suggesting questions that parents can ask. Every storybook guide includes specific math questions about the picture book. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

  • Numbers & Counting. When reading a counting book, notice and talk about objects that can be counted in the pictures. You can ask children to count: “How many are there?” Learn more about counting.
  • Measurement. When reading a book about size or measurement, notice and talk about the height, length, width, and weight of different things in the story. You can ask children to compare: “Which one is the tallest? Which one is the widest?” Learn more about measurement.
  • Adding, Subtracting & More. When reading a book about numbers, notice and talk about the number of objects in the pictures. You can ask children to compare: “Are there more of this object or more of that object?” Learn more about numbers and addition and subtraction.
  • Patterns. When reading a book about patterns, notice and talk about patterns that repeat or grow. You can ask children to extend the pattern: “If the pattern continues, what will come next?” Learn more about patterns.
  • Shapes & Spatial Relations. When reading a book about shapes, notice and talk about examples of shapes and their properties. You can ask children to describe the shapes: “How many sides does this shape have?” Learn more about shapes and spatial relations.

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