58 Amazing Math Children’s Books for Young Mathematicians

You can count on them loving these reads.

Stephanie Sanders/ We Are Teachers

Young mathematicians often have a hard time understanding abstract math concepts. Enhancing your lessons with books about math for kids will help make connections while having fun in the process. Motivate your students while introducing new concepts, reinforcing ideas, and talking about all things math with some of our favorite books. We have you covered through the year with lots of elementary math topics using these math children’s books!

Sorting & Patterns

Book cover for The Animals Would Not Sleep as an example of math children's books
Amazon

1. The Animals Would Not Sleep! by Sara Levine

Marco needs to get his stuffed animals organized before bedtime. He tries sorting them in lots of different ways, but they just won’t settle down. Kids will be clamoring to give him ideas!

Buy it: The Animals Would Not Sleep! at Amazon

Book cover for Seeing Symmetry
Amazon

2. Seeing Symmetry by Loreen Leedy

A beautifully illustrated book about math that shows how flips, slides, and turns can create amazing symmetrical images.

Buy it: Seeing Symmetry at Amazon

Book cover for Pitter Pattern as an example of math children's books
Amazon

3. Pitter Pattern by Joyce Hesselberth

Definitely add this to your list of math children’s books to introduce patterns! This fiction and nonfiction hybrid covers many types of patterns, including simple visual patterns, sound patterns, patterns in nature, and more.

Buy it: Pitter Pattern at Amazon

Math at the Art Museum- math children's books
Amazon

4. Math at the Art Museum by Group Majoongmul

A little boy thinks his dad is telling a tall tale when he says elements of math are found in the art world. His mind is blown when he visits his local art museum with his family. Math children’s books help prove math is everywhere!

Buy it: Math at the Art Museum on Amazon

Addition & Subtraction

Book cover for Ten on a Twig as an example of math children's books
Amazon

5. Ten on a Twig by Lo Cole

Ten adorably colorful birds sit happily on a branch—until they begin to fall off one by one! Subtraction is a hard concept to introduce to young kids, but this story makes it nice and concrete.

Buy it: Ten on a Twig at Amazon

Six-Dinner Sid- math children's books
Amazon

6. Six-Dinner Sid by Inga More

If you are a cat person, you know felines are smart little creatures. Sid tricks six separate neighbors into thinking he belongs to each household, receiving six dinners every night. Will they figure out his little secret?

Buy it: Six-Dinner Sid on Amazon

Monster Math, a math children's book, works on addition and subtraction skills.
Amazon

7. Monster Math by Anne Miranda

This cute math children’s book starts with a little monster patiently waiting for guests to arrive at the birthday party. As more and more arrive, kids can use addition skills to keep track. Once there are 50 guests, Monster Mom has had enough, and they begin to leave. This, of course, lends to using subtraction skills.

Buy it: Monster Math at Amazon

If You Were a Minus Sign
Amazon

8. If You Were a Minus Sign by Trisha Speed Shaskan

This cute, colorful book meets the objective of teaching young students to comprehend their signs in math! This book is a great introduction to subtraction which is necessary to continue building on throughout students’ math careers.

Buy it: If You Were a Minus Sign on Amazon

The Action of Subtraction
Amazon

9., 10., 11.: Math Is CATegorical Series by Brian P. Cleary

Rhyming text filled with funny, countable examples introduces basic math concepts for young readers and reveals that sometimes math is easier to show than explain! Pairing clever rhyming verse with comical cartoon cats, Brian P. Cleary and Brian Gable help children add up just how fun math can be.

Buy it: The Action of Subtraction, The Mission of Addition, How Long or How Wide?: A Measuring Guide on Amazon

Money

Money Math- Addition and Subtraction-math children's books
Amazon

12. Money Math: Addition and Subtraction by David A. Adler

In this fun introduction to American currency, multiple past presidents introduce themselves and their denominations. Readers will learn about who is on each coin and bill, and what they’re worth– and how many of one it takes to add up to another.

