Let's Add Up!

by Victoria Allenby, Maggie Zeng (Illustrator)

6 pots + 4 pans = 10 dishes…or a feast! With the imaginative play of these creative preschoolers, exploring the concepts of categorization and adding up to 10 has never been so much fun.

If you ask a grown-up to add up 8 cars + 2 trucks, they’ll probably say that’s 10 vehicles. And it’s true. But these 10 young friends know what else those things add up to: a race! What will they do with 7 robes + 3 capes? Or 6 pots + 4 pans? 10 simple objects can have infinite possibilities.

Previously in the Big, Little Concepts series, author Victoria Allenby packaged important kindergarten readiness skills in preschooler-perfect books, featuring shape recognition in Shape Up, Construction Trucks and sound and rhythm in Listen Up! Train Song. In Let’s Add Up!, aided by the sweet and lively illustrations of Maggie Zeng, she cleverly tucks lessons on categorization and all the ways to compose the number 10 into a playdate full of enticing imagination and creative play. A closing note to caregivers offers enriching, age-appropriate activities to keep building their child’s foundational learning skills. After all, 5 story time snuggles + 5 more = 10 opportunities to build lifelong learning!

Genres: Picture Books, Mathematics, Counting, Storytime, Childrens, Nonfiction

24 pages, Hardcover

Published November 8, 2022

About the author

Victoria Allenby dictated her first picture book to her mother at the age of two. Since then she has learned to write things down herself, and today makes a living as a freelance writer and editor. She lives in Toronto with Cole, a cat who thinks he is much more interesting than laptops and books.

Reviews

[Olivia]

See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/lets-a...

LET'S ADD UP is a simple early math book that introduces the concepts of the way we can add up to 10. For instance, the first page spread suggests 5 drums plus 5 tambourines equals 10 instruments. The book shows diverse children using the items being added, and the brief style introduces the concept of addition through adding to 10.

What I loved: This is a simple concept that is executed well. It introduces the concept of adding with countable objects and math formulas, all showing ways to add to 10. The brevity will work well for toddlers who will appreciate how quickly the pages can turn and can focus on doing the counting/math themselves. Backmatter adds to the education by suggesting activities to expand learning with children around these concepts. The illustrations are simple, showing diverse children enjoying the objects being counted and having plenty of fun.

What left me wanting more: This may be too simple for preschoolers who are getting into math and math concepts, as there is not really a story line, and the text is extremely brief on each page. The concepts may be too complex for readers for whom this might be the right speed, such as young toddlers, which makes it tough to bin in terms of age categories.

Final verdict: Overall, LET'S ADD UP! is a cute and simple book that teaches basic math concepts with adding and counting up to 10. The brevity and simplicity may work best for toddlers.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children add up items to equal ten, but there is always a little something more beyond just counting. "5 drums + 5 tambourines = 10 instruments.... or a band!" As the children add up all the different ways you can make ten, they learn that using those items brings them closer together as they play, cook, race, and dance together. Whether it is 6+4 or 7+3 or 9+1, having fun together always add up to friendship!

This is such a cute book! It really makes it fun to learn addition and see what the children will do with each type of item. They put on a play with costumes. They have a feast with all the good food they have cooked, and they have a race with their toy cars! It makes learning addition easy because each page is such a clear visual representation of the arithmetic that is happening.

I loved the adorable illustrations, and I really appreciated that the children on each page are from diverse ethnicities and abilities. I love the sweet smiles on all their faces, and the way each child is included in their fun activities.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This board book from Canada puts a whole different spin on the mathematic concept of addition. Alongside colorful digital illustrations filled with children and objects, the book showcases basic number combinations, but in this case, the sum is far more interesting than those individual parts and leads to some surprises. Rather than having youngsters count 6 pots and 4 pans, which are all dishes, the addition also leads to a feast. Or, for example, " 7 capes + 3 robes= 10 costumes--or a play" (unpaged). All of the examples add up to 10, and encourage young learners to learn basic numbers from one to ten while classifying and composing groups of objects. This book offers a fun way to learn these concepts, and even provides suggestions for parents to work with their children on these skills and extend the book's contents.

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple text and fun illustrations show how you can combine various numbers of things to make the number 10.

I don't 100% like the illustration style, but I love the excellent racial and disability representation. Zeng, the illustrator, did a wonderful job of actually showing the child with cochlear implants and the child in a wheelchair participating and contributing to the activities going on, they weren't just in the background (which is often the case when they aren't the lead). Also, though their disabilities/assistive devices are prominently displayed they are not the focus but just a part of who they are.

I think this could work well in a preschool or lower elementary storytime.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each page has different combinations of things that add up to 10. They are all great (6 pots +4 pans, 5 drums + 5 tambourines, etc.) except for the 7 + 3 option, which is 7 capes and 3 robes. The problem is the illustrations are all of the same thing, just in different colors. Other than that, this book is excellent for teaching the concept of addition up to 10. I especially like that 5 drums + 5 tambourines = 10, but it also equals a band. Kids will enjoy the application to real life.

The bright, vivid, eye catching illustrations are great!

[Cherokee - Books With A Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently read this to my five year old!
We both enjoyed the cute, vivid illustrations.
The author uses simple words that a young child would understand, without it being a chore for parents to read aloud.

This would be a perfect addition to any beginner reader/counter library, whether in a professional or home setting.

I was happy to see fun activities added at the end, as it's not always easy to incorporate fun into learning math.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the different ways to add up to ten: 3+7, 5+5, and more, and also what the ten things could be together: 10 instruments are a band, 10 pots and pans are a feast, etc. A group of multi-ethnic and multi-ability children have fun playing with the different groups of items. This would make a great flannel for storytime, and have great math extensions and discussions of sets and subsets and groups in the broader world.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first spread in each set introduces a different way 2 numbers can add up to 10. The second spread in the set shows how those 10 items can be played with. You could ask kids to predict what the children are going to do with the 10 things. This series is one of my favorites and a go-to for storytime.

[Maeghan Nutmeg Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different ways to add up to 10--so cute. Do they equal 10, or something FUN to do?

I love the diversity shown in this one. There's a kid with a cochlear implant as well as a kid who might be a boy, with short hair and barrettes.

Sweet and fun for a number storytime!

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Lindsay Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different ways to add to ten (10). Filled with colorful images with awesome representation.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this mathematical tale about adding up to ten by categorizing and renaming. A good introduction to grouping numbers and looking for tens.

[Cecile · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7

[Steph]

Turn/Level: 2/2

Themes: Addition, =10, group names

Features numbers that add to 10 and what the group names could be called.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Math and creativity and diversity for young children. Perfect for storytime or one-on-one. Maggie Zeng's illustrations are delightful ❤️

[Kelly Marie]

Worked well as a second book for numbers-themed kindergarten readiness storytime. Short, to the point, kids can shout out the answer.

[Kelsey Doll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple book about addition. Early math concepts. Had a dash of disability rep with a character who uses a wheelchair and a character who uses a hearing aid.

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adding groups of ten? This is your book.