Summer is almost here! That means lots of sun, sleep, and fun. But sometimes, summer break can bring some challenges for students. Without the daily structure and learning, students can easily experience the “summer slide.” One of the best recommendations we can give parents to help students combat the “summer slide” is reading daily. But we can’t forget about math, so let’s combine the two! Read to discover a list of math picture books for summer (plus a few chapter books, too) that you, your students, and your parents will love!
One of the best parts about incorporating a math literature-rich routine is that it shows students how math is used in the world around them. Young readers will read about using math authentically, hopefully inspiring them to continue building their math skills. Many excellent books are out there, and parents may feel overwhelmed with all the options. So, putting together a list of math picture books for summer is a great way to support parents and students.
This list includes a little of everything. These books cover place value, operations, fractions, geometry, and more. There are adventures, mysteries, folktales, and even a biography. This list of books was created to inspire, review, and encourage your budding mathematicians.
Download this free list of great math picture books for summer, which you can use or easily share with your student’s parents at the end of the year.
Book lists are a great way to provide parents with easy-to-do summer activities. Math books are an enticing way for students to review math skills and sharpen their reading skills during lazy summer days. Here is a list of 10 of my favorite math picture books for summer!
Math Curse by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
In this math problem-riddled book, students follow a girl’s journey as she tries to save herself from the dreaded math curse! There are a variety of math skills throughout the book, and the little girl in the book demonstrates a lot of perseverance in breaking her math curse. It’s a fun one!
Fractions in Disguise: A Math Adventure by Edward Einhorn
Explore fraction vocabulary and equivalent fractions with this math mystery. The storyline will have your younger readers intrigued!
The Great Divide: A Mathematical Marathon by Dayle Ann Dodds
In this beautifully illustrated children’s book, students explore division concepts and math problems while following along on an epic race.
Math-terpieces: The Art of Problem Solving by Greg Tang
This book combines art and math! It requires students to think about numbers flexibly while exploring actual artwork.
One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale by Demi
This mathematical children’s book offers many lessons. Students will explore multiplication and exponential growth concepts while watching a clever young girl outsmart a powerful raja.
How Much is a Million? by David M. Schwartz
This fun book explores place value in humorous and unique ways. After reading it, students will look for ways to find a million in the world around them.
The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdős by Deborah Heiligman
Students will explore mathematical concepts and learn about the life of one extraordinary mathematician.
Seeing Symmetry by Loreen Leedy
This visually stunning book helps students see symmetry in the world around them.
Grandfather Tang’s Story by Ann Tompert
This fun story encourages students to get hands-on! Pull out the tangrams and build the puzzles throughout the story for an extra-fun experience.
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table by Cindy Neuschwander
Dive into King Arthur’s world of geometry and measurement with this fun play on mathematical concepts and words. Don’t miss out on the other books in the Sir Cumference series, either!
BONUS!
Here are a couple of chapter book recommendations to add to your math picture books for summer list…
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
In this classic book, students will follow a young boy’s adventure filled with math-inspired riddles and puzzles.
Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang
This graphic novel is sure to get your students critically thinking about math and programming.
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
Students will love reading about this real-world math-inspired competition between a brother and sister.
These children’s books are a great way to introduce or review essential math concepts engagingly. This list of math picture books for summer is perfect for upper elementary students, no matter their achievement level. They can read the books independently or together with their family. Children’s literature can be a rich experience for all.
We can support our students over the summer by providing some easy-to-do activities that will help keep their skills sharp. Over summer break, students often work on flash cards or complete workbooks that help sharpen their math skills. Those activities are great, but using children’s literature to cover mathematical concepts can be a great way to switch up the usual summer routines.
Students don’t encounter math in their books very often, so it can be very engaging when they do. I am sure the parents in your class will be so grateful for your teacher’s guide to a mathematical literature-rich summer.
Good books are all around us and deserve to be devoured! So download this list of math picture books for summer and share away!
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