Concept Books
These titles are for little ones beginning to recognize colors, shapes, letters, numbers, and more. Please note these titles can be found in the Easy section of the library.
Colors
How do you eat color? by Mabi David
How Do You Eat Color?
by Mabi David

As a boy, girl, and their chameleon journey through their day, they discover a rainbow of fruits and vegetables.
Cats in Construction Hats by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
Cats in Construction Hats
by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

Six colorful cats and their tiny rat friends work together to build a house.
The colors of spring by Danna Smith
The Colors of Spring
by Danna Smith

Celebrate the blooming, bright and beautiful colors of the spring season with this rhyming Little Golden Book as a young boy and his grandfather garden on a lovely spring day, with green weeds, purple flowers, yellow butterflies and pink lemonade. 
Yellow Is a Banana by John Himmelman
Yellow Is a Banana
by John Himmelman

Two children argue over the phrasing and description of different fruits' colors until they come across one they both agree upon.
Little Blue Truck and Racer Red by Alice Schertle
Little Blue Truck and Racer Red
by Alice Schertle

Little Blue Truck and good friend Toad are out for a drive when a flash of red whizzes by, and when Racer Red challenges Blue to a race, Blue knows that win or lose, it's fun to try.
Gray
by Laura Dockrill

Using color, or lack thereof, to explore a child's moods, this poetic picture book offers a reassuring message of love and acceptance as well as addressing feelings of sadness, assuring readers they're never alone. 
Poppy's Perfect Crayons
by Sally Anne Garland

During class, Poppy doesn't want to ruin her perfect-looking crayons by using them, and her friends, seeing her reluctance, share their used crayons, but when no one has the color she needs, she decides to share her brand-new crayons so they can create something perfect together.
Is This the Bus for Us?
by Harriet Ziefert

In this amusing and adorable picture book, Leo and his sisters watch the various buses pass, some filled with farm animals, some filled with sea creatures, as they wait for the right one to take them to the park. 
The Color Monster Goes to School
by Anna Llenas

An inviting back-to-school tale starring a mischievous hero finds the shaggy rainbow critter nervously starting school with no idea of what to expect before a friend introduces him to other students and fun-filled classroom activities. 
Shapes
Catawampus! : a story of shapes by Ann Marie Stephens
Catawampus! : A Story of Shapes
by Ann Marie Stephens

Math-loving kitties are challenged to build a robot, using the wind to make it move, and must tape, glue and paste circles, squares, triangles and rectangles as they make sense of the shapes. 
Mr. Pei's perfect shapes : the story of architect I.M. Pei by Julie Leung
Mr. Pei's Perfect Shapes : The Story of Architect I.M. Pei
by Julie Leung

This inspirational story of the Chinese American architect who changed architecture with his forward-thinking shapes shows how his legacy has endured and his structures can still be seen around the world.
The Museum of Shapes by Sven Volker
The Museum of Shapes
by Sven Volker

Alma is curating an exhibition at the Museum of Shapes. Learn all about the shapes that make up our world and help her put the exhibition together!
The quest for a tangram dragon by Christine Liu-Perkins
The Quest for a Tangram Dragon
by Christine Liu-Perkins

While on his quest to find a Chinese dragon who can end the drought, Little Triangle meets several other shapes and with no sign of the dragon they need, they work as a team to soar through the sky and shower the thirsty land with rain.
Round Is a Tortilla: a Book of Shapes by Roseanne Thong
Round Is a Tortilla: a Book of Shapes
by Roseanne Thong

Children are invited to discover a world of shapes on lively, colorful spreads that feature a busy Latino family and culturally evocative objects ranging from rectangle ice-cream carts and stone metates to triangle slices of watermelon and quesadillas, in a rhyming tale complemented by an informative glossary.
Dot! Scribble! Go! by Herve Tullet
Dot! Scribble! Go!
by Herve Tullet

Once again, Hervâe Tullet brilliantly and successfully coaxes children to recognize and celebrate their innate artistic talent. He convinces each reader that their hand is magic and capable of transforming a few simple lines, squiggles, dots, and shapes into . . . well, pretty much anything they can imagine!
Shapes and Shapes: Toon Level 1 by Ivan Brunetti
Shapes and Shapes
by Ivan Brunetti

In this fun, educational STEAM graphic novel by a master cartoonist, a diverse group of elementary school students learn about geometry and the simple shapes that make up our world, in both the classroom and the playground. Please note, this title can be found in the Easy Graphic Novel section of the library. 
Shapes Are Everywhere!
by Charles Ghigna

Introduces basic shapes and illustrates how they can be found in everyday things, including such items as a breakfast bowl, backpack, kite, and a lemon wedge. Please note, this title can be found in the Easy Nonfiction section of the library. 
Some of These Are Snails by Carter Higgins
Some of These Are Snails
by Carter Higgins

