It FINALLY feels like Spring in our neck of the woods and honestly, I don’t think I have ever been more excited to welcome it. We got an unusual amount of snow this winter and even though being stuck inside with two toddlers let to some creative indoor fun, we are so excited for warm sunny days to come our way. Because I am in such a “Spring celebratory” mood I have been especially fond of all the new Spring books coming-out right now. Below are three new release books perfect for springtime and a board game that pairs perfectly with them.
Why are they grouped together? It’s not just because they are just right for the season, these books and game also happen to feature counting as well as chicks/chickens. So get your counting practice in with your little ones while celebrating a beautiful season and one of its most iconic baby animals.
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“Flora and the Chicks: A Counting Book” by Molly Idle
We are big fans of Flora. Each new book that comes out starring her is absolutely adorable and playfully unique. This one is no exception. It is done in board book format and features Flora with a nest of 10 eggs that hatch one-by-one to release eager and excited little chicks. Flora dances her way through trying to keep track of them for the mother hen and it is completely wonderful.
“Count your Chickens” by Jo Eilen Bogart and Lori Joy Smith
Oh the chickens in this book! They are quirky, creative, and downright fun! Each page spread is covered in tons of little outrageous chickens to count while a simple storyline of chickens enjoying time at the fair progresses. The end of this book even features mini page spreads with specific counting questions such as “how many chickens are holding balloons” with an answer key included on the next page. So clever!
“How Many Baby Animals?” by Guido Van Genechten
This book is one that features baby chicks along with multiple other animals and their babies. Each page spread is on sturdy paper with an illustration of a pregnant animal. Then, when you lift the big flap that contains the pregnant animal, you discover a new illustration with her as a new mamma animal with all her babies around her. Each mom has a different number of animals, that is loosely based on a number typical of that animal, for your kiddo to count. It is one that children will have fun revisiting again and again.
“Count Your Chickens” board game from Peacable Kingdom
My 3 year old is really into board games right now so I am always on the hunt for new ones perfect for his age range and great for developing preschool skills. This one has everything I hope for and more in a board game for him and pairs wonderfully with these chicken counting books. The game works by traveling across the board, counting and returning chick tokens to their coop as you go. It is cooperative so the object is to get all the chick tiles back to their coop as a team before you mother hen place marker makes it there. My toddler completely approves of this one and I love how it is helping him practice his counting skills as well.
If you give this Beyond the Book activity a try I’d love to hear how it goes! Share it on Instagram using hashtag #beyondthebook (I’m on Instagram as @book.nerd.mommy) or even just comment here with your thoughts. It would make my day! Or to simply save for later pin the image below.
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