21 Engaging Counting Books for Preschoolers

I love introducing little ones to good books. Bonus points for books that integrate opportunities to teach basic preschool skills in a non-obtrusive way.

These counting books for preschoolers, for example, focus on counting. But, they feature delightful artwork, fun themes, and favorite characters making them engaging for your little ones.

The books featured below provide an opportunity to introduce preschoolers to the concept of counting without worksheets, flashcards, or workbooks. Just snuggle up with your preschooler and one or more of these counting books, and watch them count away!

Counting Books for Preschoolers

Fill your book basket with a great collection of counting picture books. Most of these books can be found at your local library or used bookstore.

If you have a hard time finding them, you can order them through my Amazon affiliate links by clicking the images below.

San Francisco: A Book of Numbers | From the Golden Gate Bridge to seals to cable cars, there’s no shortage of bright, bold, and interesting things to count in San Francisco. Explore numbers through the best the city has to offer in this gorgeous board book!

10 Little Rubber Ducks | “Ducks overboard!” shouts the captain, as a giant wave washes a box of 10 little rubber ducks off his cargo ship and into the sea. The ducks are swept away in various directions. One drifts west, where a friendly dolphin jumps over it. A whale sings to another. But as the sun sets, the 10th little rubber duck is left all alone, bobbing helplessly on the big wide sea. Small readers and listeners will empathize with the little duck’s plight—and will rejoice at the heartwarming surprise ending.

Counting Cars | There are race cars, motorbikes, family cars, and all kinds of vehicles to discover racing across the pages of this awesome counting book!

My First Counting Book | It’s easy to learn to count with this classic Little Golden Book! The rhythmic text, paired with breathtaking animal illustrations by Garth Williams, have made counting from one to ten a joy for nearly 60 years. A must for every preschooler’s library.

One Duck Stuck | One duck is stuck in the muck. Can two fish, tails going swish, help? What about three moose, munching on spruce? Will four crickets, chirping in the thickets, be able to pull the unlucky duck out of the muck?

Mouse Count | In this charming companion to Mouse Paint, Ellen Stoll Walsh introduces the concept of counting forward and backward in a suspenseful story that will keep young readers guessing.

How Many Snails? | A series of simple questions directs young readers to determine the differences between seemingly similar objects, encouraging them to develop powers of observation, discrimination, and visual analysis. There’s plenty of opportunity to practice counting, too (but that’s just the beginning!).

Chicka Chicka 1 2 3 | 1 told 2 and 2 told 3, “I’ll race you to the top of the apple tree.” One hundred and one numbers climb the apple tree in this bright, rollicking, joyous book for young children. As the numerals pile up and bumblebees threaten, what’s the number that saves the day?

Goodnight Moon 1 2 3 | From kittens to cows to bowls of mush, the familiar images from his father’s illustrations in Goodnight Moon inspired Thacher Hurd to create Goodnight Moon 123. The same comforting images find new expression in this counting companion to the classic bedtime book, now available in a board book edition.

Steam Train, Dream Train 1-2-3 | Little train enthusiasts will love counting from one to ten along with the dreamy train cars!

Goodnight, Numbers | As children say goodnight to the objects all around them—three wheels on a tricycle, four legs on a cat—they will connect with the real numbers in their world while creating cuddly memories, night after night.

10 Little Ninjas | A charming bedtime counting book about ten sneaky little characters who aren’t ready to go to sleep… until daddy calls the sensei to send them back to bed.

How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten? | Come along for some BIG fun as your favorite dinosaurs delight young readers with their playful antics. How do dinosaurs count to ten? Over and over and over again!

On the Launchpad | A countdown from twelve to one as a space shuttle awaits liftoff. Readers are invited to find hidden numbers on an illustrated activity page.

Quack and Count | Slip, slide, leap, and dive with a family of seven lively ducklings as they get ready to fly for the very first time.

12 Ways to Get to 11 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 __ 12 What happened to 11? Is it in the magician’s hat? Maybe it’s in the mailbox or hiding in the jack-o’-lantern? Don’t forget to look in the barnyard where the hen awaits the arrival of her new little chicks. Could that be where eleven went?

Ten Black Dots | What can you do with ten black dots? One dot can make a sun, two dots can make the eyes of a fox, and three dots can make a snowman’s face. And that’s just the beginning in this unique counting book!

1, 2, 3 to the Zoo | Joyously colored animals, riding on a train to the zoo, offer youngsters a first introduction to numbers, number sets, addition and counting.

Curious George Learns to Count from 1 to 100 | George is curious about numbers! Counting to ten is easy, but can he count all the way to 100? Little ones will find all kinds of wonderful things to count as the learn alongside Curious George.

100: Lift the Flaps and Learn to Count | 100 surprises in this book… just waiting for kids to sneak a look!

How Many Bugs in a Box? | This was my oldest son’s favorite book when he was learning to count. The book is interactive with flaps to lift and bugs that pop out. Counting to ten has never been so fun!

Teaching Resources

This wooden number tracing board is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Trace with your finger, fill with sensory items, practice counting or simply play… there are so many ways to encourage number recognition with this number board!

Wooden number coins are an ideal open-ended toy for toddlers & preschoolers. Encourage your child to learn numbers and counting through play-based learning. Each set contains 21 coins – one for each number from 0-20.