Let's Count: A Full-Color Photo Book About Learning Numbers for Kids

by Tana Hoban

Over twenty-five years ago Tana Hoban stunned the children's book world with her innovative black-and-white photographs in Count and See. Now she returns to the subject, and her glorious full-color pictures add a new dimension to the excitement and fun of counting when numbers are still fresh and something to be mastered. From one to one hundred -- Let's Count!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Counting, Mathematics

48 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 1999

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple in concept, design and execution, Let’s Count is developmentally appropriate for older preschoolers and kindergartners who are learning the concepts of numbers and counting. Each two-page spread visually represents the numbers from one to fifteen consecutively, and then from twenty to one-hundred by increments of ten in several different ways. Each numeral is represented in bold yellow text against a teal background, with the name of the number spelled out in bold, capital letters, the number represented again in dots, and then again in a photograph of a corresponding image. Although, the jump from fifteen to twenty and from consecutive counting to counting by tens feels a bit jarring, and may be confusing for beginning counters, I still feel this book has immense value in terms of teaching children about numbers and the concept of counting in such a variety of visual expressions. The numerical representations are straightforward and unadorned. The bright yellow numerals are easy to see against the attractive plain field of teal, as are the spelled out words and the dots representing each number. The photographic images in the book are visually interesting and are, for the most part, images that will be recognizable and familiar in the world of a young child. When using this book with children, I would have them trace the large numerals in print and I would point out the text underneath each numeral as being the same number “in words.” Parents will also appreciate the fact that the dots are represented in groups of ten and increase from left to right and top to bottom. When using the dots with children I would have then count with me in that pattern and formation to reinforce the practice of following print from left to right and from top to bottom. We would talk about the images in the photographs and count again. When confronting the larger numbers represented in the book, I would decide how best to proceed based upon the age and developmental abilities of the child. For example, a kindergartner might enjoy a continuation of the counting practice, while I might make simple observations with a preschooler, “Wow! One-hundred is a really big number! Look at all those dots!,” rather than painstakingly forcing them to continue counting and lose interest.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

From numbers 1 to 100 (counting by tens after 20), each 2-page spread has the number, the number spelled, the number in dots, and the number depicted in items in a picture. The number is a bold yellow against a bright blue background, the number spelled is always in white, as are the dots. The dots are in sets of ten. This seems like a book a mathematician would love, yet simple enough for a child to understand the concepts.

[T.]

-- Is regarding counting;

Photographs and dots introduce the numbers one to one hundred.

Over twenty-five years ago Tana Hoban stunned the children's book world with her innovative black-and-white photographs in Count and See. Now she returns to the subject, and her glorious full-color pictures add a new dimension to the excitement and fun of counting when numbers are still fresh and something to be mastered. From one to one hundred -- Let's Count!

[Shelby Church · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book counts from one to fifteen, and then skip counts until the big finale of one hundred. Not only does the book list the number, it places the appropriate number of dots and a picture which represents said number.
I like this book, and how it shows different ways to represent a number. I like how there are photographs and not just illustrations.
I would use this book in a younger classroom.

[Rachel Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Let's Count" by Tana Hoban is about how it counts from one to fifteen, and then skip counts until the big finale of one hundred. Not only does the book list the number, it places the appropriate number of dots and a picture which represents said number. I like how this shows different way to represent and it is useful for kids to see. I like how there are photographs and not just illustrations.
I would definitely use this book at home and in my classroom.

[Lauren Voland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for counting but that's about it. It doesn't have many words. The book goes up to 100, skipping some numbers in between. One one page, it has the number then a picture of the amount shown on the next page. For example, the number 20 would be on the first page then the next one would have 20 mannequin heads. Although there's not much reading to this, it is a cool book to learn how to count because you can count things in real life rather than just dots or lines.

[Candice Mckinnon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's Count is a good, simple book for young kids who are learning how to count. It includes pictures to go along with the numbers and the print is large and very visible. The book counts consecutively up to 15, and then skips by 5 and then by 10's to 100. This may be confusing for beginning counters, but overall it is a decent counting book.

[Katie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for children learning to count. It provides the number in number form, in written form, with dots, and with objects we see in every day life such as balloons. The pages have big lettering and big pictures to help the children.

[Mary Sesar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is provides a very visual way for students to help them grasp the idea of numbers, counting, and how many of each number looks like. Starting from one, the book writes the number, puts it in numerical form, and also shows an object as many times as the number.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that this book would be a good book to help young children with counting. The pictures were not great, but still effective. This was not one of my favorites although it can still be a useful counting book.

[Joann Aubain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is very engaging numerically. After counting to 20, the book begins to count in 10's all the way to 100. Great book for teaching younger children to count beyond 10 or 20.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

older photographs. neat photographs. Count with word name, number of dots, and with picture of items.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Counting book built around photos. On the left is the numeral, the English number word, and the right number of dots (in columns of 10), with the photo on the right. It's very clear what to count, and the photos come from a variety of environments.

Pages for 1-15, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 100.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hoban books are classics - I love the (now) vintage feel of the photos.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each 2 page spread represents a single number.

We have the numeral, the word, dots representing the number (a long line of 10, so not dice/domino/10-frame format), and then a full page photo representing the number.

There are spreads for 1-15, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 100.

No rhymes, no story, just numbers and photos of things (puppies, spools of thread, crushed aluminum cans, etc.).