Numbers and simple math concepts can make for several great storytimes and prepare the children before they enter Kindergarten. There are many hands-on activities you can do, from making simple number charts, to counting games, to coloring pages. Lotto style matching games are fun and easy, and help a child practice counting.
Appelt, Kathi. BATS ON PARADE. A bat marching band lines up in different formations to teach basic multiplication in this humorous rhyming story.
Cuyler, Margery. GUINEA PIGS ADD UP. A bouncy rhyme describes and ever-increasing Guinea Pig family at a school.
Dodds, Dayle Ann. MINNIE’S DINER. A funny rhyming story about doubling, where Minnie serves a group of brothers, each twice as large as his younger sibling.
Franco, Betsy. DOUBLE PLAY: MONKEYING AROUND WITH ADDITION. Chimps learn about doubling when they are on the playground in this rhyming story.
Fromental, Jean-Luc. 365 PENGUINS. A family receives a penguin each day in the mail, which soon turns into a disaster.
Horton, Joan. MATH ATTACK! Under the stress of math homework, numbers start to fly out of the brain of a young girl.
Jenkins, Emily. LEMONADE IN WINTER. Siblings set up a lemonade stand to earn money.
Maloney, Peter. ONE FOOT TWO FEET. Die-cut pages help children see in a new way in this unusual counting story.
Markel, Michelle. TYRANNOSAURUS MATH. Fifteen math concepts are introduced by a charming T Rex.
McElligott, Matthew. BEAN THIRTEEN. Two bugs try to divide 13 beans evenly.
McElligott, Matthew. LION’S SHARE. At the lion’s party, each guest takes half of the cake, until it is Ant’s turn and only a crumb is left.
Oxley, Jennifer. THE CHICKEN PROBLEM. When 100 chickens escape their coop, Peg and Cat use math to gather them up.
Reynolds, Aaron. SUPERHERO SCHOOL. Instead of learning to fly, kids at Superhero school are stuck in math class, but that comes in handy when they are attacked.
Rosenthal, Amy K. THIS PLUS THAT: LIFE’S LITTLE EQUATIONS. This fanciful book shows how addition can help make good things happen.
Also see the previous Math storytime ideas page from November 2002.