Family Literacy Week might officially be over, but that’s no reason to stop celebrating numeracy-building books for young readers! This time around I’m sharing a list of diverse math-themed picture books I developed as part of a lunch and learn presentation I delivered to celebrate Family Literacy Week.
A number of the books on this list come from the Storytelling Math series from Charlesbridge, a brilliant collection of diverse picture books covering different aspects of math and numeracy with endearing characters and charming illustrations. Any of the books in this line is sure to be a great pick!
Luna’s Yum Yum Dim Sum : On Luna’s birthday, the whole family goes out for dim sum–but Luna and her brothers can’t agree on how to share their pork buns fairly. How can three people divide up five buns? Should some siblings get more than others? Or should they cut the buns into smaller and smaller pieces so everyone gets the same amount? A playful exploration of division and fractions, featuring Chinese American characters and a cultural note.
Grandma’s Tiny House : This sweet, rhyming counting book introduces young readers to numbers one through fifteen as Grandma’s family and friends fill her tiny house on Brown Street. Neighbors, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and grandkids crowd into the house and pile it high with treats for a family feast.
The Last Marshmallow : After playing in the snow, Olivia and Mei are ready for cocoa. There’s one marshmallow for Olivia and one marshmallow for Mei. But what will they do with the third marshmallow? How can two friends share three things fairly?
Bracelet’s for Bina’s Brothers : For the Hindu holiday of Raksha Bandhan, Bina is determined to make beaded bracelets for her brothers all by herself. She finds out which colors her brothers like and dislike and sets to work. Working with her every-other-one beading pattern causes Bina to discover something new about patterns–and her brothers.
Usha and the Big Digger: When sisters Usha and Aarti look up at the stars, they see different things. Aarti sees the Big Dipper, but Usha sees the Big DIGGER. And cousin Gloria sees the Big Kite! Could they all be right? A playful introduction to geometry and spatial relationships, featuring Indian American characters and a note about cultures and constellations.
Lia and Luis – Who Has More? : Twins Lia and Luís argue over who has more of their favorite snacks. Can the siblings use math–and a little sharing–to pick the winner? A playful exploration of measurement, counting, and estimation, featuring Brazilian American characters and a glossary of Brazilian Portuguese words.
Baby Goes to Market : Join Baby and his doting mama at a bustling southwest Nigerian marketplace for a bright, bouncy read-aloud offering a gentle introduction to numbers.
As this beautiful assortment of books celebrates, math is for everyone, everywhere! Are any of these on your list of favourite math picture books?