Reading storytime books before bed is an age-old activity that not only gives you quality time with your child but also provides them with lifelong learning benefits.
A study by the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital observed that children’s memory and word-meaning associations strengthen when listening to stories. Reading fosters neuron growth in the brain region crucial for future reading.
The University of Chicago study found that reading math storytime books before bedtime helps children grasp foundational math concepts, fostering genuine interest and reducing math anxiety.
Here are five great math storytime books to get you started, highlighting math concepts in fun and innovative ways.
1. Bedtime Math: A Fun Excuse to Stay Up Late by Laura Overdeck
This engaging book series provides children with math problems shaped into exciting little stories to keep your child entertained and motivated about math! Each problem showcases a story reminiscent to real-life situations, yet presents them in a way that appeals to children. This math storytime book series provides three levels for each problem, catering to children of varying math levels and ages.
2. Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews
Ten Black Dots is an amazing book to help introduce young children to basic math concepts, creativity and visual learning skills. Interactive math book motivates children to count dots on each page in whimsical settings, enhancing counting skills. The book incorporates rhymes with each illustration, creating a fun and delightful way to learn foundational math.
3. A Place for Zero by Angeline Sparagna Lopresti
Rich with wordplay, the story of A Place for Zero keeps its readers intrigued by its enticing manner of visually depicting the role of zeroes in place value. It combines math and fiction in a dynamic way, bringing numbers and mathematical symbols to life as playful and lively characters. Though heavily involving the aspects of storyline, this vibrant math storytime book brings children delight in exploring math concepts.
4. 7 Ate 9 by Tara Lazar
Laden with math puns and humour, 7 Ate 9 is a math storytime book that is enjoyable to read for both children and parents!
Captivating readers with mystery and action, math is mentioned on every page, helping children become comfortable with numbers and math symbols. The cleverly written tale incorporates math references in an amusing way, making it enjoyable for both children and parents.
5. How Much Is a Million? by David M. Schwartz
This classic math storytime book is a nostalgic favorite for parents who read it as children. Featuring Marvelosissimo the mathematical magician, this book helps children fully grasp the concept of large, complex numbers with jubilant illustrations. As numbers like a million can be hard for children to differentiate from another number like 100, How Much Is a Million showcases everyday objects like stars to help them effectively conceptualize and understand the enormity of billion, trillion, etc. – all in a fascinating artistic portrayal.
Reading math storytime books to your child at a young age, sets them on a path to math mastery. These books will bring imagination, creativity and interest in learning math, allowing children to easily absorb math concepts.
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Citations:
A small dose of bedtime math goes a long way – brookings.edu
A bedtime math story – livemint.com
Benefits of Reading to Your Child: Building a Lifelong Habit – ccaeducate.me
BEDTIME MATH: A FUN EXCUSE TO STAY UP LATE – bedtimemath.org
Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews – youngmathematicians.edc.org
A PLACE FOR ZERO: A MATH ADVENTURE – mathsthroughstories.org
7 Ate 9: The Untold Story – taralazar.com
How Much Is a Million? (Reading Rainbow Books) – readaloudrevival.com
