Counting Books for very young learners

A counting book may appear simple, yet it presents a unique challenge: engage children into two activities simultaneously — counting and reading. The reading element is what all picturebooks share: they must spark enough curiosity and delight to keep little hands turning pages, eager to discover what comes next. However, the true magic of counting books is that they reveal how deeply intertwined counting and reading truly are. We count numbers, and we recount stories. In fact, the word tell once meant to count, as shepherds used to “tell” (count) their sheep. For young children, this connection is highly meaningful. That is why counting books are more than just simple stories; they are tools that nurture attention, memory, and the joy of discovery, making them invaluable in a child’s earliest steps toward both numeracy and literacy. The best ones go far beyond simply showing “one, two, three.” They may include puzzles, hidden details, and little surprises that invite children to look closely at the illustrations. They might hide an extra animal in the corner, play with patterns, or make readers search for the “missing” object. Along the way, they also introduce an important skill:  one-to-one correspondence.

In short, counting books don’t just teach numbers — they open doors to thinking, noticing, and making sense of the world.

A lovely example is Abigail by Catherine Rayner, featuring a young giraffe who loves to count. Set in the African savanna, the story follows Abigail as she tries to count various animals — ladybirds, zebras, and cheetahs and others, but her friends are always on the move, making it a delightful challenge. Children are invited to count spots, stripes, and leaves, turning each page into both a number challenge and a playful story about persistence and joy. It’s this blend of engaging narrative and interactive counting that makes Abigail a standout among counting books.