Goodnight, Numbers

by Danica McKellar, Alicia Padrón (Illustrator)

A New York Times bestselling bedtime story with a math twist from Danica McKellar (well-known for her roles on The Wonder Years and The West Wing, and acclaimed author of multiple popular math books)--which sneaks in secret counting concepts on each page to help make your child smarter!

This deceptively simple bedtime book, the first in the McKellar Math line, gives your child the building blocks for math success. As children say goodnight to the objects all around them--three wheels on a tricycle, four legs on a cat--they will connect with the real numbers in their world while creating cuddly memories, night after night.

Actress, math whiz, and New York Times bestselling author Danica McKellar uses her proven math success to show children that loving numbers is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

"The joys of counting combine with pretty art and homage to Goodnight Moon ." --Kirkus

"McKellar brings her enthusiasm for mathematics to a younger crowd in this gentle and well-executed counting book." --Publishers Weekly

"A similarly simple, quiet feel as Margaret Wise Brown's iconic Goodnight Moon...there is a lot to count on." -Booklist

"A winner for bedtimes or storytimes focusing on counting." --School Library Journal

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Counting, Mathematics, Storytime, Fiction, Number

30 pages, Board Book

First published March 7, 2017

About the author

American actress and mathematician.

She is best known for her role as Winnie Cooper in the television show The Wonder Years.
Now she is known as author of the nationally bestselling book, Math Doesn't Suck, which encourages and empowers middle-school girls with mathematics know-how.
Math Doesn't Suck was so popular McKellar wrote more novels about math, including Kiss My Math and Hot X. She also wrote a sequel to Math Doesn't Suck for years 6 through 9.
McKellar shows many people that just because you are an actor, that doesn't mean you are stupid. Although she is best known through The Wonder Years, that doesn't mean she isn't a wonderful writer and great mathematician.

Reviews

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodnight Numbers is a board book for young readers by actor, mathematician and author, Danica McKellar. The charming illustrations are by Alicia Padron. The book takes the reader through the natural evening progression: finishing the evening meal, cleaning up afterwards, tidying away toys, getting ready for the bath, bathing, putting on nightwear, brushing teeth, bedtime story, getting settled in bed and going to sleep. As the pages are turned, the numbers from One to Ten feature prominently, in numbers, in letters and in objects that are there for the counting. A sweet and gentle winding down for the night with great educational value. Delightful!

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: 1 One Goodnight, one fork. Goodnight, one spoon. Goodnight, one bowl. I'll see you soon. 2 Two Goodnight, two hands. Goodnight, two feet. Goodnight, two ears, so small and sweet.

Premise/plot: This is a bedtime-themed, counting-concept, celebrity-authored picture book. As the day comes to an end, and bedtime approaches, it's time to say goodnight to essentially anything and everything. Note: This isn't one family getting ready for bed, but MANY families getting ready for bed. Readers sees mothers, fathers, daughters, sons. (Various skin colors too.)

My thoughts: I think a lot of thought went into this "simple" book. Take a look at the endpapers, for example. The endpapers show little ones (and parents) ten different ways to express each number 1-10. The illustrator includes lots of images for counting on each spread--going beyond items listed in the text itself. One thing found on every spread is a ten-frame not-so-loosely-disguised as a picture frame. The author includes a note on how to get more from the text as well.

It's a cozy representation of numbers in many ways. All around us, every minute of the day, numbers just ARE. Each spread--each scene--is ordinary in every way.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book that highlights the numbers all around us. Love the pages with the numbers in different languages and representations in the front and back.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has rapidly become a new favorite in our house. Shortcake loves reading about numbers and the pages at the front and back with numbers in various languages from around the globe is a huge hit. I have a feeling this is one that will be in our rotation for a long time.

[Lacy | literary_lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was cute and educational. I enjoyed it more than my daughter did, through.

I liked the educational element of this book because it was delivered in a cute, fun way. It helps to teach children numbers, and the illustrations are adorable.

This book wasn’t very interactive because it’s a bedtime story, but my daughter was way too wound up at the time to really appreciate this book.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent number/counting book for children. The illustrations contain many objects to count, and the numbers are highlighted. It would be nice to read for a numbers storytime, and could be used to point out many numbers.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet little counting book, perfect for bedtime. The detailed illustrations draw the eye without being overwhelming, the family depicted looks happy in their cozy little home. My 4 year old granddaughter loves to count, can already easily count past 100 so this was a little too easy for her, but for me, well, it's probably just about my level. Ha! Ha!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent counting book!

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet bedtime numbers book with lots to look at and point out (great for repetition) and nice, soft illustrations.