Buy it: Money Math: Addition and Subtraction on Amazon

Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday- math children's books
Amazon

13. Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday by Judith Viorst

Alexander is given a dollar by his grandparents. As he stretches his imagination on how to spend it, count along with him. Kids will laugh while seeing the obstacles he faces along the way!

Buy it: Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday on Amazon

Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money- math children's books
Amazon

14. Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money by Emily Jenkins

Follow a brother and sister team as they set out to make some money on a cold winter’s day. While lemonade may not be the best idea for the weather, they learn a good lesson about buying and selling goods. Count along with them as they try to make a profit.

Buy it: Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money on Amazon

A Dollar, a Penny, How Much and How Many?- math children's books
Amazon

15. A Dollar, A Penny, How Much, How Many? By Brian P. Cleary

Learn all about different coins and bills in our currency system. Then count along with the help of fun rhymes and silly mathematician cat characters!

Buy it: A Dollar, A Penny, How Much, How Many? on Amazon

Geometry

Book cover for triangle as an example of books about math for kids
Amazon

16., 17., 18. Triangle, Square, and Circle by Mac Barnett

Kids love the humor and whimsical illustrations in the sassy stories in the Shapes trilogy. Great for talking about the attributes of different geometric shapes in a fun context.

Buy it: Triangle, Square, and Circle at Amazon

The Greedy Triangle- math children's books
Amazon

19. The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns 

Triangle is a busy shape! However, he is bored with the same routines. He asks the shapeshifter for another side, and goes on adventures. This pattern continues until he no longer can keep track of himself. This is a great geometry book, and it also teaches a valuable life lesson. 

Buy it: The Greedy Triangle on Amazon

Grandfather Tang's Story- math children's books
Amazon

20. Grandfather Tang’s Story by Ann Tompert

This Chinese folk tale uses tangram shapes to bring the animal characters to life. Grab a class set of tangram puzzles and have your students create the different animals in the story as you read it!

Buy it: Grandfather Tang’s Story on Amazon

Circle Loves Pi- math children's books
Amazon

21. Circle Loves Pi: A Pi Day Story for Kids by Vea Lewis 

Circle is a tough shape to measure. However, when his buddy Pi is around, circumference, volume, and area are a breeze to compute!

Buy it: Circle Loves Pi: A Pi Day Story for Kids on Amazon

Book cover for Which One Doesn't Belong as an example of books about math for kids
Amazon

22. Which One Doesn’t Belong? by Christopher Danielson

Keep the mathematical talk going by talking about attributes of shapes and how they are the same and different. Observations about the shapes on each page can go in many different directions.

Buy it: Which One Doesn’t Belong at Amazon

Book cover for Sir Cumference and the First Round Table as an example of math children's books
Amazon

23. Sir Cumference and the First Round Table  by Cindy Neuschwander

Brave knights, a strong ruler, and a dilemma that needs to be solved using math. Great for introducing geometry concepts in a fun and accessible way.

Buy it: Sir Cumference and the First Round Table at Amazon

Counting

Two of Everything- math children's books
Amazon

24. Two of Everything: A Chinese Folktale by Lily Toy Hong

Mr. Haktuk is working in his garden, when he digs up an ancient pot. He and his wife soon learn it is a magical pot. They fill their hut with gold, excited that their luck has changed. When they both fall into the pot, the real trouble begins!

Buy it: Two of Everything: A Chinese Folktale on Amazon

Book cover for How Many? as an example of math children's books
Amazon

25. How Many? (Talking Math) by Christopher Danielson

This really is “a different kind of counting book”! Each page has a thought-provoking photo in which readers decide what and how to count. If you’re looking math children’s books to get interesting number talks flowing, this is it!

Buy it: How Many? (Talking Math) at Amazon

Book cover for Billions of Bricks
Amazon

26. Billions of Bricks: A Counting Book About Building by Kurt Cyrus

Watch as this busy construction crew creates impressive structures by grouping bricks by twos, fives, and tens. Kids will love the catchy repetitive verse and charming illustrations.

