Counting Books for Kids
Counting books are a wonderful way to introduce the concept of numbers and number order to toddlers, preschoolers, and kids of all ages. Books are such a fun and interactive way to introduce the idea of counting.

Ideally, you will pair these books with interactive toys so your child will have multiple opportunities and modalities to experience the idea of numbers. Having raised two math-minded children, I can tell you that hearing, touching, and seeing numbers are the perfect ways to expand and improve your child’s language skills.
The Best Counting Books for Kids
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
The Best Counting Book for Babies
Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang – Jump to Section
The Best Counting Book for Toddlers
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle – Jump to Section
The Best Counting Book for Preschoolers
1-2-3 Peas by Keith Baker – Jump to Section
The Best Counting Book for Kids
Count on Me by Miguel Tanco – Jump to Section
The Best Holiday Counting Book
At The Old Haunted House by Helen Ketteman – Jump to Section
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Counting Books for Babies

Ten, Nine, Eight
Author: Molly Bang
Illustrator: Molly Bang
Year: 1996
Genre: Board Books
Age: 1 – 3
More info: Caldecott Honor Book
Plot
I love this counting-in-reverse story that starts with 10 toes and ends with a child tucked in for bed. This award winner has been a classic bedtime story for more than thirty years! The story features a Black father and baby which is sadly a rare site in baby books.
Why Kirsten loves it
I’m convinced this story is the reason my son is obsessed with math. The rhythmic counting is soothing and, with the calming illustrations, the perfect story for lulling your child to sleep.
Find this book in: Counting Books / Best Books for a 1-Year-Old / Bedtime Books

Countablock
Author: Christopher Franceschelli
Illustrator: Peski Studio
Year: 2014
Genre: Board Book
Age: 1 – 3
More info: Part of the Block Books Series
Plot
Because the words in this story are mostly sight words and kids are learning to recognize numbers up to 100, this makes a great first book for early readers.
Why Jackie loves it
I love this book series. It’s a fantastic board book with thick pages perfect for little hands. The illustrations hidden behind each number are so fun!
Find this book in: Counting Books

Plot
This adorable finger puppet book is interactive and fun. The repetition in this classic rhyme encourages language development and as children get older, they may start babbling along while you read.
Why Jackie loves it
The finger puppet encourages hand-eye coordination while they interact with the finger puppet on this book.
Find this book in: Counting Books / Interactive Books For Kids / Books for a 1-year-old / Books for Newborns
Counting Books for Toddlers

The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Author: Eric Carle
Illustrator: Eric Carle
Year: 1968
Genre: Board Book
Age: 0 – 5
More info: International Bestseller
Plot
There are so many things about this classic book for kids that I love. Not only can you talk about days of the week, food, and counting, but you can follow the caterpillar on his journey to becoming a butterfly. When it comes to books for 3-year-olds, this one is tops.
Why Jackie loves it
This is a gorgeous introduction to nature, food, counting, and days of the week. It’s a classic for a reason!
Find this book in: 2-year-old Books / Classic Kids Books / Preschool Books About Food / Best Board Books / Educational Books for 3-year-olds / Counting Books

Ten Little Ladybugs
Author: Melanie Gerth
Illustrator: Laura Huliska-Beith
Year: 2000
Genre: Board Book
Age: 1 – 3
More info:
Plot
This interactive book helps kids count from one to ten with little 3D ladybugs that appear on each page as you progress through the story.
Why Kirsten loves it
I love that the raised ladybugs help tactile learners so it is a multi-sensory learning experience.
Find this book in: Counting Books / Best Books for a 1-Year-Old / Interactive Books for Kids

Plot
In this counting book for a 1-year-old, adorable dogs count with barks causing a cacophony of noise.
Why Jackie loves it
Sandra Boyton makes lots of appearances on our baby lists because she GETS IT! She makes educational books for babies that are as cute as they are informative.
Find this book in: Counting Books / Best Books for a 1-Year-Old

Learning with Llama Llama: Numbers
Author: Anna Dewdney
Illustrator: JT Morrow
Year: 2021
Genre: Board Book
Age: 0 – 3
More info: Part of the Llama Llama Series
Plot
Llama Llama helps his mama clean up from a mess he made. Along the way, he practices his counting.
Why Kirsten loves it
Get your little one ready for preschool by teaching numbers with Llama Llama. Your toddler will love the cute illustrations and you’ll love that they will be learning numbers 1-10.
Find this book in: Counting Books / Llama Llama Books
Counting books for Preschoolers

1-2-3 Peas
Author: Keith Baker
Illustrator: Keith Baker
Year: 2014
Genre: Board Books
Age: 1 – 4
More info: The Peas Series
Plot
This charming story is one of the few counting books for toddlers that goes higher than 10! Count along with this onomatopoeia-filled story featuring everyone’s favorite peas.
Why Kirsten loves it
I ADORE the Peas series. The rhyming words and charming pictures lend themselves to teaching lessons to young kids in a fun way.

