Diverse Read Alouds that Teach Early Math Skills

I am a firm believer in interdisciplinary teaching. Instead of teaching each subject separately, interdisciplinary teaching combines multiple subjects into a cohesive learning experience. After all, reading is utilized in all subjects, math and science go hand in hand, and history can inform almost all decisions.

This is why I am always excited to discover and share read alouds that can be used to teach different classroom subjects. This particular series is my favorite for building early math skills:

This DIVERSE series shows that all children can be mathematical thinkers. The books feature children of color using math as they play, build, and discover the world around them, and the stories feature Indigenous, Latiné, Asian, and Black representation. The back of each book also includes more information about the mathematical concept addressed.

Through this series, kids learn math, and get to enjoy a read aloud and sharpen their comprehension skills!

Find the Full List on Amazon | Bookshop, or click on the individual titles listed below:

César’s Cerulean Surprise by Jenny Lacika | Siblings César and Gabi play a game of 20 Questions to figure out which crayon César wants to borrow. Gabi asks a series of yes-or-no questions to narrow down the possibilities and figure out what color César wants.

Beto’s Berry Treasure by Jenny Lacika | Beto creates a treasure map to convince his big sister Cora to play tea party, but Cora ends up in the wrong place. This playful story introduces young readers to mapping and spatial skills while featuring Chicanx characters and a glossary of Spanish words.

Again, Essie? by Jenny Lacika | Rafael builds a wall from materials around the house to keep his little sister Essie away from his toys, but soon wonders whether it will be strong enough. This one teaches kids about physical space and geometry, and also includes a Spanish-language glossary at the back.

Lia & Luís: Who Has More? by Ana Crespo | Twins Lia and Luís argue over who has more of their favorite snacks. They use measurement, counting, estimation, and a little sharing to figure it out. Features Brazilian American characters and a glossary of Brazilian Portuguese words.

Luna’s Yum Yum Dim Sum by Natasha Yim | Luna and her brothers struggle to divide five pork buns fairly during a family dim sum outing. As they consider different ways to share them equally, young readers explore division and fractions through a relatable Chinese American family story. Includes a cultural note at the end.

Yumbo Gumbo by Keila V. Dawson | Annabelle is excited to learn how to cook gumbo with her grandparents, but the family can’t agree on which kind to make. When their vote ends in a tie, they use data and social-emotional reasoning to find a solution. Includes Louisiana Creole characters and a glossary of Louisiana Creole words.

Bracelets for Bina’s Brothers by Rajani LaRocca | Bina makes beaded bracelets for her brothers to celebrate Raksha Bandhan, using their favorite colors to create an every-other-one pattern. As she works, she discovers new things about patterns and about her brothers.

Too-Small Tyson by JaNay Brown-Wood | Tyson, the youngest and smallest of five brothers, is always trying to keep up. When the family’s pet gerbil, Swish, goes missing, Tyson uses his knowledge of doubles, triples, and size to figure out a clever way to rescue him.

Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi! by Art Coulson | Bo wants to find the perfect container for displaying his traditional marbles at the Cherokee National Holiday. With his grandmother’s help, he tests different containers to find one with the right size and capacity. Features Native characters and a glossary of Cherokee words.

Usha and the Big Dipper by Amitha Jagannath Knight | Usha and Aarti see the same stars differently. wWhile Aarti sees the Big Dipper, Usha sees the Big Digger, and their cousin Gloria sees a kite. Learn about geometry and spatial relationships while exploring how different cultures interpret constellations.

The Animals Would Not Sleep! by Sara Levine | Marco’s stuffed animals refuse to stay put at bedtime, turning cleanup into a playful lesson about sorting, classification, and empathy. Features Latiné representation.

I hope this book list is useful! Please consider subscribing for more bookish content.

Here’s to raising our young readers and future leaders~

Happy Reading,

Maya

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