Do you ever find yourself looking for "educational" books when you're searching for books for kids? If you haven't shopped lately, you'll be thrilled to know that there are lots of great choices of nonfiction that DON'T resemble textbooks or workbooks!

Whether you're interested in counting to ten or learning about the phases of the moon, here are some great story-based books with math, nature, and science. There are lots of great books ... these are some of the "read-tested" favorites in our house and with Reading Tub reviewing families.

Nature and Science Picture Books - Shopping List (pdf)

Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers
• Caterpillar Spring, Butterfly Summer by Susan Hood (animal science)
• I Spy at the Zoo by Maureen Roffey (animal identification and habitat)
• The Very Busy Spider written and illustrated by Eric Carle (animal science)
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar written and illustrated by Eric Carle (animal science)

Elementary (Pre-K through Grade 3)

• Baby Owl’s Rescue by Jennifer Keats Curtis (animal rescue)
• Caterpillar Spring, Butterfly Summer by Susan Hood (animal science)
• I Spy at the Zoo by Muareen Roffey (animal identification and habitat)
• I Took the Moon for a Walk by Carolyn Curtis (moon phases)
• Kersplatypus by Susan K. Mitchell (animal science, features, habitat)
• The Time Book: A Brief History from Lunar Calendars to Atomic Clocks by Martin Jenkins (time)
• Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly by Alan Madison (animal science)


MATH and COUNTING - Shopping List (pdf)

Infant/Toddler
• Counting Kisses written and illustrated by Karen Katz (c0unting to 10)
• Ten Little Fingers, Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury (counting to 10)
• Dos Anos / Toddler Two by Anastasia Suen (numbers, counting to 2, bilingual)
• Ten Tiny Babies written and illustrated by Karen Katz (numbers, counting to 10)
• Little Quack by Lauren Thompson (numbers, counting to 5, addition/subtraction)

Preschool/Kindertargten
• 10 Apples Up On Top by Dr. Seuss (numbers, counting to 10)
• Barn Cat: A Counting Book by Carol P. Saul (numbers, counting to 10)
• Curious George 1 to 10 and Back Again by H. A. Rey (numbers, counting to 10)
• Happy Baby 1-2-3 by Roger Priddy (numbers, patterns, sorting)
• Little Quack by Lauren Thompson (numbers, counting to 5, addition/subtraction)
• Sort It Out by Barbara Mariconda (sorting, patterns, numbers)
• The Stephen Cartwright 1-2-3 by Stephen Cartwright (numbers, counting to 20)
• How Many Cats? By Lauren Thompson (numbers, counting to 20)

Kindergarten and Grade 1
• No Small Change by John Luksetich (money, counting to 1.00)
• The Stephen Cartwright 123 by Philip Hawthorn (numbers, counting to 20)
• Morris Goes to School by Bernard Wiseman (addition/subtraction)
• My Half Day by Doris Fisher (concepts - fractions)
• My Even Day by Doris Fisher (concepts - even numbers)
• One Odd Day by Doris Fisher (concepts - odd numbers)
• Tricking the Tallyman by Jacqueline Davies (counting, concepts - census, taxes, history)

Grade 2 and 3
• Last to Finish: A Story about the Smartest Boy in Math Class by Barbara Esham (concepts - math processing, test taking)
• The Monster Who Did My Math by Danny Schnitzlein (addition/subtraction/multiplication)
• Mr. Base Ten Invents Mathematics by Bethanie H. Tucker (math concepts)
• Now … For My Next Number! Songs for Multiplying Fun (with CD) by Margaret Park (multiplication)
• Sword Quest (Usborne Fantasy Puzzle book) by Andy Dixon (counting, math processing)
• Tricking the Tallyman by Jacqueline Davies (counting, concepts - census, taxes, history)

• Once you select a theme, pick books in a range of years so that the books will grow with the child's development.
• Add a personal note in the front saying "I love you" or why you selected this particular book.
• Combine the book with an activity, service, or product related to the story. See Pam Coughlan's 105 Great Ideas for Book Gifting
• Create an audio version (CD, tape, digital recording) of you reading the book.

If you can't wait for the other lists and need help now, just  send an email to buybooksfortheholidays@gmail.com. Include TERRY or PICTURE BOOK HELP in the subject line so I can find it quickly.