Multiplication Picture Books

The Best of Times: Math Strategies that Multiply by Greg Tang

“The Best of Times” teaches students the importance of learning and understanding multiplication instead of just memorizing their times tables. This picture book teaches students that if they can multiply by 2, then they can multiply by 4 or 8, and if they can multiply by 3 they can also multiply by 2 and 6. Tang helps students make connections between different multiplication facts in order to instill confidence and help them understand the relationships that exist between numbers.

2 x 2 = BOO: A Set of Spooky Multiplication Stories by Loreen Leedy

This spooky Halloween story ask a question that all students would love the answer to, “How do you turn one bag of candy into five?” These kid-friendly stories teach students about multiplying using digits 0-5 and is the perfect addition to your math teacher-led center in October. Add some spooky mini erasers to your small group so that students can interact and model the scenarios presented on each page. 

Terrible Times Tables by Michelle Markel

“Terrible Times Tables” focuses on multiplication facts for numbers 2-10. These tales revolve around school-themed scenarios such as eating in the cafeteria, taking field trips, and more. What better way to introduce your students to multiplication than to teach them by using real-life concepts that they’re familiar with.

Stacks of Trouble by Martha F. Brenner

“Terrible Times Tables” focuses on multiplication facts for numbers 2-10. These tales revolve around school-themed scenarios such as eating in the cafeteria, taking field trips, and more. What better way to introduce your students to multiplication than to teach them by using real-life concepts that they’re familiar with.

Amanda Bean’s Amazing Dream: A Mathematical Story by Cindy Neuschwander

Amanda Bean already knows how to count, so why would she need to learn how to multiply? She soon finds out when she becomes trapped in a dream where she needs to count silly things such as sheep on bicycles. How will Amanda count them all? She eventually realizes that maybe she shouldn’t count multiplication out after all. This book is great for students who may be reluctant to learn multiplication.

365 Penguins by Jean Luc-Fromental

When this family first received a penguin at their doorstep, it was fine, but now that they’ve received a penguin every day for a year, they’re overrun! How many penguins are there and how can they care for them all? Thankfully multiplication will help them determine how they can best meet their needs. This silly story featuring black and white illustrations is sure to get students excited about multiplication.

Now…For My Next Number: Songs for Multiplying Fun by Margaret Park

What better way to learn multiplication than by using songs? This book, which includes a CD, provides students with rhyming songs to help them learn their times tables for numbers 2 through 12. Featuring matching illustrations, students will be able to interact with the images to help them make meaning of multiplication. The catchy songs are also a great way to help students remember their facts.

Each Orange Had 8 Slices by Paul Giganti Jr.

This book implores students to take a look at the world around them to see the math hidden there. For example, an orange has 8 slices. Each slice has 2 seeds. How many seeds are there in all? Read this picture book aloud to help students see the other ways that they can practice using multiplication with the ordinary, day-to-day objects surrounding them. You can also stop to allow students to solve the multiplication problems as you read.

Minnie’s Diner: A Multiplying Menu by Dale Ann Dodds

The boys knew that they needed to get their work done on the farm like Papa asked, but when they smelled the delicious aroma of food coming from Minnie’s Diner, they couldn’t stay away. Each brother is twice as hungry as the last and therefore orders twice as much food. Students will enjoy following along to see what happens when Papa finds them eating at Minnie’s Diner instead of working. This story provides a funny lesson on multiplication.

Too Many Kangaroo Things to Do by Stuart J. Murphy

It’s Kangaroo’s birthday and all he wants to do is play. Unfortunately, his friends keep telling him they have too many things to do and can’t play with him. It turns out that they are overwhelmed by planning a surprise party for Kangaroo. Read along as Kangaroo’s friends use multiplication to help them determine what they have left to do before the party begins. Not only is this book a fun read, but it also provides real-life, concrete examples for students to follow along with.

Count on Pablo by Barbara deRebuteris

Pablo is excited to help his abuela sell vegetables at the market, but when no one comes to visit her booth, Pablo knows he must find a way to help her. This book teaches the skill of skip counting or multiplying. It also includes a recipe card that matches Pablo’s solution to help Abuela sell more vegetables to the patrons at the market.

One Hundred Hungry Ants by Elinor J Pinczes

It’s picnic time and 100 ants are eager to taste the food spread out on the picnic blanket. The only issue is that they need to get there! A line of 100 ants is too long when they’re in a hurry to fill their empty stomachs. Thankfully, the smallest ant has an idea. What if they travel in 2 rows of 50 or 4 rows of 25? This silly book will help students visualize multiplication while trying to help the hungry ants make it to the picnic as quickly as possible.

How Do You Count a Dozen Ducklings by In Seon Chai

Mama duck has 12 ducklings to keep track of each day. To help her count more easily, she arranges the ducklings in two lines of six (2 x 6) and then rearranges them in three lines of four (3 x 4). This book will help students practice multiplying and understanding that two multiplication problems can have the same product.

7 x 9 = Trouble by Claudia Mills

Do you have students in your class who are struggling with multiplication? This story is just for them! While this book doesn’t directly teach multiplication, it may be a good way to help struggling students know that they aren’t alone. Students will enjoy following along with Wilson as he tries to pass his multiplication timed tests.

Sea Squares by Joy N. Hulme

Once your students have some knowledge of multiplication, this book is a fun read aloud or activity for students! Each page features a description of a sea creature that students can turn into a multiplication problem. For example, how many legs do 8 eight-legged octopuses who kick through the ocean waves have altogether? Students will enjoy creating multiplication problems to match the sea creature descriptions on each page.