1, 2, 3... by the sea

"Big waves tumble onto shore... crashing, splashing. We chase FOUR." Full disclosure: I love number books.  It was so exciting to watch both of my boys start to identify numbers, because it was the first time they really could engage with learning intentionally - and I feel like their recognition of, and confidence with, numbers opened the way to recognizing other early childhood milestones: colors, shapes, letters.

Number books still engage my boys, I think because, even though they aren't reading words yet, they can participate in the reading and predict what is coming next. 1, 2, 3... By the Sea, written by Dianne Moritz, illustrated by Hazel Mitchell, and published by Kane Miller, ticks all the boxes for me. First of all, the numbers are set in a sweet story of a boy, his mom, and their dog spending a day at the beach. It's fun, lighthearted, and celebrates those beautiful days with nothing to do but enjoy being together.

Secondly, each page has the lyrical rhythm and rhyme that is both fun to read and fun to listen to. The words are simple, which helps kids predict and fill in blanks as you go. And finally, the number identification is always fun because little kids naturally want to count whatever is happening on the page. Four waves? I can count that! Nine sand castles? I can count that, too! And, as an added benefit, the story can naturally be inspiration for your next ocean or lake trip - what can you find to count?

And of course, I can't write about a good picture book without waxing lyrical about the beautiful illustrations. Each page of this book fully immerses you in a sea scene - renting a striped umbrella, watching clouds, walking along a pier - from different angles. It's as good as being at the ocean, without tracking sand back into your house.

It's that book that whisks you off to the sea and reinforces numbers along the way.  

Book benefits:

• Clear page layout reinforces connection between numeric symbols and images to count
• Full-page illustrations make it easy to imagine your own day at the ocean
• Lyrical rhythm and rhyme help young readers predict words and follow along
• ​Interactive story time app available for iPad when you buy this book!

Order your copy of 1, 2, 3... by the Sea here! ($6.99, paperback)

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Click the pictures to see them in detail: