Countdown to Fall: Counting Books You and Your Kiddos Will Love
For many of us it’s still hot, but my calendar tells me summer is winding down. Fall is on the way! At least for those of you that get to enjoy four full seasons. (Some of us just get two: too hot and too cold. Did I mention it’s HOT in Texas right now?)
In the spirit of counting down to fall, I thought we’d take a look at some fun counting books you may want to add to your home library. They’re great for lap time and teaching your littles to count. And as a bonus, many of these also teach biblical principles. Score!
 | Let’s begin our countdown with Adam and Eve’s 1-2-3s by Christian Children’s Authors’ own Crystal Bowman and her talented daughter, Teri McKinley. Published by Our Daily Bread Publishing in 2017, it’s part of a board book series that includes other toddler basics such as A is for Ark (alphabet) and God’s Bright and Beautiful Colors (basic colors). Adam and Eve’s 1-2-3s leads children on an exciting adventure through the Garden of Eden to explore God’s amazing creation. This durable board book encourages toddlers to touch the pages and count twelve wonderful things God made—again and again. The rhythm and rhyme make it a fun, easy read your toddler will be quoting in no time. |
| A ZonderKidz 2018 counting book is Ten Little Night Stars by Deb Gruelle, who happens to be the great-great-grand-niece of Johnny Gruelle, the creator of Raggedy Ann and Andy. Ten Little Night Stars follows the bedtime routine of various animals in an interactive and engaging rhyme. Little ones count the stars along with some cuddly animal friends through bath time, story time, bedtime prayers, and more. This sweet bedtime story is the perfect way to start a new bedtime routine or help a little one who has trouble going to sleep. |  |
 | If the goal is to teach some sound doctrine while learning to count, First Bible Basics-A Counting Primer (Harvest Kids, 2017) by Danielle Hitchen is just the ticket. One of a series of board books, A Counting Primer teaches numbers 1-10 and how each number corresponds to a different theological teaching in the Bible. But don’t worry. Those theological concepts are broken down into manageable pieces for little ones. Each spread is based on scripture and provides not only a lesson in counting, but a spiritual principle on which to build faith. Other books in the series cover colors, shapes, movement, emotions, anatomy, and the alphabet. |
| A more recent offering in the learning to count category is A Little Christian’s 123s published in 2022 by Seedlings Books. Author Lila Noffsinger uses sing-songy rhymes coupled with adorable illustrations to take children on a captivating journey through different Bible stories. This sweet book is simple enough for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, but packed with truth from the Bible. Simple rhymes highlight important truths, and the big, recognizable numbers help little ones become familiar with 1-10. Best of all, they are reminded that Jesus loves them throughout! |  |
 | Little Ewe: The Story of One Lost Sheep (Beaming Books, 2021) by Laura Sassi is another biblically based counting book, but this one is based on a single parable—the good shepherd. In it a mischievous little lamb would rather jump on logs and investigate spider webs than follow the shepherd when he calls. It isn’t long before she’s lost, and it’s up to the patient shepherd to find her. Told in whimsical rhyme, this humorous counting book for our littlest ones is a delightful reminder that, like a loving parent, our Shepherd will find us and care for us, even when we wander from the path. |
| When lap time calls for a silly, boisterous read, Michelle Medlock Adams (one of our own Christian Children’s Authors) offers Counting Cows published by CandyCane Press in 2010. Although it doesn’t contain any biblical principles, it does provide a rollicking good time counting some crazy cows. One warning though: not recommended for bedtime since it’s likely to having you mooooving to a moo cow beat before it’s all over. Counting Cows is just for fun. |  |
 | And finally, my Jewish friend Nancy Churnin’s book Counting on Shabbat is coming this fall in November from Kar-Ben Publishing. It’s a lovely way to introduce your child to the Jewish day of rest—the Sabbath. Shabbat brings 1 table, 2 candles, and 3 braids in the challah, kittens waiting to be fed, friends knocking at the door, smiles all around, and more. You and your child can count from 1 to 10 as you learn about the traditions of Shabbat. |
All the books mentioned here are great ways to introduce and teach basic counting skills. More importantly, they offer opportunities for one-on-one time with your little one. And that’s something that counts for more than just numbers.
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Wendy Hinote Lanier is a former elementary teacher, author, Texan, and CLASS certified speaker who writes and speaks on a variety of topics for children and adults. She is the author of more than 45 books for children on topics related to science, technology, social studies, and the arts.