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons
Author: Eric Litwin
Illustrator: James Deans
Year: 2012
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 2 – 5
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Plot
Pete the Cat is back with his cool coat and its’ four groovy buttons. That is until he loses one button and only has three. As the story progresses, your child will count in reverse and learn subtraction simultaneously.
Why Jackie loves it
It’s the perfect preschool book to introduce math concepts.
Find this book in: Counting Books

One Duck Stuck: A Mucky Ducky Counting Book
Author: Phyllis Root
Illustrator: Jane Chapman
Year: 2003
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 1 – 3
Plot
One Duck Stuck is one of the most popular counting books for good reason! It’s a charming tale about a duck who gets stuck in the mud and needs lots of friends to help him get unstuck.
Why Jackie loves it
Filled with onomatopoeia and alliteration, this is a great story to enhance verbal skills as well.
Find this book in: Counting Books
Counting Books for Kids

Count on Me
Author: Miguel Tanco
Illustrator: Miguel Tanco
Year: 2019
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 3 – 7
Plot
In a home with a musician, painter, and etymologist, one little girl explains that her passion is math. She outlines finding shapes and solving word problems, as she uses math throughout her day. The end of the book features her math journal, which is cleverly placed through the illustrations. In the journal, you can see all the math that she has pointed out explained.
Why Kirsten loves it
I bought this story for my math-obsessed son. While it’s not technically a counting book, it’s a great story to show what happens when you take the building blocks of math (numbers, counting, etc) and apply them to harder concepts. I also love that the little mathematician is a girl!
Find this book in: Counting Books

Place Value
Author: David A. Adler
Illustrator: Edward Miller
Year: 2017
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 6 – 9
Plot
This book does such a good job of teaching children about place values. It breaks it down for little ones in an easy-to-understand manner that is perfect for beginning mathematicians!
Why Jackie loves it
For children struggling with learning place value, this illustrated book helps explain it in the best way!

The Crayons’ Book of Numbers
Author: Drew Daywalt
Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers
Year: 2016
Genre: Board Book
Age: 1 – 3
More info: Part of The Day The Crayons Quit Board Book Series
Plot
The crayons are back in one of my favorite counting books for toddlers. Duncan has lost his crayons so you’ll be collecting them and counting along the way.
Why Kirsten loves it
It’s such a charming addition to any toddler’s bookshelf, especially if your toddler loves the Crayons series.
Find similar books in: Books about Colors
Holiday Counting Books

At the Old Haunted House
Author: Helen Ketteman
Illustrator: Nate Wragg
Year: 2014
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 2 – 5
Plot
At the old haunted house, there are lots of monsters, witches, and other Halloween creatures. When children come and trick-or-treat, they find out the creatures are friendly and welcoming.
Why Jackie loves it
This book is fun for everyone. It’s a great story to embrace the holiday season while also teaching your child about counting!
Find this book in: Halloween Picture Books / Counting Books

Mr. Pumpkin’s Tea Party
Author: Erin Barker
Illustrator: Erin Barker
Year: 2019
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 3 – 5
Plot
Mr. Pumpkin is having a tea party and all his spooky friends are coming with items to feed each other and decorate the table. This Halloween picture book is a counting book too as it counts up from 1 to 20.
Why Kirsten loves it
I love that this book can help your little one with their counting skills while also getting them in the spooky spirit of the season!
Find this book in: Halloween Books for Kids / Counting Books

5 More Sleeps ’til Christmas
Author: Jimmy Fallon
Illustrator: Rich Deas
Year: 2020
Genre: Picture Book
Age: 3 – 6
Plot
As a child counts down the sleeps until Christmas, he talks about how hard it is to fall asleep when he’s excited. With charming pictures and a sweet story, I love this one as much as the Halloween version!
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a cute one for working on counting or for reading as a book advent calendar for the holiday season. Try starting the book on the 5th night before Christmas and only reading a few pages until Christmas Eve!
Find this book in: Counting Books / Christmas Books for Kids

Plot
I adore Carle’s straightforward, colorful style of illustration. The story features a farmer wanting snow for the holiday, which is perfect for little ones learning to count!
Why Kirsten loves it
This is Eric Carle at his finest. If your toddler loves The Very Hungry Caterpillar, they will love this story too!
Find this book in: Counting Books / Christmas Books for Toddlers

Plot
In this Hanukkah book for preschoolers, your child will learn to count to eight in Hebrew, English, and Yiddish. Be sure to add this to your counting books collection.
Why Kirsten loves it
I love the triple language exposure this book brings and it’s cool how they made the candles light each night!
Find this book in: Counting Books / Hanukkah Books for Children
Helpful Tips
- Tactical play reinforces learning. Try counting with toys while reading.
- Count in the real world. Point at apples in the grocery store or the number of cars your child is playing with.
- Ask your kiddo to count with their fingers as you read the pages.
Counting Toys
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a counting book?
Counting books are any book that introduces numbers and number order as well as counting. Counting books are the perfect way to introduce early math concepts while improving your child’s language skills.
How do you teach counting in a fun way?
Counting books are the perfect tool to teach counting in a fun way. The books that we have included in this list are both interactive and fun and the perfect way to engage your child while teaching them about numbers at the same time.
Epilogue
I found these counting books helpful when I was raising my children, but perhaps I didn’t include one you liked! Tell me below what your favorite counting books are.

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