[Viviane Elbee]

Rhyming counting bedtime book for kids, with child saying goodnight to everything while preparing to go to sleep.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that almost everything on the page is in the amount of the number being represented! The used of a ten frame as a picture hanging in each page is a great idea to get children introduced to that way of seeing numbers since it is what they will be taught with in school. I do wish the story itself had a little more to it but overall I love the idea and would recommend to parents, pre-k/kindergarten teachers, and librarians looking for number books 1-10.

[Sharlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my daughter before she went down for a nap. She’s only a 1 year old, but she knows her numbers to 4 so far. She sat there and listened while I read the book. I read from my phone as I downloaded the book from the library. I know for sure that it would be a way better experience reading a physical copy. Great story. Great way to learn. Beautifully illustrated.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet story with gorgeous illustrations! I love the early numeracy and the notes to parents and caregivers. I can't wait to use it at story time.
Full disclosure: I received this eARC from Edelweiss.

[Marc Blunk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture book - Counting.
Goodnight Numbers, by Danica McKellar, Illustrated by Alicia Pardon.

Good night numbers is a courting picture book. From inspection of the cover, the jacket is a mirror image of the front and back covers. Its end pages include numbers one through five in the front and six through ten in the rear end pages. The numbers are expressed in different ways and languages, as digits, as Roman numerals, as tally marks, as circles, and so on. The cover both front and back feature different mothers putting a child to bed with numbers around them and a lavender theme, for sleepy time. The back cover says "there's numbers all around us..... just snuggle up and see!" (McKellar).

In this whimsical and rhyming tale, we say goodnight to the numbers in sequence from one to ten in various situations throughout a child's day. The language is simple enough for most beginning readers. I'll mention here a few of my favorite lines from the book. "Good night one fork, good night one spoon, good night one bowl, I'll see you soon!" "Good night seven days, good night whole week, good night seven teeth so clean they squeak" (McKellar). In the end, there is a note to parents so obviously the author intends for this book to be read to the child, and later passed on for them to discover independently. I enjoyed how for each page, the number was shown as a digit, and as a word. This book will be great for anyone wanting to teach numbers to their child. Age recommendation fornthor this title is birth-1st grade. From playtime to bath time, the illustrator did a fantastic job telling the story without being literal to the rhymes. This book is told in the style of double page layout. Both these things make the story book more fascinating because you can stop and look at the pictures and evaluate what is going on "behind the scenes" so-to-speak, in each situation. Goodnight Numbers would be an excellent bedtime ritual for those just learning their numbers. Speaking of good night numbers, it's nearly time for bed. Good night, good reads!

[Mama Bibliosoph · Rating 4 out of 5]

With pleasant (but ultimately forgettable) rhyming text, the numbers one through ten are each introduced as we go through the bedtime routine (dinner, toy clean up, bath, pajamas, brushing teeth, bedtime story, etc.). Each page reveals a different parent and child, showcasing careful diversity in gender in race. Numerals are also written as sight words and their meaning is shown illustratively: sides of shapes, pattern recognition, rote counting of items, time, and in terms of categories. Finding all the expressions of each number in a scene requires attention and scanning--great for kids who visually stim or are hyposenstive to visual input (like my son Harry), but also for kids with attention and attending issues who are reinforced by numbers and counting (like my son Luke).

Goodnight, Numbers promotes vocabulary expansion of common household objects and actions. It also functions as a bedtime routine social story. The format is perfect for confidence building in pre-math skills; a child knows the theme (number) for each page, so they already know the correct answer to "How many ducks are there?", for example, and can easily self-correct as they count. The natural, slow build from one to ten is helpful practice as the difficulty bar is raised.

(Disclosure: I requested an advance copy of this book for review purposes from the publisher.)

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I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer two-part blog post about the best 2017 releases: http://www.lineupthebooks.com/2017-ch...

[George Rojas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book by Danica McKellar, illustrated by Alicia Padron focuses on children’s bedtime routines to teach them about numbers. It rhymes numbers with the specific actions that children do before getting ready for to bed such as eat, wash their hands, play, shower, wash their teeth, and etc. In addition to this, the picture book has an underlying message of responsibility as the babies in the images learn to prepare themselves for bedtime. There are also several images that show families of different ethnic backgrounds participating in the same bedtime routines. This adds ethnic representation to the concept if numbers in children’s books because the families in each image are noticeably all different in ethnicity. The decision of Padron to illustrate each family of different ethnic backgrounds is important to the significance of ethnic representation in children’s books. In an article published by Nancy Larrick in 1965 she address how children’s books of that time exclude African American children (“The All-White World of Children’s Books, pg. 62). The lack of ethnic representation is a problem that children’s book should strive to resolve. Children of all ethnic backgrounds should be able to see themselves in the books that are meant for them. One thing this book does by combining numbers with bedtime routines is show families of different ethnic backgrounds share the same bedtime experience/routine. Through numbers all children of different ethnicities learn how bedtime routines are not just done by White families, but rather everyone.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quite simply my favourite children's book of all time. It exists at a very rare intersection of mathematics, art and language, with each expressed with both academic brilliance and true human tenderness. It has both heart and smarts in equal measure.