Buy it: Billions of Bricks: A Counting Book About Building at Amazon

Counting on fall
Amazon

27. Counting on Fall by Lizann Flatt

As young readers journey into the natural world, they will discover that numbers, patterns, shapes, and more. The colorful, collage-style of the book will engage both children and adults.

Buy it: Counting on Fall on Amazon

Mrs. Wiggles and the Numbers

28. Mrs. Wiggles and the Numbers by Lisa Konkol

Mrs. Wiggles is the best way to introduce children to the world of math. Bold and vibrant numbers combined with catchy rhymes make it easy to keep children entertained.

Buy it: Mrs. Wiggles and the Numbers on Amazon

Pebbles and the Biggest Number
Amazon

29. Pebbles and the Biggest Number by Joey Benun

A daring butterfly travels the world searching for the biggest number in a picture book filled with fun and facts. This is an entertaining way to teach kids about numbers larger than they could even imagine.

Buy it: Pebbles and the Biggest Number on Amazon

Measurement

Cover of the book Inch by Inch is a great example of math children's books
Amazon

30. Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni

Follow the adventures of an adorable inchworm as he measures different body parts of his animal friends. When a bird threatens to eat the inchworm if he can’t measure an intangible item, he gets creative. Kids love the colorful and whimsical artwork common to Lionni’s books.

Buy it: Inch by Inch at Amazon

How tall?
Amazon

31. How Tall?: Wacky Ways to Compare Height by Mark Weakland

This wacky, laugh-out-loud introduction to height shows kids a more understandable way to understand measuring. The rhyming text makes it perfect for a read-aloud or to entertain young ones.

Buy it: How Tall?: Wacky Ways to Compare Height on Amazon

Place Value

Book cover for Place Value as an example math children's books
Amazon

32. Place Value by David Adler

Love the story about monkeys jumping on the bed? You’ll adore this version that tells the story of the monkeys at Banana Cafe making one very large banana cupcake.

Buy it: Place Value at Amazon

Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens- math children's books
Amazon

33. Sir Cumference and all the King’s Tens: A Math Adventure By Cindy Neushwander 

Sir Cumference and his friends are back! This time, they are busy working with place value and counting by tens. When tens, hundreds, and eventually thousands of unanticipated guests show up for King Arthur’s birthday, they need to figure out how to feed everyone ASAP!

Buy it: Sir Cumference and all the King’s Tens: A Math Adventure on Amazon

Area and Perimeter

Book cover for Spaghetti and Meatballs for All as an example of math children's books
Amazon

34. Spaghetti and Meatballs for All! by Marilyn Burns

Mr. and Mrs. Comfort are having a family reunion and need to arrange the tables so that everyone in the family can enjoy their fabulous spaghetti and meatballs. A witty tale by math guru Marilyn Burns.

Buy it: Spaghetti and Meatballs for All! at Amazon

Perimeter, Area, and Volume: A Monster Book of Dimensions- math children's books
Amazon

35. Perimeter, Area, and Volume: A Monster Book of Dimensions by David A. Adler

Let’s go to the movies! Find the perimeter, area, and volume of movie theater staples with assistance from a cast of cute movie monster friends. 

Buy it: Perimeter, Area, and Volume: A Monster Book of Dimensions on Amazon

Number Sense

Book cover for Infinity and Me
Amazon

36. Infinity and Me by Kate Hosford

Delightful illustrations and a dreamy young girl pondering the vastness of the universe make a very difficult concept approachable and interesting.

Buy it: Infinity and Me at Amazon

Book cover for A Very Improbable Story
Amazon

37. A Very Improbable Story by Edward Einhorn

Ethan wakes up one morning with a strange cat on his head, and the only way it will agree to get off is if Ethan agrees to play a game of probability with it. This kooky book will entertain your students as it teaches a difficult concept.

