Reading Rockets offers a wealth of reading strategies, lessons, and activities designed to help young children learn how to read and read better. Our reading resources assist parents, teachers, and other educators in helping struggling readers build fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension skills.

Books by Theme

Count It Out

From coins to cookies, from one to one million, children learn the concept of number through play, songs, rhymes and stories. This collection of books for children ages 0-9 will introduce kids to counting using everyday objects, and make large numbers manageable by grouping them together. Whether characters are sharing food, spending money, or outsmarting predators, they bring math concepts to life by showing readers the numbers in the world around them.

  • Email this page
  • Print-friendly version of this page
Anno's Counting Book
Anno's Counting Book
By: Mitsumaso Anno
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

As a barren landscape begins to fill with people, trees, buildings, and more, readers can count the changes beginning with zero. The increasingly detailed, handsome watercolors encourage readers to counting and sort during the evolution of the countryside, much like the United States census.

Bunny Money
Bunny Money
By: Rosemary Wells
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

Bunny siblings, Max and Ruby, want to get their grandmother the perfect present. Ruby’s full wallet slowly empties as their shopping expeditions require a trip to the Laundromat, a snack and more! Young readers can copy endpapers with funny bunny money to “spend” and count along with the indomitable Max and Ruby.

Eating Fractions
Eating Fractions
By: Bruce MacMillan
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

How do two children share one banana? Cut it in half, of course! Healthy foods are shared by dividing them into in thirds and quarters in this cogent introduction to fractions. Crisp photographs and clear graphics create an appealing book to make sense of fractions.

How Much is a Million?
How Much is a Million?
By: David Schwartz
Illustrated by: Steven Kellogg
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

There are millions of people living in the United States, but the numbers are much too large to really understand, aren’t they? With the help of a mathematical magician, understandable comparisons, and animated, humorous, and engaging illustrations, huge numbers become more child-friendly and downright understandable.

Inch by Inch
Inch by Inch
By: Leo Lionni
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

A small inch worm "green as an emerald" avoids being eating by a hungry robin using his wit — and his ability to measure things. He measures other birds as well — until he escapes them all by measuring a nightingale's song. Textured collage illustrations complement the straightforward text in this modern classic.

Leaping Lizards
Leaping Lizards
By: Stuart Murphy
Illustrated by: Joann Adinolfi
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

Can 50 lizards get to the stage in time for the show to start? A frantic snake looks for the performers and gradually, the lizards leap into sight in groups of five (5) then ten (10) until all 50 are on stage. The colorful, rhyming romp is sure to encourage counting as the story builds.

One Hundred Hungry Ants
One Hundred Hungry Ants
By: Elinor Pinczes
Illustrated by: Bonnie MacKain
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

One hundred ants try to organize themselves in groups as they hungrily head to a picnic: two lines of 50; four of 25? Their efforts take so long they miss the meal, but readers will enjoy the humor! Boldly lined illustrations complement lighthearted text.

Ten, Nine, Eight
Ten, Nine, Eight
By: Molly Bang
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

This countdown to bedtime begins with "10 small toes all washed and warm" until one little girl is tucked snugly into bed by her loving dad. Richly hued illustrations, warmly detailed, combine with a straightforward text that holds up to multiple readings as well as careful examination.

The Doorbell Rang
The Doorbell Rang
By: Pat Hutchins
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

When their mother bakes a dozen cookies, Sam and Victoria plan to have six each. Then the doorbell rings — again and again! Just when it seems that there aren't enough cookies, grandma saves the day!

Proceeds from the sale of books purchased at Amazon.com help support the Reading Rockets project. Thank you!

Get our newsletters!

Follow Reading Rockets

Become a fan of Reading Rockets on Facebook! Watch our videos on YouTube Check out our podcasts in iTunes

"I am working on a Masters degree in Reading Education and I have found so much information on this site that I share with my classmates."
~ Sara K.

Reading Rockets Podcasts

Featured Sister Site

AdLit.org: Resources for parents and educators of struggling adolescent readers and writers.

AdLit.org: All about Adolescent Literacy