There are many layers of enjoyment to be found here. My eldest is 4, my youngest is 2, and I've been reading this for as long as I've been a mother. They both adore this book and find a new source of joy every time we read.

The end pages explore the numbers 1-10, expressed in different languages and forms. This is a source of endless fascination for them, and being pupils in a bilingual school has a very specific significance for them now. How fun to be able to say "6" or "4" in so many different ways!

Each double page spread examines a different number, in the context of a scene with a different child and parent preparing for bedtime, and an accompanying "goodnight" centered rhyme. Within each scene are heaps of examples of that number for children to find. There's always something to notice in the background here.

On the other side of things, the rhyme part of the book and gentle playfulness of the illustrations mean this works just as well as a quick, casual bedtime book. You can read it with your kid in 15 minutes or 5. It's as deep as you need it to be.

TLDR: whether you want a very sweet and gorgeously made soothing bedtime book, or a book that's going to stimulate, educate and encourage discussion...either way this is the book.

Please read and share with the smallest people you know ❤️

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caregivers and their children prepare for bed, counting up from 1 to 10.

This picture book teaches the numerals one through ten and counting from 1 to 10 as it shows bedtime rituals. Each two page spread features a caregiver and child along with a number. Each number is written both as the symbol and the word, and both the symbol and written word are in a different color from the rest of the text, which makes them easy to recognize.

Each number appears at least twice in each four line poem that accompanies the illustration. Each illustration also has a ten frame with counters representing the number in the picture. The endpapers show the numbers 1 to 10 as symbols, words in five different languages, in Roman numerals, in tick marks, in ten frames with colored frames, and in ten frames with counters.

This book exudes a love of numbers. There is an author's note at the back in which she discusses the importance of showing young children that math is relevant to their lives and in the world all around them. She provides a list of ways for caretakers to share this book with young readers and interact with the content.

The adults and children are ethnically diverse, and I appreciated that this book depicted both men and women as active caretakers. The male caregivers are shown as competent as well as loving and gentle.

Disclosure: Dolly Parton was kind enough to send our family this book through her Imagination Library Foundation.

[Kayla Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Goodnight Numbers' is a children's picture books that illustrates the learning of counting through the illustrations that are illustrated throughout the book. As we progress through the book, we get a chance to learn just how a child spends their evenings and what they do after school. The numerous things you will be doing during this time will range from eating dinner, cleaning up your apartment, taking a bath, and going to bed right afterward. In addition to this, this will also help to teach young learners about routines and the nighttime. There is however a math component for the child to consider throughout the process as they go through each event and count the objects around the house to make sure the child has enough of each item. Kids will be able to learn about numbers in a fun and educational way with this activity. The picture book is a good way to teach young learners how to count and also keep them engaged with the pictures visually. Moebuis explains "such surroundings must begin simply enough with the word as it depicted in the picturebook, of what has been called "presented world"( Moebuis, 251). The main purpose of this book is for the reader to be able to identify the images in the story in order to understand what is happening within it. The visual images will allow younger learners to view the world presented to them as they will be able to see what is going on there.

[Yasmine Coulter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodnight, Numbers by Danica McKellar is a simple book about numbers and counting. It shows that there are numbers all around us if we just pay attention. Starting with one and working up to ten, the book takes the reader through every number telling them goodnight. The letters are large on each page, making it easier for young readers to read along. I really like how each number has both the numerical form and word form. Each number is also repeated many times, along with a paragraph that contains rhyme. This makes the story almost sound like a song when read out loud. The illustrations show each step of a child getting ready for bed as they count along. The images contain examples of numbers that are around us in our daily lives. For example, on the page about number seven, the calendar dates are marked off up until the seventh, there are seven strawberries on a picture, there are seven pandas on a towel, and this continues on for many other examples with each number. This book would be great for students learning how to count in kindergarten. The children would enjoy going through each number and finding as many examples on the page as they can.

[Sophia Tarullo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodnight, Numbers is somewhat reminiscent of Goodnight Moon. It is the perfect book for introducing numbers 1-10. It provides a story of saying goodnight to many things before going to bed. At the beginning of each page a number is written in numerical and written form. Each page also provides a seek and find for the number of things talked about on the page. The fun illustrations allow for the words to be brought to life. The illustrations also allow for the children to search out what they are saying goodnight to.