Buy it: A Very Improbable Story at Amazon

Book cover for Zero the Hero
Amazon

38. Zero the Hero by Joan Holub

Kids will love this fun story with delightful cartoon illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld that teach the importance of zero as a placeholder in our number system. Without Zero the Hero, we wouldn’t be able to count beyond the number nine!

Buy it: Zero the Hero at Amazon

Book cover for Equal Shmequal
Amazon

39. Equal Shmequal by Virginia Kroll

Mouse and her friends want to play a game of tug-of-war but have a hard time making the sides fair. This charming story teaches the concept of balance and equality.

Buy it: Equal Shmequal at Amazon

Book cover for One Odd Day
Amazon

40., 41. One Odd Day and My Even Day by Doris Fisher and Dani Sneed

Two more rhyming tales with colorful, busy illustrations that kids will love. In each of these math children’s books, a boy wakes up one day and finds that things are kookily out of order. Great as read-alouds or for independent readers who will love hunting through the detailed pictures to find the odd or even items.

Buy it: One Odd Day and My Even Day at Amazon

The cover of How Much is a Million demonstrates math children's books in a magical way.
Amazon

42. How Much Is a Million? by David M. Schwartz

Math children’s books are especially helpful when demonstrating very large numbers since it shows a visual picture. Kids love hearing about the numbers in the millions, billions, and trillions, so this book will add to the excitement. With a mystical main character named Marvelossissimo the Magician and illustrations by Steven Kellogg, this book is beyond memorable.

Buy it: How Much Is a Million? at Amazon

Telling Time

Book cover for A Second, a Minute, a Week With Days In It
Amazon

43. A Second, a Minute, a Week With Days in It: A Book About Time by Brian P. Cleary

A playful book with silly characters and perfect rhyming that teaches not just the basics of telling time, but the tricky concept of relative time.

Buy it: A Second, a Minute, a Week with Days in It: A Book About Time at Amazon

Math children's books include books about time, like If You Were a Minute, shown here.
Amazon

44. If You Were a Minute by Tricia Speed Shaskan

How long is a minute, really, when trying to make sense of time? Kids can look at a clock and read the time, but this book helps them understand what can be done in different amounts of time to build deeper meaning. It is never to early to introduce time management skills.

Buy it: If You Were a Minute at Amazon

Division and Fractions

Book cover for A Remainder of One
Amazon

45. A Remainder of One by Elinor Pinczes

The 25th Beetle Army Corp is trying to solve the problem of how to divide their troops into equal groups for the parade march without leaving any stragglers. A fun rhyming book about math that will get kids thinking about how numbers are put together and pulled apart.

Buy it: A Remainder of One at Amazon

Book cover of The Great Divide, a picture book about math.
Amazon

46. The Great Divide: A Mathematical Marathon by Dayle Ann Dodds

At the beginning of the story, 80 contestants are ready to compete in the Great Divide. Dangers lie ahead at every turn, causing more and more runners to leave the competition. Who will be left at the end and survive the obstacles?

Buy it: The Great Divide: A Mathematical Marathon at Amazon

Kids love the kids book about math The Hershey's Fractions Book because they can work with a Hershey bar during the reading of it as pictured on the cover.
Amazon

47. The Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Fractions Book by Jerry Pallotta

Incorporating math children’s books with tasty treats is a surefire way to get kids’ attention. Hershey’s chocolate bars are made up of 12 rectangles. Pass out a chocolate bar to each student. Then, use them with this book for a delicious, hands-on fractions lesson.

Buy it: The Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Fraction Book at Amazon

If You Were a Divided-by Sign
Amazon

48. If You Were a Divided-by Sign by Trisha Speed Shaskan 

Celebrate a love of language and math with this book including a whimsical cast of characters that engage curious minds. Each set of problems introduces basic concepts using simple text and enhances the learning with silly and unexpected examples.

Buy it: If You Were a Divided-by Sign on Amazon

Fractions In Disguise
Amazon

49. Fractions in Disguise by Edward Einhorn 

If you are looking for a fun way to teach your students about reducing fractions, look no further. When a valuable fraction goes missing, George Cornelius Factor (aka GCF), immediately is on the case. He knows if he continues to reduce fractions, he will eventually solve the mystery.

