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Race Car Count

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Race car 1 honks look at me!
He zooms in front with the turn of a key.

Race car 2 is close behind.
The sound of vroom is on his mind.

This simple, rhyming text is perfect for reinforcing counting with young children, and the vibrant, energetic illustrations make this a terrific package for the youngest vehicle enthusiasts.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 27, 2015

1 person is currently reading
74 people want to read

About the author

Rebecca Kai Dotlich

49 books50 followers

Rebecca is a poet and picture book author of such titles as What is Science? (a 2006 Subaru SB&F prize finalist), and Lemonade Sun (an American Booksellers "Pick of the Lists"). Her work is featured widely in poetry anthologies and textbooks. Rebecca promotes children's poetry, giving presentations and workshops to students, teachers, librarians and writers. She lives in Indiana.

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5 stars
107 (25%)
4 stars
147 (35%)
3 stars
149 (35%)
2 stars
16 (3%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
Profile Image for Al.
483 reviews4 followers
June 8, 2020
This was a favorite with the 4-5 year old boys crowd at my house. Counting with ten cars, and at the end, each has a write up. Fun illustrations and a great book for the preschool crowd.
9 reviews1 follower
July 14, 2016
I used this with a four-year-old boy with autism who is learning to count. He likes race cars, and he liked this book.
This was a good pick for him, because there was only one concept presented for every page turn. It was bright and colorful but not overwhelming.
Profile Image for Mary Kay Davidson.
37 reviews
February 27, 2018
target audience - 1-5 years old

summary – Race cars and numbers concept book. Counting race cars, there is a crash and pile up of cars and then they sort themselves out and finish all in numerical order.

strengths/weaknesses - Race cars have been personified with eyes and personalities. The colors are bold and primary and the cars are racy and fierce. I like the extra thick and slick paper to help in learning to turn pages and learn stop light colors.

personal critique - I would definitely buy this book, it appeals to those who love cars and fierce competition. It will be durable and last a long time on the shelves and endure dirty fingers and food stains. the thick pages and rounded corners make page and book handling easy for small hands and chubby fingers.

illustrations - Picture book full page no boarders, white background and bold colors, big and bold words and letters, lots of punctuation. The Images bring the feelings of speedy cars and smoking engines and fierce competition to mind.


whether a title could be used in a lesson plan? Could use this in 1st grade to reinforce punctuation. Would be a good read aloud book in class. Kindergarten would use the number counting in a read aloud.
Profile Image for Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book*.
6,111 reviews218 followers
September 23, 2017
Kai Dotlich, Rebecca. Race Car Count, BOARD BOOK. Henry Holt and Company, 2017. $7.99.

All types of different race cars count themselves and describe their colors. They each have different personalities and traits. They are counted one through ten.

This is a really great board book for both counting and color practice. The pictures are vibrant and they do a good job of showing the speed of the cars. There is a wide variety of cars that lots of different readers will connect with. The human traits the cars have are really cute.

