Mathematics is an essential subject that helps children develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and logical reasoning skills. And what better way to engage young learners in math than through beautiful and captivating picture books? In this article, we will explore 20 amazing picture books about math that will not only teach kids important mathematical concepts but also spark their imagination.
- “Math Curse” by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith: In this hilarious book, a young girl becomes convinced that everything in her life is related to math. It’s a fun and relatable way to show kids that math is all around us.
- “One Grain of Rice” by Demi: This story introduces the concept of exponential growth. A clever girl outsmarts a greedy raja by asking for one grain of rice the first day, two grains the second day, four grains the third day, and so on.
- “How Much is a Million?” by David M. Schwartz and Steven Kellogg: Through colorful illustrations and playful text, this book helps kids wrap their heads around the big numbers like a million, billion, and trillion.
- “Sir Cumference and the First Round Table” by Cindy Neuschwander and Wayne Geehan: This book combines math and medieval adventures. It tells the story of Sir Cumference and his quest to build a round table using his knowledge of geometry.
- “The Greedy Triangle” by Marilyn Burns and Gordon Silveria: In this book, a triangle wants to add more sides and angles to itself, only to realize that being a triangle is special in its own way. It introduces children to shapes and their properties.
- “Mathematicians Are People, Too” by Luetta and Wilbert Reimer: This book highlights the lives of various mathematicians throughout history, making math relatable and showcasing the human side of the subject.
- “The Doorbell Rang” by Pat Hutchins: When the doorbell keeps ringing and more friends show up, two siblings have to figure out how to share their cookies equally. It teaches basic division concepts in a fun way.
- “The Grapes of Math” by Greg Tang: Tang’s books are known for their clever rhymes and visual puzzles. “The Grapes of Math” provides an interactive and playful way to practice addition and multiplication.
- “Zero the Hero” by Joan Holub and Tom Lichtenheld: Zero feels insignificant until he becomes a hero by helping out with counting. This book explores the importance of zero and place value.
- “Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll: While not solely a math book, “Alice in Wonderland” contains many mathematical concepts, such as the White Rabbit’s pocket watch and the Mad Hatter’s tea party.
- “Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13″ by Helaine Becker and Dow Phumiruk: This inspiring biography tells the incredible story of mathematician Katherine Johnson and her crucial role in the Apollo 13 mission.
- “Measuring Penny” by Loreen Leedy: When Lisa has to measure something for a school project, she decides to measure her dog Penny. This book introduces measurement and different measuring tools.
- “Mathematical Circus” by Martin Gardner: This book is filled with mind-bending math puzzles and games that will challenge and entertain young mathematicians.
- 1 “Shapes, Shapes, Shapes” by Tana Hoban: Through vivid photographs, this book encourages children to explore and identify various shapes in their environment.
- “The Icky Bug Counting Book” by Jerry Pallotta and Ralph Masiello: Count along as you learn about bugs in this visually engaging and informative counting book.
- “Beanstalk: The Measure of a Giant” by Ann McCallum and Steve Jenkins: Inspired by the story of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” this book explores measurement concepts using giant proportions.
- “The Man Who Made Time Travel” by Kathryn Lasky and Kevin Hawkes: This book introduces children to the concept of time and the fascinating history of the development of clockmaking.
- “Mummy Math: An Adventure in Geometry” by Cindy Neuschwander: Join a group of mummies as they explore the pyramids and teach geometric concepts along the way.
- “One is a Snail, Ten is a Crab” by April Pulley Sayre and Jeff Sayre: This book combines counting and multiplication as different animals show how many feet they have. It’s a fun way to introduce multiplication to young learners.
- “Math Potatoes: Mind-stretching Brain Food” by Greg Tang: Another gem by Greg Tang, this book presents math riddles and puzzles that challenge children to think creatively and strengthen their problem-solving skills.
