Welcome to the Number Theory Children’s Literature page. Below are lists of books that can be used to help you further understand the use of Number Theory. Along with each book is an example of an activity that can be done to go along with the topic.  

 

Children Literature:

 

                 

1.      What Comes In 2’s, 3’s, & 4’s? 

a.       Author: Aker, Suzanne. 

b.      Illustrator: Bernie, Karlin.

c.       Description: In this book the reader is instructed to count various objects that are grouped in limited amounts. The vocabulary used throughout this text is a good reminder for young children that specific vocabulary is used for certain strands of math. This is the perfect text to be used for beginning mathematicians, or for those struggling in learning math. Counting activities can be used both in and out of the classroom, at home, to be mimicked from this book.

2.      Big Fat Hen.

a.       Author: Baker, Keith.

b.      Description: In this children’s book, the main focus is on a hen that lays eggs in quantities of two, up to the number ten. The book also includes such features as grouping objects, addition, subtraction, and comparison. Paper eggs can be cut out and laminated to make your own eggs that can be counted and used to complete math problems, should you choose, that are separate from this book.

 

 

3.      Quack and Count.

a.       Author: Baker, Keith.

b.      Description: Using song, rhyme, and alliteration, the book shows children a variety of different ways that numbers can be manipulated (by addition) to equal the number seven (7). On each page there are ducklings that the student can count to find out the many ways numbers can be added. Illustrations in this book also help guide the child in counting numbers. Older students can create their own cut out ducklings and use them for multiplication and division problems, as manipulatives.

 

4.      Ten, Nine, Eight.

a.       Author: Bang, Molly.

b.      Description: This book focuses on a young girl, and the objects that the girl counts on each individual page. The objects vary from being in the girl’s bedroom to on the girl, herself. On each page the number of objects decreases, as the student makes their way through the book. The features of certain items, like their shape and location, are described in the text. This book can also be used for geometry purposes. Older students can compare and contrast the shapes in this book, and note their characteristics on another sheet of paper.

 

5.      Mrs. McTats and her houseful of Cats.

a.       Author: Capucilli, Alyssa.

b.      Illustrated: Rankin, Joan.

c.       Description: The main character in this story, Mrs. McTats, welcomes many felines into her home. She continually allows more cats to move in with her, until she has 25 cats altogether. This book focuses on the addition of these animals, into Mrs. McTats home. It encourages students to add more than one feline at a time. Students who have already mastered addition, can attempt to see what happens if Mrs. McTats subtracts cats out of her home, or multiplied them into larger amounts. For instance, what would happen if each of her 25 cats had a little of 5 kittens!