Reading Together

Storybook Guide Based on La Coccinella’s “Let’s Count”

Explore math while reading and talking about this storybook.

Topic:

Activity Summary

Use this storybook guide with the book “Let’s Count.”
Many public libraries have this book.

Reading guide

About the Story

“Let’s Count” invites your child to count the animals on each page, from one to 10. The orderly arrangement of animals in rows and columns and the yellow circles on each animal help your child to count carefully and accurately. The last page introduces many ladybugs—more than 10!

Four parrots all sit together. Illustration from “Let’s Count”.

Words to Learn

MATH WORDS
one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, little, many

OTHER WORDS
grinning, toucans, chatty, slithering, fuzzy, toddling, glints

About the Math

“Let’s Count” is a counting book. When counting the number of animals on each page, your child can learn:

  • How to keep track of the number of animals. While counting out loud, your child can touch each yellow circle.
  • How to name and read the counting words in order: one, two, three, four, etc.
  • That the last number of animals counted represents the total number of animals.
Three chicks are lined up next to four chicks. Illustration from “Let’s Count”.

Math Talk During Reading

  • EXPLORE COUNTING THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS
    How many animals are there?
  • HELP YOUR CHILD POINT TO EACH ANIMAL OR EACH DOT ONCE AND ONLY ONCE DURING COUNTING
    Let’s touch each animal in order as we count slowly: one, two, three…
  • CONNECT THE NUMBER OF YELLOW CIRCLES AND ANIMALS
    Are there the same number of yellow circles as animals? How do you know?
  • MAKE PREDICTIONS
    What number do you think will come next? How do you know?
  • EXPLORE COUNTING BACKWARDS FROM 10 TO ONE
    Do you remember what comes before five? Let’s count backwards from 10!

Try to come up with some of your own questions and comments, too!

Activity After Reading

  • TALK ABOUT COUNTING EVERYDAY OBJECTS
    Let’s count the number of toys on your bed
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