From the creative force behind Circle Under Berry comes a deceptively simple picture book exploring sorting, comparatives, and quantifiers that teases the brain, twists expectations, and teaches basic ideas in unusual ways. A page-turner for first-time page-turners, this kaleidoscopic compendium shows young readers the infinite variability of perspective inherent in even our foundational concepts. Please note, this title can be found in the Easy Nonfiction section of the library. 
Letters
Zebra and Yak : the backwards alphabet book by Paul Friedrich
Zebra and Yak : The Backwards Alphabet Book
by Paul Friedrich

When the alphabet starts with Z instead of A, Zebra and Yak make their way through a mixed-up alphabet in search of Apple
Animals of the national parks / :  An Alphabet Book by JP Boneyard
Animals of the National Parks : An Alphabet Book
by JP Boneyard

An A-Z introduction to some of the animals that live in America's national parks, featuring art from the printmakers and poster illustrators at Fifty-Nine Parks art collective.
Chicka chicka tricka treat by Julien Chung
Chicka Chicka Tricka Treat
by Julien Chung

On Halloween, letters climb a creaky tree in disguise, but then they are startled by a spooky surprise.
My first book of fancy letters by Jessica Hische
My First Book of Fancy Letters
by Jessica Hische

From the New York Times best-selling creator of Tomorrow I'll Be Brave comes a delightful spin on the traditional alphabet book, featuring creatively hand-lettered words from A to Z and an affirming message for young readers.
The hidden alphabet by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
The Hidden Alphabet
by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

An alphabet book in which windows open to reveal the letters hidden within each picture.
Albert's ABCs: A Sibling Story
by Henry Cole

Frustrated with his little brother Baxter, Albert gets some help from Grandma who resolves all the problems with an X for goodnight, followed by a Yawn and, of course, ZZZZ.
Go and Get With Rex
by David LaRochelle

While playing Go and Get, where each player must go and get something that starts with a certain letter, Jack and Jill are mystified as to why Rex keeps getting it wrong, in this comical alphabetical exercise in thinking outside the box.
Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z by Lois Ehlert
Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z
by Lois Ehlert

A vibrant and sturdy word book starring fruits and vegetables from around the world from Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator Lois Ehlert. Features upper and lowercase letters for preschoolers just learning language.
Q & U Call It Quits
by Stef Wade

What happens when best friends Q and U quarrel? It's a real quandary, since they have always been quality friends--a true squad. But sometimes, U wants some time to herself--even though Q is lonely because he doesn't always fit in with the other letters without her. When the rest of the alphabet notices the split, they decide they want to do the same. And utter chaos ensues! Can Q and U come together to quell the mayhem and help the letters repair their friendships?
Numbers
Six little sticks by Tiffany Stone
Six Little Sticks
by Tiffany Stone

Kids are introduced to Mama stick bug and her six little sticks, and when Mama begins counting her little ones, she can only find five, then with each counting, one more disappears, so Mama needs help spotting them.
Zero! the number that almost wasn't by Sarah Albee
Zero! The Number that Almost Wasn't
by Sarah Albee

This nonfiction book that lays out the history of zero alongside the complications that initially hampered its development. 
Richard Scarry's best counting book ever by Richard Scarry
Richard Scarry's Best Counting Book Ever
by Richard Scarry

Advised by his father to practice counting the things he sees to reinforce his new counting skills, Willy finds one bunny, two eggs, three tricycle wheels and other objects while inviting youngsters to help him in his efforts to reach 100. 
Seven little ducklings by Annette Cate
Seven Little Ducklings
by Annette Cate

When a mother duck awakens one morning, she discovers her seven eggs hatched in the night and all of her ducklings have wandered off, so she must search and count as she discovers them one by one. 
The great pollinator count by Susan Edwards Richmond
The Great Pollinator Count
by Susan Edwards Richmond

Mellie joins other Science Club members for the Great Pollinator Count and discovers the value of teamwork in community science.
 
Counting on Mom
by Valentina Jaskina

In this simple counting book, adorable animal characters encourage readers to count and celebrate all the amazing moms around them. 
How Many Squirrels Are in the World?
by Ben Gundersheimer

Embarking on a quest to count all the squirrels in the world, a curious little girl must get a handle on the situation when hilarity and chaos ensue.
10 Cats
by Emily Gravett

A family of playful kittens jumps, slides and splatters paint everywhere in this entertaining introduction to numbers and colors. Please note, this title can be found in the Easy Nonfiction section of the library.
One-Osaurus, Two-Osaurus
by Kim Norman

Nine dinosaurs are playing a sing-song rendition of hide-and-seek, but something isn't adding up. Where is number ten? Stomp, stomp, stomp! CHOMP, CHOMP, CHOMP! Ready or not, here he comes, and he sounds ... big! With big, bold numerals, an array of dinosaurs in comical poses, and a humorous twist at the end, this tribute to a child's imagination makes learning numbers a gigantic treat. Please note, this title can be found in the Easy Nonfiction section of the library.

Forsyth County Public Library
770-781-9840 | ForsythPL.org