CCBC booklist are compiled from books we have recommended in various editions of CCBC Choices. Most of these booklists are updated annually. You can also select books from one or more booklists to create a custom list, which can also include additional books from the CCBC-Recommended Book Search.
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Math Books You May Have Missed
©2025 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Compiled by Tessa Michaelson Schmidt
The following titles offer clever ways of understanding math concepts such as patterns, comparisons, shapes, counting, size, and opposites. In addition (pun intended), the lives of mathematicians, study of codes and ciphers, and data visualization make for high-interest reading for children and teens. For titles beyond the selections below, follow the preceding hyperlinked terms to the CCBC-Recommended book search for books with math-related subjects.
Concept and Board Books for Young Children
Big Bug
by Cole, Henry
Illustrated by Henry Cole.
Little Simon, 2014. 24 pages. Ages 3-7
Which One Doesn't Belong? Playing with Shapes
by Danielson, Christopher
Charlesbridge, 2019. 32 pages. Ages 5-9
Countablock
by Franceschelli, Christopher
Illustrated by Peskimo.
Abrams Appleseed, 2014. 96 pages. Ages 3-7
Zero Is the Leaves on the Tree
by Franco, Betsy
Illustrated by Shino Arihara.
Tricycle Press, 2009. 24 pages. Ages 4-7
Stack the Cats
by Ghahremani, Susie
Illustrated by Susie Ghahremani.
Abrams Appleseed, 2017. 32 pages. Ages 2-5
Small Medium Large: A Book about Relative Sizes
by Jenkins, Emily
Illustrated by Tomek Bogacki.
Star Bright, 2011. 28 pages. Ages 3-6
Same Same
by Jocelyn, Marthe
Illustrated by Tom Slaughter.
Tundra, 2009. 24 pages. Ages 2-5
What Will Fit?
by Lin, Grace
Illustrated by Grace Lin.
Charlesbridge, 2020. Ages 2-4
Who Jumps More? (Storytelling Math)
by Lin, Grace
Illustrated by Grace Lin.
Charlesbridge, 2023. 18 pages. Ages 3-5
Up, Tall! and High!
by Long, Ethan
Illustrated by Ethan Long.
Putnam, 2012. 32 pages. Ages 4-7
Which Is Round? Which Is Bigger?
by Mamada, Mineko
Illustrated by Mineko Mamada.
Kids Can, 2013. 28 pages. Ages 3-7
Circle, Triangle, Elephant! A Book of Shapes & Surprises
by Oikawa, Kenji and Mayuko Takeuchi
Illustrated by Kenji Oikawa and Mayuko Takeuchi.
Phaidon, 2017. 20 pages. Ages 1-3
Round
by Sidman, Joyce
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017. 32 pages. Ages 3-6
Big and Small
by van Genechten, Guido
Illustrated by Guido van Genechten.
Clavis, 2013. 16 pages. Ages 2-4
In, Out, and All Around
by van Genechten, Guido
Illustrated by Guido van Genechten.
Clavis, 2013. 16 pages. Ages 2-4
Moving Blocks
by Yonezu, Yusuke
Illustrated by Yusuke Yonezu.
Minedition, 2015. 22 pages. Ages 1-3
Math Stories and Informational Picture Books for Elementary School
When Sophie Thinks She Can't...
by Bang, Molly
Blue Sky/Scholastic, 2018. 32 pages. Ages 4-8
Look! What Do You See? An Art Puzzle Book of American & Chinese Songs
by Bing, Xu
Illustrated by Becca Stadtlander.
Viking, 2017. 38 pages. Ages 8-12
Tamales for Christmas
by Briseno, Stephen
Illustrated by Sonia Sanchez.
Random House/Random House Studio, 2024. 40 pages. Ages 3-7
King & Kayla and the Case of the Secret Code
by Butler, Dori Hillestad
Illustrated by Nancy Meyers.
Peachtree, 2017. 46 pages. Ages 4-7
Mysterious Patterns: Finding Fractals in Nature
by Campbell, Sarah C.
Illustrated by Sarah C. Campbell and Richard P. Campbell.
Boyds Mills, 2014. 30 pages. Ages 6-10
Friends Beyond Measure: A Story Told with Infographics
by Fisher, Lalena
Illustrated by Lalena Fisher.
Harper/HarperCollins, 2023. 40 pages. Ages 5-9
That's a Possibility! A Book About What Might Happen
by Goldstone, Bruce
Henry Holt, 2013. 32 pages. Ages 6-9
Martha Maps It Out
by Hodgkinson, Leigh
Illustrated by Leigh Hodgkinson.
Kane Miller, 2022. 32 pages. Ages 5-8
Babymouse: Dragonslayer (Babymouse #11)
by Holm, Jennifer L.
Illustrated by Matthew Holm.
Random House, 2009. 91 pages. Ages 7-10
Lemonade in Winter: A Book about Two Kids Counting Money
by Jenkins, Emily
Illustrated by G. Brian Karas.
Schwartz & Wade, 2012. 40 pages. Ages 4-8
Animals by the Numbers: A Book of Infographics
by Jenkins, Steve
Illustrated by Steve Jenkins.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016. 48 pages. Ages 4-12
The Lion's Share: A Tale of Halving Cake and Eating It
by McElligott, Matthew
Illustrated by Matthew McElligott.
Walker, 2009. 32 pages. Ages 5-9
How to Count to 1
by Salmon, Caspar
Illustrated by Matt Hunt.
Nosy Crow, 2023. 24 pages. Ages 4-7
Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature
by Sidman, Joyce
Illustrated by Beth Krommes.
Houghton Mifflin , 2011. 32 pages. Ages 3-9
Nothing Like a Puffin
by Soltis, Sue
Illustrated by Bob Kolar.
Candlewick, 2011. 32 pages. Ages 3-6
The World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid
by Winter, Jeanette
Illustrated by Jeanette Winter.
Beach Lane, 2017. 56 pages. Ages 5-9
Prime Baby
by Yang, Gene Luen
Illustrated by Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim.
First Second/Roaring Brook, 2010. 56 pages. Age 9 and older
Novels and Substantial Nonfiction for Middle and High School
Grasping Mysteries: Girls who Loved Math
by Atkins, Jeannine
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, 2020. 305 pages. Age 10 and older
The Woman All Spies Fear: Code Breaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman and Her Hidden Life
by Greenfield, Amy Butler
Random House Studio, 2021. 328 pages.
Mortal Fire
by Knox, Elizabeth
Farrar Straus Giroux/Frances Foster Books, 2013. 436 pages. Age 14 and older
Isaac the Alchemist: Secrets of Isaac Newton, Reveal’d
by Losure, Mary
Candlewick, 2017. 163 pages. Ages 10-14
The Cardturner
by Sachar, Louis
Random House, 2010. 352 pages. Age 13 and older
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Our Recommended Book Search includes access to CCBC-recommended titles based on subject headings created by our staff.
Please send questions or comments about CCBC booklists to ccbcinfo@education.wisc.edu.