Interactive Storybooks
Storybooks
Reading with your child is a wonderful experience. Adding math comments and questions to your reading helps your child grow mathematically, and creates strong associations of math with this happy, cozy experience. These storybooks have ideas added in the margins to mention or discuss with your child as you read.
Preverbal
Pointing, Naming, Describing, and Asking. Start reading around 6 months. Point at things being named, described or asked about. Your child may not understand your words, but don’t let that stop you — your child is accumulating experiences and will eventually understand. Constantly count objects and describe colors, shapes, and relationships.
Beginning Verbal
Your child is starting to talk and interact with you verbally, and this will give you some simple back and forth discussions. The math includes very simple addition and subtraction ideas along with counting of small numbers.
Beginning Story Lines
These storybooks are still quite simple; however, they start having story lines that are a little more complex. The math involves counting, adding, subtracting, skip counting, and some more detailed discussions of shapes.
Story Lines
The story lines are getting ever more detailed and complex. The math involves larger numbers and the description of objects is getting more detailed and involved.
Earliest Storybooks — Preverbal
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A Very Tall Man
A very tall man adapts to his unusual length.
Animals Run Away
Four animals run away and make a home together.
Can We Count Our Cats
A boy with a lot of cats.
Cat and Dog: Dog is Cold
Dog gets cold - Cat tries to warm Dog up.
Cat and Dog and the Ball
Cat and Dog play catch with a ball.
Cat and Dog and the Butterfly
Cat and Dog chase a butterfly.
Cat and Dog and the Egg
Cat and Dog find a home for an egg.
Clever Cat
The clever cat stays home.
Colours of a Rainbow
A girl explores 7 colors of the rainbow.
Counting Animals
Count the animals at a watering hole.
Fana Loves Animals
Fana helps all animals.
Feelings
A short story about different feelings.
Friends
Five friends play games together.
Look at the Animals
The animals on a farm get hungry.
My School Clothes
A girl searches for clothes that fit.
Pendo, Our Cow
A story of a boy and his cow.
The Adventures of Supercow
A cow who is a superhero by night.
The Moon and the Cap
A boy, a cap, and the moon.
Where is Lulu?
Lulu loves books!
Where is My Cat?
A boy searches for his cat.
Storybooks — Beginning Verbal
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Akadeli’s Lucky Day
Things sometimes turn out fine in the end.
Amazing Daisy
Following a dream.
Creature with Two
Learning to accept differences.
Curious Baby Elephant
How the elephant got its trunk.
Drum
Visit the world of drums.
Fati and the Green Snake
Learning to follow a warning.
Flower Blind
A blind girl falls and bumps her head.
How Many?
A story with lots of things to count.
How the Toad got its Skin
A story explains why toads have bumpy skin.
I Love Forests
A story about a national forest in Africa.
Is There Someone Like Me?
An animal searches for an exact match.
Listen to My Body
A girl on holiday listens to the sounds of her body.
Palm Tree
A story of the many uses of the palm tree.
The Day the Sun Went Away
The Sun visits Moon and many things change.
Visiting Grandmother
Two children go on holiday to visit their grandmother.
Where is My Bat?
A boy searches everywhere for his cricket bat.
Storybooks — Beginning Story Lines
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A Dancer’s Tale
The story of the ballerina Phyllis Spira.
A Fish and a Gift
A fisherman brings home a gift for his son.
Aku the Sun Maker
A girl with long legs brings back the sun.
Cassava and Palm
A story about two important plants.
Cat and Dog Draw and Colour
Cat and Dog make drawings of each other.
Different Abilities
People with different skills.
Father’s Advice
A father’s advice about creating a home
Horses of Debre Birhan
Mistreated horses make a stand.
Hyena and Tortoise
Hyena and Tortoise look for honey together.
Little Jojo’s Long Tall Tale
Little Jojo goes on a long search.
Lory Dory
An invisible girl makes herself visible.
Maguru gives legs
Why do some animals have more legs than others.
Sun, Moon, and Water
How did the sun and moon end up in the sky.
Tortoise Finds his House
Tortoise goes on a search for his house.
Storybooks — Story Lines
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Akai’s Special Mat
Akai has a special beautiful mat that keeps her safe.
Emeka and the Old Man
Emeka does a good deed for a person in need.
Father, Son, and Donkey
A father and son find their way on a difficult road.
Keeper and his Nursery
A story about caring for orphaned animals.
Magical Rainbow River
How rainbows came to be in the sky.
Sakima’s Song
Sakima was a blind boy who could make people happy.
Searching for the Spirit of Spring
A child helps her village remember how to celebrate.
Share it Fair!
Three friends figure out how to share a cake.
Singing the Truth
The story of the singer Miriam Makeba.
Sizwe’s Smile
A smile spreads happiness on a gloomy day.
The Smell Thief
A baker discovers justice.
Who Can Count to Ten?
King Leopard searches for a successor.