NUMBERS AND MATHS
HOW NOT TO SHARE A PIZZA (Tracy Curran, Lauren Beard)
How Not to Share a Pizza! (Five Quills, 2025) is a delightful book that tackles the tricky topic of sharing with humour and heart. Through the story of Otto the otter and Ali the alligator, young readers are introduced to the challenges of fairness when two friends try to split a pizza exactly in half. As the situation spirals, the pair’s friendship is tested. But a little bit of creativity saves the day.
Tracy’s writing is playful yet informative, blending an engaging narrative with problem-solving. Lauren’s illustrations capture the charming characters and their silly pizza adventures. A great book to introduce the concept of sharing into equal halves.
A MILLION CHAMELEONS (Rachel Morrisroe, Aysha Awward)
If you’ve ever wondered what chameleons really get up to when no one's looking… this book has the answer!
From flicking-pea-leons to needs-a-wee-leons, this story is bursting with imaginative wordplay and silly chameleon fun.
Rachel Morrisroe’s clever rhyming text makes it a joy to read aloud and children will love spotting Aysha Awward’s zany characters. This is a fun twist on an animal book, that also introduces children to quantities. Children will be able to practice their 1 to 1 matching as they count the groups of chameleons on the pages.
ONE CAMEL CALLED DOUG (Lu Fraser, Sarah Warburton)
One Camel Called Doug (Simon and Schuster, 2023) is a warm, witty picture book centred around Doug - a camel who starts his day alone, imagining what it would feel like to be with others. The story takes an exciting turn when one by one, camels arrive and the counting begins! At first, Doug delights in the fun of having company. But soon discovers the joy of ‘one.’
Lu Fraser’s rhyming text feels effortless and fun. Sarah Warburton’s artwork brims with humour and light-hearted detail. Each camel is distinct - some wear legwarmers, bows and have quirky hairstyles. Throughout the story, children can practice counting and labelling the camels that join in Doug, and accompanying writing words and digits too.
As well as the counting and the giggles, the book delivers a gentle message about balance, reminding young readers that sometimes being by yourself is wonderful too.
TEN GREEN BOTTOMS (Barry Timms, Mike Byrne)
What can be better than ten green alien bottoms on a mischievous adventure on Earth!? Inspired by the nursery rhyme Ten Green Bottles, this silly and energetic book counts down from ten as the alien bottoms encounter fountains, trolleys, diggers and more.
In the end, they zoom off in their wind-powered rocket... and return for a grand finale in a surprise gatefold spread!
The rhythm and interactive visuals make this a perfect pre-school read aloud. The bright, bouncy illustrations will ensure children have fun as they read and learn.
TEN RED BOTTOMS (Barry Timms, Mike Byrne)
What can be better than ten green bottoms?
Ten RED bottoms, of course!
Count down from 10 with cheeky little red-bottomed dragons in this playful twist on the classic nursery rhyme.
Inside a lively castle, the mischievous baby dragons are learning to breathe fire, fly and chomp, causing all sorts of hilarious mayhem.
As well as the clever ‘counting’ storyline, this book is packed with silly rhymes and humour that will delight both children and adults.
365 PENGUINS (Jean-Luc Fromental, Joëlle Jolivet)
365 Penguins (Abrams Books, 2017) is a wildly funny and clever picture book that transforms a simple premise into an exciting mathematical adventure. The story begins when a family receives a surprise delivery: one penguin. The next day, another one arrives. Soon, they're inundated - one penguin every single day for an entire year! What starts as cute and quirky, quickly becomes chaotic, as the family scrambles to feed, clean and make space for hundreds of increasingly demanding penguins.
Jean-Luc’s storytelling has a dry humour, complemented by Joëlle’s bold, graphic illustrations perfect for counting fun. Both entertaining and helpful, 365 Penguins is a fabulous blend of maths, mystery and absurdity.
DO SHARKS LIKE ICE CREAM? (Polly Owen, Christina Guitian)
Do Sharks Like Ice Cream? (OUP, 2024) is a fascinating introduction to the world of statistics for curious minds aged 10 to 11.
Polly Owen uses clear, engaging language and a healthy dose of humour to explain how statistics work in the real world. Surprising facts about friendships, crime-solving and even how to win games, the book shows children how data shapes everything around us.
Cristina Guitian’s quirky, expressive illustrations bring each example to life, making abstract ideas easier to grasp.
Entertaining and informative, this book proves that statistics aren’t just numbers - they tell stories, spark discoveries, and yes, sometimes even explain shark attacks.
HOW MANY LEGS? (Kes Gray, Jim Field)
Ever wondered how many legs are in a room full of unexpected animal guests? In How Many Legs? (Hachette, 2005), a wild party unfolds when one curious child invites creature after creature - polar bears, squids, buffaloes, and more - prompting hilarious counting chaos as you try to keep up!
Kes Gray’s clever, rhyming text challenges young minds with lively, silly maths: “How many legs would there be if a polar bear came for tea?”
Jim Field fills every page with vibrant, busy, scenes that bring energy and add to the humour.
The rhythm and visual chaos makes for a fun and mathematical reading event!