Feast for 10 by Cathryn Falwell*

 A delightful counting book that depicts a mother grocery shopping with her five children. Upon coming home, the husband greets them. The family proceeds to create a yummy meal for themselves and three other individuals. Readers can count up to ten two times throughout this story.

I love the cut-paper collage.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Dinnertime! by Sue Williams illustrated Kerry Argent**

 I loved reading I Went Walking to my sons when they were babies/toddlers. How I wish I knew about this book back then too!

Fat rabbits frolic about, not aware that a hungry fox is about to pounce. Will they escape and return safely to their burrow? The amount of rabbits decrease with each page, making the reader think they are being eaten. Quite a few surprises and clever word play occur, which will make it fun for the adult reading aloud. I like how the other animals watching the rabbits be pursued equal the amount of rabbits on the page. Plenty of opportunities to count with the child. 

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Room for Everyone by Naaz Khan illustrated by Merce Lopez*

 Musa and Dada hop onto the daladala to be transported to the shore off of Zanzibar. On the way, the generous driver continues to stop to pick up passengers carrying lots of extra "stuff". How can they fit one more person with lots of stuff?!

Humorous, appealing text layout, with counting opportunities for younger readers/listeners. A perfect read aloud book! An opportunity to learn about a new culture 

A short glossary explains some of the unfamiliar words used.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Sketchbook A to Z by Dave Kline illustrated by Craig Schaffer

" An Alphabetical beginner's guide to Pennsylvania wildlife"

With couplets, Mr. Kline describes various creatures that make their home in Pennslyvania (not all of them are "wild" like cows and goats).  Mr. Schaffer's illustrations are incredible.  A separate section that encourages counting (1-10) creatures is included.  Alliteration is utilized in the numbers section.  Some of the rhyming/word choice was a bit forced.  Animal-lovers will probably know most of the information shared.  

-Borrowed from the library.

Bird Watch by Christie Matheson*

This book invites the reader to participate by searching and counting birds and other creatures.
The illustrations are stunning! They reveal that Ms. Matheson spends a lot of time outside, observing and savoring.   They gently beckon the reader to step outside and enjoy the beauty!!
Ms. Matheson shares more facts about birding and birds in the back. 
The end pages in this book are beautiful. 
I love the quote she includes on the dedication page:
"Always be on the lookout
for the  presence of wonder."
-E.B. White
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

A Parade of Elephants by Kevin Henkes

Five elephants march along in this sweet book that promotes counting.  I utilized it to show prepositions to my sons.
-Borrowed from the library.

Roman Numerals I to MM by Arthur Geisert

Readers count farm pigs while learning about Roman Numerals.  Other math concepts utilizing Roman Numerals are integrated.
My eleven year old read this book to himself (voluntarily).
Latin is incorporated too!
-Borrowed from the library.

One Foot Two Feet by Peter Maloney and Felicia Zekauskas*

An Exceptional Counting Book
A fun counting book that introduces irregular plural.
I read this with my eight year old to begin a discussion about irregular plurals.
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book.

Five Little Ducks by Denise Fleming*

Even though I no longer have toddlers or preschoolers as children, I could not resist Denise Fleming's new book, Five Little Ducks.
Ms. Fleming takes the familiar song/rhyme "Five Little Ducks" and creates her own version which incorporates a farm and the days of the week.  Instead of the mama calling them back, the papa duck calls them back each time.
On a two page spread in the back, Ms. Fleming shares facts about each animal the ducklings encounter on the farm.   She also recommends trying to find other creatures she has incorporated in the illustrations.  
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Perfect for reinforcing names of animals, the days of the week and numeral identification.
One opportunity for inferring too!

My Bus by Byron Barton*

The main character from the book My Car , who is a bus driver, picks up  cats and dogs at different bus stops.
I love how the parent/reader can incorporate counting, adding, and subtracting  concepts with this book.
As always, Mr. Barton has a cute surprise ending.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Icky Bug Counting Book by Jerry Pallotta illustrated by Ralph Masiello*

As the reader counts bugs up through the number twenty-six,  he/she learns interesting facts about each one.
Learn the secret reason why Mr. Pallotta chose the number twenty-six.
*Highly recommend.
-We own this book.

