Ten Little Ladybugs

by Melanie Gerth

Summary

This board counting book counts backwards from ten to one with a rhyming pattern in order to give children a new outlook on counting. As each number goes down, one of the tactile ladybugs disappears, leaving the children with the new number of ladybugs for the next page. The ladybugs slowly fly away from the group, but at the end instead of saying there are none, it states that they are all home, showing the ten ladybugs in their home on the last page of text.

Discussion

For a preschool classroom or household setting, this book is a wonderful way to help children visualize math concepts such as counting. Seeing the ladybugs disappear before their eyes gives them their first introduction to subtraction, as well as reinforcing their ability to count forward, because they can count the ladybugs on each page with their caregiver or with the teacher in a group. I used this book in a threes classroom at a preschool, and immediately all of the children recognized the book and stated that they had it at home, reinforcing my belief that it is a great book for younger children. The bright colors also attract attention to the pages of the book, with a special focus on the 3D ladybugs.

Gerth, M. (2007). Ten Little Ladybugs. New York: Piggy Toes Press.