I would recommend the book to ages 0-7 or anyone learning the numbers 1-10. This book is a good one to bring out during a lesson on whole numbers as well and could be an introduction to an activity in the classroom.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son (22months) LOVES this book. We read it every night before bedtime. He loves to point to all the different things in each page that we can count together. Every time I read it with him, I feel like I find another item to count. His favorite things to count are the 5 flowers on the towel, the 6 flowers in the tent, the 7 buttons on the mom’s skirt and the nine butterflies.
As a math teacher, I find this book extra special. I teach Algebra 2 and so many students are truly afraid of math. And at the rigor and level of Algebra 2, most parents can’t help their children with their homework/studies. But starting children out with making math, numbers and counting not scary but an ordinary part of everyday life might help combat that math fear later in their life. Just brilliant.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Older style of drawing - very simple. Is really useful in spelling out the number, having the number displayed, and directing kids to consider what they can count in each spread of pages that corresponds to the number (4 kitties, 4 frogs on the bathmat, 4 towels lined up, etc.). Teaches kids to look at everyday objects and count them, and the objects are all realistically that number (4 paws on a cat). The last page has a note to caregivers teaching them how to use the book, and also includes a list of suggestions for teaching kids counting and basic math. The inside cover of the book has numbers in different languages -it's just a really well-rounded, thoughtful work! Though I do feel like the images/illustration style is outdated.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our family received this book through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program which is an amazing gift! My son will be 3 years old in a few weeks and loves numbers. Inside he front and back covers, the book has numbers 1-10 in English, Spanish, French, German & Mandarin. My son loves this and wanted me to tell him each number. I had to look up YouTube videos so I could correctly pronounce all the numbers and now he is counting in all these languages! So amazing and fun. Thank you for introducing us to something I never would have dreamed of exposing him to at this time. He also loves the story and the beautiful illustrations. A great gift for families and children.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very well put together for learning numbers. Each page is part of the bedtime routine with a single number and 4 lines of saying goodnight to that number of items or specific things on the page. For instance, on the page for the number 4, there are many different groupings of 4 items. For an older kid learning numbers you could ask them to find four of many different items, or ask them what they can find on that page that there are four of, etc. For our young toddler it's mostly just a fun bedtime book that happens to be talking about numbers, but it's definitely a book they can grow into and get more out of over time.

[Abby Nall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Danica's letter to parents says everything I as a math teacher believe: everyone can do math if we don't sabotage their willingness to try. Math isn't scary, and we should take pains to introduce our kids to a love of numbers the same way we try to introduce them to a love of reading.
Every page has multiple groups of the number for that page, and they aren't always obvious. My 2yo likes counting the ones that are listed and obvious in the text, and my 4yo likes finding every group on every page. The subtle ten frames on every page are a very nice, thoughtful touch.
This is the best math book for babies I've found. It just makes my math loving heart happy.

[Katie Merkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Goodnight Numbers" is a beautifully illustrated early counting book. Each page spread is devoted to a number with a rhyme, a ten frame disguised as a picture on the wall, and multiple objects your child can find and count to reach the featured number. For example, the "Three" page has three trucks, three wheels on the tricycle, three pillows on the couch, three buttons on the boy's shirt, three pots and pans, and three stars on the toy box. This book is ideal for children between the ages of one and three years old.

[Xavier Juarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interactive learning book that helps students practice their counting. It's not your average plain old counting book. There are beautiful illustrations with the emphasis of the number that is being focused throughout the book. The font will have a certain of the number that is being talked about. A young reader is able to apply themselves to the main character and the white space used by the illustrator helps make the objects on the page stand out. This is a perfect book to read right before going to bed with your loved ones.

[Hannah Falgout · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Goodnight, Numbers" by Danica McKellar.
This book was cute. It is a book about saying goodnight to objects in multiple or even parts of our body. For example, Goodnight, two ears, or Goodnight, one spoon. The book counts to ten; it is a rhyming book, so each number has a little rhyme. The story teaches that numbers are like our friends. They are all around us. The illustrations were dull but beautiful colors. The pictures only took up part of the page, which I liked. It's a wonderful book for right before bed.

[Paola Mercado · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my son’s favorite books! It’s a sweet bedtime story that helps engage our young ones into learning about numbers and counting while reading before bed. I really enjoyed how the story goes off counting objects to show our little ones the importance of numbers. The illustrations were very kid friendly, so I loved that it made it easier for children to distinguish. This book would be good for toddlers to kindergarten students, I feel like it would be perfect when learning our numbers and learning how to count 1-10.