Buy it: Fractions in Disguise on Amazon

Math for Minecrafters- Adventures in Multiplication & Division
Amazon

50. Math for Minecrafters: Adventures in Multiplication & Division by Amanda Brack

This kid-friendly workbook features well-loved video game characters and concepts to reinforce the development of third and fourth grade math skills. Puzzles use familiar items from Minecraft like diamond swords, suits of armor, zombies, and magical potions to encourage math practice in gamers.

Buy it: Math for Minecrafters: Adventures in Multiplication & Division on Amazon

Problem-Solving

Book cover of The Grapes of Math, a picture book about math where kids can stretch their thinking.
Amazon

51. The Grapes of Math by Greg Tang

Good math children’s books hone in on problem-solving, identifying patterns, symmetry, and grouping. This one uses all four concepts to help students count in groups, instead of going one by one. Your students will think out of the box as they come up with ways to solve each math riddle. Watch the enthusiasm grow bigger with each turn of the page!

Buy it: The Grapes of Math at Amazon

Math children's books, like One Grain of Rice, help students problem-solve while learning a life lesson.
Amazon

52. One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale by Demi

In this Indian folktale, a greedy raja keeps all of the rice for himself. As the rest of the village starves, a clever girl named Rani devises a plan. She makes a deal to receive one grain of rice, doubled, for 30 days. As time passes, over 1 billion grains of rice become available for all of the villagers to share. Problem-solving, along with multiplication, are a big part of this book. At the same time, the valuable lessons of fairness and sharing shine through.

Buy it: One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale at Amazon

Book cover for Seven Golden Rings
Amazon

53. Seven Golden Rings by Rajani LaRocca

This story of a clever young boy in ancient India can be enjoyed on many levels. Bhagat must figure out how to stretch his family’s only fortune, seven golden rings, as far as possible—which leads to some creative mathematical thinking! To engage older students, use the afterword to introduce how to write numbers in binary.

Buy it: Seven Golden Rings at Amazon

Math-terpieces- The Art of Problem-Solving
Amazon

54. Math-terpieces: The Art of Problem-Solving by Greg Tang

Help students master important skills while also gaining exposure to some of the world’s most famous paintings. This book focuses on grouping numbers and creating different combinations using visuals.

Buy it: Math-terpieces: The Art of Problem-Solving on Amazon

Math Curse- math children's books
Amazon

55. Math Curse by Jon Scieszka

The main character of this math children’s books wakes up one morning, only to find she has been placed under a math curse! Follow her through her day as she faces a different math problem everywhere she goes, while just carrying on with ordinary, daily activities. 

Buy it: Math Curse on Amazon

The Chicken Problem- math children's books
Amazon

56. The Chicken Problem by Jennifer Oxley

Peg and Cat are enjoying a picnic lunch on the farm, until it is interrupted by chaos; the chickens have escaped the coop! Help them solve mathematical problems in order to restore the peace. 

Buy it: The Chicken Problem on Amazon

Problem-Solving Ninja
Amazon

57. Problem-Solving Ninja by Mary Nhin

The Problem-Solving Ninja Fun introduces pint-size characters in comedic books easy enough for young readers, yet witty enough for adults. This colorful book is perfect to teach about a growth mindset.

Buy it: Problem-Solving Ninja on Amazon

The Best of Times: Math Strategies that Multiply
Amazon

58. The Best of Times: Math Strategies that Multiply by Greg Tang

In this book, author Greg Tang takes on the times tables, teaching kids innovative ways to multiply numbers and derive answers without the need for memorization. This is one of the best math children’s books using a simple, sing-song formula to allow kids to understand clever math strategies.

Buy it: The Best of Times: Math Strategies that Multiply on Amazon

Did you love these books about math for kids? Make sure to check out Second Grade Math Word Problems of the Day.

Want more articles like this? Be sure to subscribe to our newsletters!