It’s time for a new installment of our Math Book Shelves! This time, we’re diving into picture books to teach fractions. While students dip their toes into fractions in first and second grade, it really takes off in third grade. This list has books for all three grade levels and even a couple work wonderfully in upper elementary. Let’s dive in!
You can find the links to all of our favorite books to teach fractions HERE!
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin
Pete the Cat is a character that young learners love! While this book is not explicitly a book to teach fractions, it is a great resource to use when students are just beginning to use fractions to name quantities. In this story, readers experience a humorous narrative that follows Pete as he slowly loses the buttons on his shirt. There are subtraction equations to match the story, but when students are beginning to learn fractions, we can seamlessly tie this read aloud into our fraction unit by asking them, “What fraction of the buttons popped off?,” “What fraction the buttons are red?,” or “What fraction of the buttons are still attached?.” This book makes a perfect read aloud for late first grade or second grade.
How Many Snails? by Paul Giganti, Jr.
How Many Snails? is another that is not written to be a book to teach fractions but rather a counting book. The story poses a question to the reader: How many snails do you see? However, when using the text to teach fractions, we can simply modify the questions: “What fraction of the __ are __?” For example, “What fraction of the snails are striped?” Often my students will first answer with a whole number. At that point, I prompt them to name the fraction that is striped rather than how many are striped. This book is a great one for introducing numerators, denominators, and fractions of a set.
Give Me Half! Math Start Series by Stuart J. Murphy
This book brilliantly connects sharing to fractions, emphasizing that sharing ½ means dividing something into two equal pieces, which makes the book perfect for 1st and 2nd graders. The book also touches on the addition of fractions: one-half plus one-half equals one whole or ½ + ½ = 1. The idea of sharing with a sibling will be relatable to lots of kids (get ready to see lots of hands in the air!!) which only increases their engagement and excitement with this read aloud.
Peg + Cat: The Pizza Problem by Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson
Based on the PBS show, this book explores and embeds fractions within a charming story about these beloved characters. Young fans of the show will love reading about how Peg and Cat worked to serve “the teens” pizza using their understanding of fractions. As a bonus, at one point Peg gets overwhelmed and uses the strategy of counting back from 5 to calm down. I always love a story when a character models a strategy for self-regulating so this book is a true win-win-win!
Fraction Action by Loreen Leedy
In Fraction Action, the reader follows a teacher named Miss Prime as she teaches her class about fractions. The book is set up into her different lessons, which are perfect places to pause when reading this book aloud. The first lesson teaches about drawing ½, ⅓, and ¼ in various ways and connects fractions to real-life examples, an easy activity to carry right over into your own classroom! Miss Prime’s other lessons include fractions of a set, equal portions, and subtracting fractions using money. There is so much packed into this one read aloud! Any age would enjoy the story, but the math content is a goldmine for 2nd and 3rd graders. This is a definite must-have book to teach fractions!
Fraction Fun by David Adler
This colorful book makes real-life connections to fractions including student favorites such as, “I’m eight and a half!” and eating pizza slices. Throughout, the book discusses the meaning of fractions, comparing fractions, and equivalent fractions making it ideal for grades three and up. Making this book extra fun for teachers are easy-to-follow activities connected to each math concept. The detailed illustrations make the directions for each activity easy for students to do on their own. I love using this book over multiple days as we complete the activities.
Inchworm and a Half by Elinor J Pinczes
Inchworm and a Half is by the author of two of my other favorite math books, One Hundred Hungry Ants and A Remainder of One. In this read-aloud, an inchworm is measuring objects until it comes upon one that cannot be measured exactly using just 1 inch. A dilemma! Enter: the ½ inchworm who comes to the rescue! The story continues and we’re introduced to the ⅓ inchworm and ¼ inchworm allowing the inchworm to measure so many more objects! This book connects fractions to measurement while also helping students to see how the size of a fraction changes as the denominator of the fraction changes. This is a great book to teach fractions to all grade levels because the depth of the discussions can vary depending on the students’ needs.
The Wishing Club by Donna Jo Napoli
I just love this story! In The Wishing Club, kids make wishes for all sorts of things – $1, a cookie, marbles. The problem is that they are only granted part of their wish. One of them only gets a quarter of their wish. Another gets only ½. Together they work to figure out how to add fractions and get their whole wish in the end. The fraction content, connection to money, teamwork, and magic of making wishes make this a fun story for any age.
Sir Cumference and the Fraction Faire by Cindy Neuschwander
Sir Cumference and the Fraction Faire is another book in the Sir Cumference series. It is best for 3rd grade and above because of the more complex story and fraction concepts making it difficult for some younger students to engage. In this story, the characters are buying a fraction of the items available at the Fraction Faire, such as ¼ of cloth. The book uses mathematical vocabulary and includes the meaning of the words supporting students in their use of precise vocabulary. I love using this book to teach fractions because it is a great support to get students talking in whole class discussions.
Fractions in Disguise by Edward Einhorn
Older students also love the longer story in Fractions in Disguise and are ready for its more advanced fraction content. The book uses precise math vocabulary, including numerator, denominator, and reducing fractions. Younger students might still understand and enjoy the story, though the fractions content is more complex than the work students do in grades one, two, and three. The explanation of equivalent fractions, including the procedure to multiply numerator and denominator makes the fractions content in this book better for grades four and five. I love this one for keeping the magic of picture books alive in upper elementary grades!
And there you have it – 10 of my favorite books to teach fractions! Pair these with any of my favorite fractions activities and watch your students have fun while deepening their understanding of fractions. Have a favorite book to teach fractions that I missed? Share it with us in the comments!
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