Race Car Count by Rebecca Kai Dotlich illustrated by Michael Slack

The reader can count to ten as he/she watches numbered race cars try to win the race.
Sturdy pages and bold illustrations make this a great book for toddlers and preschoolers learning their numbers.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Christmas 1 2 3 by Eric Carle*

A simple counting book from 1 to 10 which includes objects one sees at Christmastime.
*Highly recommend.
Borrowed from the library.
Although my kindergartner is too old for this book, he enjoyed trying to find the "very hungry caterpillar" on each page.  Younger children will love this challenge too!

Counting Lions by Katie Cotton illustrated by Stephen Walton*

*Highly recommend this book because of the incredible illustrations!! At first I thought the illustrations were photographs!!  You can view the individual hairs in the lion's mane.
This over-sized book displays the animals in their majestic forms and shares interesting facts about each one.
I liked the word choice too-"surveys the golden savanna", "pluck leaves", "peaceful patterned giants", "a flash of fire and night that brings oblivion to her prey" and many more phrases!
In the back are more facts and their protection status for each animal.
*Highly recommend.
Borrowed from the library.

Little Blue Truck's Christmas by Alice Schertle illustrated by Jill McElmurry*

Out of  a stack of nine picture books this week, this is the only one I am highly recommending.
This book is simply adorable!!
Little Blue Truck picks up a load of five Christmas trees.  As he delivers them, toddlers and preschoolers can count down from five with him.  The trees are clearly labeled with numbers so this book reinforces number recognition.
Lots of other counting opportunities on each page.
The ending will make the reader smile with delight!
*Highly recommend.
My two, almost three year old,  nephew may be receiving this book for Christmas!  My four month nephew will have to wait (not sure if I can!!).
Borrowed from the library.

Kindergarten Countdown by Anna Jane Hays illustrated by Linda Davick

Lucy is counting down the days until kindergarten.
Starting at day 7, this story in rhyme offers opportunities for parents to discuss what kindergarten may be like and opens the doors for sharing feelings about this change.
I like how the number is displayed at the top of each spread and how the day of the week is shown at the bottom right side of each spread.   On the back endpaper, there is a pictograph that children can count.
A perfect book to read on the day you start counting down with your kindergartner.

Daddy All Day Long by Francesca Rusackas illustrated by Priscilla Burris*

I loved the illustrations in this book.  The cover (gasp!) is what made me suggested it to my five year old.
A plump, cheerful piglet and his father, in competitive spirit, try to outdo each other in how much they love the other one.
This book also couples as a counting book ("I love you more than chocolate milk . . .I love you more than two pancakes. . . I love you more than three piggyback rides etc. all the way to ten, then one hundred and finally one million "zillion").
Pair with Guess How Much I Love You? by Sam McBratney
*Highly recommend.
Strategy: connections (t-s)

My Mother Goose by David McPhail*

"A Collection of Favorite Rhymes, Songs and Concepts"
This collection is more didactic than some other nursery rhyme anthology (rhyme about the months, two page spread about getting dressed, ABC pages, transportation pages, days of the week, counting to 10, action words, shapes, colors, ).
It is subtly organized and ends with night time poems and nursery rhymes.  The last poem is especially sweet (but I may be biased since I have two boys!!).
Warning: One poem is about a witch on Halloween.  Don't think babies need to learn about witches. . . then again some of the nursery rhymes are disturbing!

Paddington at the Beach by Michael Bond illustrated by R.W. Alley*

Adorable illustrations accompany this classic story line.
Seagulls narrate the story and Paddington's actions.  This book can serve as a counting book too.
*Highly recommend.

This Old Band by Tamera Will Wissinger illustrated by Matt Loveridge

Cowboys (and a cowgirl!) use various tools and items around their campsite to make music all day and into the night.
A great book for music teachers to use when introducing the topic of instruments-how anything can be an instrument!
 It includes the concept of counting down to from ten to one.
The flow/rhythm was not smooth for me so I did not enjoy reading it aloud.  But maybe it was me?