Math isn't necessarily a topic most kids enjoy reading about, but then there's my son who has hypernumeracy and hyperlexia and loves everything and anything to do with numbers and math. However, I encountered a problem finding math related books at his skill level. Everything written for his developmental age focused on counting up to five or ten, which he was well beyond, especially when he was a toddler. Thankfully, I have found some wonderful books over the past four years that really make learning math and numbers interesting. Or for those kids who crave something beyond the typical counting book, here is a list of books that explore really big numbers, concepts like tally marks and fractions, and/or use math and numbers to teach other topics.
This post contains affiliate links.
So, are you reading for my list of books for kids who love numbers and math? Enjoy!
Countablock by Christopher Fanceschelli
This board book was so well loved in the first 24 hours that it requires taping. Counting books for kids always seem to focus on numbers 1-10, which is fine, but when your son is hypernumerate, he craves more and more numbers. So it was a relief to finally stumble upon a beautiful counting book that went beyond 10. In fact, it goes all the way up to 100.
The Wacky & Wonderful World Through Numbers by Steve Martin, Clive Gifford, & Marianne Taylor
I bought this book for my son's 6th birthday after stumbling upon it in a book store. I have never seen my son so interested in learning about things beyond numbers and math until this book came along. Sure, now he quizzes me about the facts that he's learned, but I'm just thrilled to have a book that meets his love of numbers and meets my need to push him outside his comfort zone.
Bugs by the Numbers by Sharon Werner
I found this book in our library many years ago and regularly check it out. What's really cool is that every single bug picture in this book is made out of numbers. Alongside the number bugs are interesting facts about bugs and flaps to lift open and explore.
How Many Jelly Beans? by Andrea Menotti
This book is a fantastic way to explore the concept of how much visually. For instance, there is a giant fold out at the end of the book that shows a million jelly beans. Of course, my oldest son has loved it for a long time simply because it explores big numbers.
This book is a fantastic way to explore the concept of how much visually. For instance, there is a giant fold out at the end of the book that shows a million jelly beans. Of course, my oldest son has loved it for a long time simply because it explores big numbers.
Millions, Billions, & Trillions: Understanding Big Numbers by David Adler
Speaking of big numbers...this book definitely does the trick. I don't really like the end of the book, but my son loved it. This book was responsible for him declaring that he would like number shaped pancakes for breakfast, specifically a pancake shaped like sextillion, which as he reminded us, "Has 18 zeroes." I laughed so hard that morning.
Other books by this same author include the following, although I haven't checked these ones out yet myself.
- Perimeter, Area, & Volume
- Fractions, Decimals, & Percents
- Mystery Math: A First Book of Algebra
- Time Zones
The Action of Subtraction by Brian P. Cleary
This book is a lot of fun and my son really enjoys it. It's been awhile since we've borrowed it from the library to read, but I remember him reading this book a lot.
This book is a lot of fun and my son really enjoys it. It's been awhile since we've borrowed it from the library to read, but I remember him reading this book a lot.
How Long or How Wide? A Measuring Guide by Brian P. Cleary
Seriously, this series of books by Brain P. Cleary are a lot of fun. Just like The Action of Subtraction, my son has spent a lot of time with this book. There are many more books in this Math is CATegorical series to check out.
Seriously, this series of books by Brain P. Cleary are a lot of fun. Just like The Action of Subtraction, my son has spent a lot of time with this book. There are many more books in this Math is CATegorical series to check out.
The Numberlys by William Joyce & Christina Ellis
Another book that we check out from the library often is The Numberlys. I love the artwork in this book, as does my son. He loves searching for all of the numbers on the pages.
Tally O'Malley by Stuart J. Murphy
There are lots of other fabulous books in the MathStart series that are worth checking out, but Tally O'Malley was the first book that we read from this series. We instantly fell in love with these books. Pretty sure this book was the whole reason my son got into tally marks in the first place. Now if only I could figure out where his love for Roman Numerals came from...
Zero by Kathryn Otoshi
The main character in this book is the number zero, but I personally love the messages behind the books in this particular series.
The main character in this book is the number zero, but I personally love the messages behind the books in this particular series.
Two by Kathryn Otoshi
My son brought this book home from school while in Kindergarten and I adored it instantly! I love the entire design of the book, while he loved the number content. Again, this book has a wonderful message behind it.
My son brought this book home from school while in Kindergarten and I adored it instantly! I love the entire design of the book, while he loved the number content. Again, this book has a wonderful message behind it.
A Math Journey Through the Animal Kingdom by Anne Rooney
When my husband and I take the kids to the library, we always have a competition to see who can pick the best books for the books: the ones that the boys will read over and over every week. Well, one week, my husband picked this book. I promptly requested all the other books in this series from the library so that we could check them out. I really like these books for older children, or children with advanced math knowledge like my son, because they give practical applications for math.
Other books in this series include:
- A Math Journey Through Outer Space
- A Math Journey Through the Human Body
- A Math Journey Through Planet Earth
123 versus ABC by Mike Boldt
This book was meant for a child with hyperlexia and hypernumeracy. I mean it combines his two favorite things: letters and numbers. The book is extremeley adorable and the illustrations are bright and fun. There's so much to love about this book!
This book was meant for a child with hyperlexia and hypernumeracy. I mean it combines his two favorite things: letters and numbers. The book is extremeley adorable and the illustrations are bright and fun. There's so much to love about this book!
