ReFoReMo Mini-Monthly Writing Challenge: Let Me Count the Ways

By Janie Reinart

One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready and four to go! You guessed it! Your challenge this month is to write a counting story.  You can add magic to your counting book like Dawn Young in Counting Elephants. Kate Read's story, One Fox is a counting book thriller. Be sure to check out the ultimate list of counting books on Anna Geiger's blog. Anna Geiger, M.Ed. is CEO of the Measured Mom blog. Check out her  post The Ultimate List of Counting Books.

I recently read the picture book, I Can Only Draw Worms by Will Mabbit to my two grandsons aged six and three. When I was finished, both boys yelled, "Read it again!"  The boys laughed out loud in several places in the story.

By Will Mabbitt

"This is a book about worms. (I can only draw worms.)

   Here's worm ONE.

   Here's worm TWO.

   Here they are both together.

   It's hard to know which is which.

   I'll. give the second worm glasses.

   That's better. Now you can tell them apart."

By Vivian Kirkfield

Wildlife greets the day and finds shelter, safety, and fun on the river in this lyrical, ecologically oriented counting book. Vivian  Kirkfield created back matter that introduces each species, conservation efforts, causes for animals to become endangered, and what people can do to protect wild habitats.

"Water wakes. 

  Dawn breaks.

  in a chorus of birdsong.

  One willow flycatcher whistles

   as the night slips silently away."

By Anthony D. Fredericks

Tall Tall Tree: A Nature Book for Kids About Forest Habitats is a rhyming counting book with STEAM activities. Back matter contains information about redwood trees and the animals that live there. 

"Creeping, hopping, zipping

throughout the redwood's green

are many different creatures

who are very seldom seen.

They live among the branches

high in this tall tall tree.

Insects, birds, and mammals.

Let's count them--one, two three."

Have fun creating your counting story. Mention your favorite counting books in the comments.

Ready. Set. Go!