This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Any purchases made through one of our links earn us a small commission, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. All creative ideas and opinions expressed are purely my own. Read our full privacy policy and disclosure for more information.
Give a visual and auditory lesson in the foundational skill of numeracy with 15 fun counting books and videos for kids.
There are so many counting books and videos for children. These resources make it easy for kids to learn an important math skill that they’ll need for the rest of their lives! Even more important, they’ll have fun as they learn this foundational math skill.
Counting Books and Videos That Teach Kids Math
When it comes to teaching counting to kids, the right tools are needed to get the job done. These counting books and videos will help kids learn how to count in a fun and engaging way. No matter if they need to start with basic counting books or can move on videos that teach skip counting to 120, there’s something to teach every level of learner.
Teach Counting with Children’s Books
Teaching counting with books is fun and easy with the right books. This list of 10 children’s books for teaching counting includes everything needed to teach both beginner and advanced counters. Simple illustrations, brightly colored numbers, and images to represent those numbers are used to teach counting from 1-100.
1. 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo: A Counting Book
Eric Carle, a beloved children’s author, works his magic again with this counting book. In 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo, children will get the chance to learn the basics about numbers and counting. This author uses his beautiful but unusual illustrations of zoo animals to demonstrate counting to children. Children will love reading this book, not even realizing that they’re learning an important math skill.
2. Butterfly Colors and Counting
When it comes to teaching foundational counting skills, Butterfly Colors and Counting is a great book to have. This book uses vibrant illustrations of butterflies to introduce counting 1-10, as well as the basic colors. Whether it’s one red butterfly or six black butterflies, children will love counting each page as they discover a new number and a new butterfly.
3. One Gorilla
Another great counting book is One Gorilla, written by Anthony Browne. In this book, the author uses different species of primates to demonstrate numbers and counting. One gorilla is shown to demonstrate the number 1, while six gibbons are used for the number 6! Each page, children will delight in counting the animals as they start to understand basic counting skills. You can even ask them which of these animals they’ve seen, either at a trip to the zoo or even on a favorite TV show.
4. Cookie Road 123
In this book, Daisy, a bunny rabbit, bakes some cookies for her grandma and must take them to her following Cookie Road. On the way, she loses a few cookies to the wildlife. Kids will delight in following this story, counting how many cookies are left, as they discover if there will be any cookies left for grandma. What makes this counting book even better is that each cookie is labeled with a number, 1-5, and includes a subtraction equation. This gets kids familiar with counting items and recognizing numbers, as well as introducing them to the concept of subtraction.
Build an understanding of number order by putting number cards in order in rows of 10. Practice counting to 100 and learn about number patterns as you go. Click here to check it out.
5. Count the Animals
Hands-on learning is a great way for kids to learn, which is why this book is great for teaching counting. Each page is filled with animals that kids can count. It asks such questions as, “How many cats are there?” on a page filled with cats and dogs. It also has kids compare amounts of numbers with questions such as, “Are there more bees or ladybirds?” Not only do kids get counting experience, but they’re also learning more about number sense as they compare numbers to see which is more (or bigger) than the other.
6. How Many Bugs in a Box?
This pop-up book is a fun way for kids to learn counting! Each page has a box filled with bugs. With each turn of the page, a box pops open and kids are able to count how many bugs are in that box. Not only are kids getting practice counting, but the fact that each page is 3-dimensional also makes learning and counting fun! They’ll have fun counting bugs over and over again.
7. Richard Scarry’s Best Counting Book Ever
This counting book puts an educational spin on the classic Richard Scarry’s books. In this book, kids will join Willy Bunny as he learns how to count. He sees counting EVERYWHERE, from how many wheels are on a tricycle to the number of eggs on his dad’s breakfast plate. After reading this book, kids will explore the area around them, trying to find their own things to count.
8. Counting Collection: Counting Cars
Kids will have fun counting all of the different cars in this book! Each page is filled with a car collection. Kids will be challenged to search and find different items, counting them up and comparing them. This hands-on learning makes counting fun for kids, which will keep them coming back for more!
9. Goodnight Numbers
Bedtime is all about math with this book. This read-aloud story will expose children to numbers and counting. Each page has kids counting, starting with 1 and going through 5. Each page includes the number, number word, and picture to represent that number. Encourage kids to search the page for hidden numbers. They’ll be amazed at how many things they’ll find throughout the book!
10. 100 Bugs!
You might get an, “Ewwww!” reaction when it comes to 100 bugs, but with this book, you’ll see a ton of smiles. In this book, kids are encouraged to discover and count each set of bugs. The illustrations divide the bugs into two groups, demonstrating how to make 10 in different ways. For example, there are two dragonflies by one object and eight by another, making a total of ten dragonflies.
Practice finding numbers to 100 on the hundreds chart, counting to 100 as you go. Hidden picture activities such as this are a fun way to practice counting. Click here to check it out.
Teach Counting with Videos for Kids
Videos are also great tools for teaching kids how to count. It’s important to start with the basics and using repetition so that children are successful. As they progress with counting, they can start to count even further, and might even be able to start skip counting. These children’s videos for teaching counting are perfect for both the basics and for more advanced counting.
1. Counting Tomatoes
When introducing counting to kids, it’s important to start with manageable expectations. For example, you can’t expect a beginner counter to immediately be able to count to 100! That’s why this video is so fantastic for beginners. It will introduce counting the numbers 1-4, giving kids the opportunity to be successful with counting. It uses repetition and fun graphics to help keep kids interested and learning.
2. Learn to Count with Number Farm
The number farm is here to help kids learn how to count! From 1 plucky chicken to 10 moo-moo cows, kids will start by counting one farm animal and move on until they can count ten. In order to keep things interesting, the video shows clips of real farm animals for each number. Kids will have so much farm fun when they watch this counting video!
3. Learn to Count from 1-20 for Kids
This video collection is a fun and interactive way for kids to learn how to count. Children will follow along, counting 14 crocodile teeth or 5 angry bees. Since it’s a video collection, there is so much to learn and so much fun to have. Kids will beg to see this video over and over again as they become expert counters.
Practice identifying numbers to 100 with a fun, hands-on activity. Number Bingo is a fun way to build number recognition. Click here to check it out.
4. Count to 100
In this video, children will learn how to count to 100 … with the 100 dance! This song helps keep counting manageable by counting only 20 numbers at a time with each verse. The chorus is then sung, giving kids the chance to dance and get some energy out. The catchy tune will have them singing and dancing along, and soon enough, they’ll be able to count to 100 independently!
5. Counting to 120
As children progress in counting, you can start challenging them to count even higher. In this video, children will learn how to count to 120. They’ll learn important vocabulary, such as numerals, numbers, and patterns. They’ll even learn how to use patterns to skip count by 5s in order to count faster, making it the perfect challenging video for proficient counters.
Counting Classroom Resources
Help your students learn and build counting skills with comprehensive, hands-on, and fun resources. Click any of the links below to purchase a resource for your classroom.
Numbers to 100 & 1000 Second Grade
FREE Number of the Day Poster
Want to create an effective number sense routine that leads to fluency with numbers to 20? Start today with the FREE Number of the Day poster kit.
Click the image below to download your poster kit!
More Math Lessons and Ideas
PIN for Later
FREE Number Sense Email Series
Sign up for the building number sense email series filled with effective strategies, must try activities, and FREE resources to build routines in your classroom. Everything you need to help kids grow their number sense and have fun at the same time!
Leave a Comment