12 Picture Books to Inspire a Love of Mathematics

Books are a wonderful way to introduce and explore new concepts with your children. As my own kids prepared for school, I intentionally sought out picture books that introduced them to basic mathematics. I believed that a soft, early introduction would encourage curiosity, confidence, and maybe even a love for this area of learning. And it worked… at least until high school!

Carefully selected picture books provide a safe and fun way to engage with mathematical ideas that might otherwise feel tricky. They tap into your child’s natural curiosity and observation skills, making maths approachable, playful, and meaningful. Whether it’s counting penguins, solving puzzles with tangrams, or spotting patterns in everyday life, these stories create opportunities to enjoy maths together.

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Inspire a Love of Mathematics Through Picture Books

Here are some of our favourite maths-inspired picture books to share at home

Picture books to inspire a love of mathematics
  1. Who Might You Be? A Tale of Tangrams
  2. The Great Divide: A Mathematical Marathon
  3. How Many Legs?
  4. 365 Penguins
  5. Emma’s Grouping
  6. Maps from Anna to Zane
  7. Sheep Won’t Sleep
  8. The Shopping Basket
  9. Do Sharks Like Icecream?
  10. All Through The Year
  11. Absolutely One Thing, Featuring Charlie and Lola
  12. Where Is The Green Sheep?

Who Might You Be?

12 Picture Books to Inspire a Love of Mathematics | Who Might You Be?

A lively story in which all the illustrations are tangrams, the well-known geometrical puzzle that is a square cut into seven pieces, arranged to make various other shapes. It is also a delightful story about the imagination, where the words and pictures combine to tell a deeper story about the idea of self.

The Great Divide: A Mathematical Marathon

The Great Divide: A Mathematical Marathon | Maths through Picture Books

Eighty racers set off, but obstacles along the way keep dividing the group. This playful race introduces the idea of division in a suspenseful and funny way.

How Many Legs?

How Many Legs? | Mathematics through Picture Books

If a polar bear came for tea, how many legs would that be? And what if a squid joined in on a buffalo? A silly, cumulative counting book that invites kids to join the maths fun.

365 Penguins

365 Penguins | Mathematics through Picture Books

A penguin shows up every day for a year… and soon the house is overrun! This quirky book brings counting, multiplication, and problem-solving to life.

Emma’s Grouping

Emma's Grouping | Mathematics through picture books

Emma notices equal groups everywhere—in pancakes, shopping snacks, and garden plants, making multiplication concepts concrete and relatable.

Maps from Anna to Zane

Maps from Anna to Zane | Maths through Picture Books

A charming introduction to mapping skills: routes, scale, symbols, and point of view, all woven into an adventure between two friends.

Sheep Won’t Sleep

Sheep Won't Sleep | Learn maths through picture books

Clarissa can’t doze off, and soon her room is full of sheep, alpacas, llamas, and yaks. This whimsical book introduces counting by twos, fives, and tens.

The Shopping Basket

The Shopping Basket | Maths through picture books

This was one of my absolute favourite picture books as a kid so I had to add it to this roundup. Steven’s quick wits (and maths skills) save him from bullies who want to steal his groceries. A witty classic from John Burningham.

Do Sharks Like Icecream?

Do Sharks Like Icecream? | maths through picture books

Statistics come to life in this fun and accessible picture book full of surprising real-life examples.

All Through The Year

All Through The Year | Maths through Picture books

Maths isn’t only about numbers; this book explores patterns of time and seasons, following a family’s journey through an Australian year.

Absolutely One Thing, Featuring Charlie and Lola

Absolutely One Thing, Featuring Charlie and Lola | Maths through picture books

Lola takes on numbers in everyday life in her usual hilarious and quirky way—perfect for showing maths in context.

Where Is The Green Sheep?

Where Is The Green Sheep? | Maths through picture books

A much-loved classic by Mem Fox, perfect for exploring concepts of position, pattern, and observation while searching for that elusive green sheep.


Whether you’re looking for a playful way to practise counting, a gentle introduction to multiplication, or a creative take on shapes and problem-solving, picture books can spark curiosity and inspire a love of mathematics in your child.

Do you have a favourite maths-themed picture book? I’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments!

Books from the Archives

A Dozen Kids’ Books to Share – gathers twelve engaging Australian children’s books ideal for shared reading, bedtime or story time. It showcases tales about identity, nature, imagination, feelings, humour and adventure, with vibrant illustrations and age‐appropriate themes.

Teen Reads: Sunshine’s August Book List – A curated list of four standout YA novels Sunshine devoured in August, exploring themes from chronic pain and identity to anxiety, trauma, and romance.

2025 Children’s Book of the Year Awards – The post announces the 2025 Children’s Book of the Year Awards shortlists from the Children’s Book Council of Australia. It lists nominees in three categories—Older Readers, Younger Readers, Early Childhood.

Decoding the Universe – This post spotlights a list of engaging children’s science books to tie in with National Science Week (theme: Decoding the Universe). It features titles on tardigrades, tree communication, camouflage, seeds, plants, and more — each with age-recommendations to spark curiosity about nature and science.

20 Children’s Books About Gardening and Nature – highlighting how books can inspire curiosity about plants, wildlife, ecosystems, and the outdoors. Each entry includes what the books teach—like foraging, composting, tree biology, seasons—and encourages kids to observe, explore, and connect with the natural world.

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