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Storybook Guide Based on “Eric Carle’s 123”

Explore math while reading and talking about this storybook.

Topic:

Activity Summary

Use this storybook guide with the book “Eric Carle’s 123.”
Many public libraries have this book.

Reading guide

About the Story

“Eric Carle’s 123” is a counting book. We meet different animals on each page as we count from one to 10. Each page also includes dots that match the number of animals.

A bear, elephant, and giraffe are all in a line. Illustration from “Eric Carle’s 123.”

Words to Learn

COUNTING WORDS
one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten

NUMERALS
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

ANIMALS
giraffe, elephant, bear, hippopotamus, pig, dog, squirrel, turtle, chick, caterpillar

About the Math

While counting the number of animals, your child can learn:

  • Each animal is counted only once and matched with only one dot.
  • The last number counted indicates the total number of animals.
  • How to say the counting words in order: one, two, three, four, etc.
  • How to read the written numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.
  • The written numbers tell us the total number of animals.
A hippo, bear, elephant, and giraffe are all in a line. Illustration from “Eric Carle’s 123.”

Math Talk During Reading

  • EXPLORE COUNTING THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS
    How many animals are there?
  • EXPLORE MATCHING THE NUMBER OF DOTS AND ANIMALS
    Are there the same number of dots as animals? How do you know?
  • TALK ABOUT THE ORDER OF THE ANIMALS
    Which animal is first in line? How about third?MAKE PREDICTIONS
    If there are five animals on this page, how many animals will we see on the next page? How do you know?
  • EXPLORE COUNTING BACKWARD FROM 10 TO ONE
    Let’s try it backward! What comes before 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 how many steps we take as we walk!