PRE-K, EL (K-3)- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by Shay, School Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
Profile Image for Mary.
3,704 reviews10 followers
June 20, 2017
A lively and colorful rhyming counting book. This is a high energy picture book that is a fun introduction to the numbers from one to ten. A solid addition to any preschool math unit. Young car enthusiasts will especially appreciate this book.
Profile Image for Bethe.
7,031 reviews70 followers
February 15, 2018
10 race cars on the go with rhyming text and lively illustrations. Love how some of the cars are referred to with female pronouns. Fun last page with tidbits for each car. Thick pages and heavy cover similiar to a board book.
Profile Image for Susie.
1,963 reviews23 followers
August 25, 2018
This is of particular interest where I live, Indianapolis. There are so many different counting books, but, I must say, the end with the cards for the different cars bumped this from a 3 to a 4 for me.
58 reviews
June 9, 2019
This book is a great informative book for younger grades. I liked the way the digital art style made the book playful and fun to read. I feel that it would be a fun book to read after teaching kids how to count. I could use it as a post-lesson evaluation of whether they learned how to count or not.
Profile Image for Kate M. Colby.
Author 19 books76 followers
May 26, 2023
Jack picked out this book from the Ashland public library. The race cars are really cool, and the counting rhymes are fun. My favorite part is that the last page has a profile of the race cars where it tells you their name, favorite, food, and what they collect. It’s so random and cute.
Profile Image for Emily.
1,709 reviews13 followers
February 14, 2017
Colors and numbers are in the forefront with simple rhyming text. The illustrations contain some fun depth, including a harried pit crew of ducks.
Profile Image for Theresa.
702 reviews
June 7, 2017
My son keeps asking me to read this to him over and over again. For no other reason -- it is a great book. He loves counting the cars and the red light, yellow light, green light, GO!
Profile Image for Kiersti Baxter.
334 reviews2 followers
September 11, 2017
I love the characters of the 10 race cars. It's cute and teaches the red, yellow, and green lights.
Profile Image for Amber Webb.
735 reviews19 followers
October 18, 2017
My kids LOVED Race Car Count! It was very reminiscent of Little Blue Truck, but this had a different twist with counting and racing.
Profile Image for Emily Garrett.
38 reviews
December 22, 2017
Wonderful counting book for children that like cars. Each car has its own personality. Great rhyming and fun rhythm. Suggested to all who have kids that are learning to count!
Picture book
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,082 reviews4 followers
November 5, 2018
I don't actually remember reading this. Claiborne wore me out with books yesterday!
63 reviews
March 21, 2019
I think this would be a good book for younger kids like preschool. I don't think this book would be very useful for an elementary classroom, but it is a good way to teach kids how to count.
Profile Image for Diana C. Kobylak.
579 reviews4 followers
October 23, 2019
Cute story about 10 unique cars enroute to a race. At the end, the author includes the name of each race car, their favorite food, and the parts of cars they collect.
Profile Image for E & E’s Mama.
1,024 reviews11 followers
January 16, 2022
A new favorite! Great counting book, especially for kids who love race cars! Bright, fun illustrations and just overall such a fun book!

Read aloud recommendation: toddler and up
Profile Image for Megan.
628 reviews66 followers
September 25, 2023
Another fun one to consider gifting later. I thought the race car bios at the end were especially cute.
60 reviews
December 6, 2017
I think this would be a good book for younger kids like preschool. I don't think this book would be very useful for an elementary classroom, but it is a good way to teach kids how to count.
329 reviews5 followers
December 23, 2015
Really fun, colorful, variety of numbered race cars speed over and around a race track that combines traditional lanes, roller-coaster-like loops, cross-country desert scenery, and more. Even though number 10 finished last, his smiling face looks like he enjoyed the ride, since "his wheels were lightning fast" and his front bumper face is smiling broadly.
My question for the author though, is why do the Colorful race cars line up for a somewhat backwards countdown of red light. yellow light, green light, GO! at the end rather than the beginning of the book? Is there going to be a second race? This makes the "story" element a bit confusing. It does not detract from the overall fun for a preschooler, I'm sure, who isn't overthinking the sequence of the yellow light or the fact that the race is over and here we are at the starting line again. I think it will sound like a loud invitation to read the book again if you use it for storytime! The sequencing aside, this is still a very fun book.
Artwork: the stylized designs are playful. FYI, there are 2 female cars (her, she) and 3 male cars, with 5 not designated. Also, for those who believe 7 is a lucky number, think again. When the purple number 7 squeals by the others with "his speedy engine," the previous 6 cars are involved in a massive pileup, with number 1 turned over at the top of the heap, and even "Little Pink" 5 is glaring. Attention to details along the way will give older children and parents much to talk about, noticing tire changes, smoking cars, leaps over rocks and cacti, and even a scary crocodile trap to avoid!
P.S. - I almost forgot-- the last page, "Meet the Race Cars!" is inviting, sort of like the "Cars" movie where the characters are so distinctive. If I were in marketing, I'd produce the 10 cars, sell them individually or as a set, packaged with the book, for gifts. The cars have names - Derby, Comet, Chaser, Groovy, etc. Curiously "Little Pink" was introduced with her nickname, but in the back profile, her name is given as "Small Fry." Each of the cars has a favorite food and something they collect, like bumper stickers, old fenders, goggles, keys, etc.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews