How to Use Surprise, Poppy! A Counting Book for Early Math Fun
By Seriously fun hands-on learning for curious kids of all ages | KiwiCo | Published: 2026-10-28
Category: How-to Guides
Turn Surprise, Poppy! A Counting Book into playful math practice with simple steps that build number recognition and counting skills for preschoolers.
Quick answer
Use Surprise, Poppy! A Counting Book as a springboard for hands-on counting games that turn story time into playful early math practice.
Why a counting book works for preschool math
Picture books like Surprise, Poppy! A Counting Book are a natural way to introduce numbers because they wrap math in a story. Young children stay engaged when counting is part of a narrative, and the interactive surprises in this book give them a reason to keep turning pages.
The trade-off is that a book alone won't build lasting number skills. Kids need to touch, move, and count real objects to connect the numeral on the page with a quantity. That's why the steps below pair the story with simple hands-on activities using items you already have at home.
Playful counting steps
- Read and count aloud together: Read the book with your child and pause on each page to count the objects or characters aloud. Point to each item as you say the number so your child connects the spoken word with the visual quantity. Check that your child points along with you; if they lose track, slow down and count again.
- Act out the story with objects: Gather small toys, buttons, or blocks that match the items in the book. As you read, have your child place the same number of objects on the floor or table. This reinforces one-to-one correspondence, the foundation of counting. If your child adds too many or too few, gently count the objects together to correct the set.
- Create a surprise counting game: Hide a small number of objects under a cloth or in a bag. Let your child reveal them one by one, counting each as it appears. This mirrors the surprise element of the book and keeps the activity exciting. Start with numbers 1 to 5, then increase as your child becomes more confident.
About the book
- Surprise, Poppy! A Counting Book: Surprise, Poppy! A Counting Book encourages counting skills and number recognition in a playful, story-based format. This means the book is designed to build early math confidence through engagement, making it a great starting point for the activities below.
Surprise, Poppy! A Counting Book
