Counting with Tiny Cat
Tiny Cat Series
What’s inside...
Let's count with Tiny Cat - the completely adorable feline from Viviane Schwarz's Kate Greenaway shortlisted There Are Cats in This Book and There Are No Cats in this Book. From the endlessly innovative and playful Viviane Schwarz comes a very funny first counting book with a wonderfully feline twist in the tail! At first Tiny Cat has none. Then, what's that? One! Two! Three! And . four! Oops, bonk, now there's more! Soon Tiny Cat has as many red balls of wool as you can get. Then some extra. Too many.?! Will Tiny Cat ever have just enough? With very few words - and loads of visual humour - counting has never been so much fun!
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
2-6
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think Tiny Cat will do next with the balls of yarn?
How many balls of yarn can you count on this page?
Why do you think Tiny Cat likes playing with the yarn?
How do you feel when you play with your favorite toy, just like Tiny Cat?
What other ways can we count things around us?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use a playful tone to mimic Tiny Cat’s playful actions, making the counting experience more lively and fun.
Encourage your child to physically point and count the balls of yarn along with Tiny Cat to make the counting interactive.
Relate the counting to other familiar objects around your home to reinforce the concept of numbers and quantity.
After reading, ask your child to draw their version of Tiny Cat playing with a different object, integrating creativity with their understanding of the story’s theme.
Praise your child for their efforts in counting and engaging with the story, fostering a positive attitude towards learning and reading.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding numbers and counting
Explanation: Through the playful antics of Tiny Cat, children are introduced to basic counting and number recognition as the cat juggles an increasing number of wool balls.
Real-World Application: Children can apply these skills in real-life situations such as counting toys, snacks, or even steps while walking.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving skills
Explanation: Tiny Cat encounters several challenges as more balls appear. The story encourages problem-solving as Tiny Cat figures out how to manage the growing number of items.
Real-World Application: This teaches children resilience and creativity in problem-solving, applicable in tasks like organizing their rooms or dealing with school projects.
Example Lesson: Sequencing and memory enhancement
Explanation: As the number of wool balls changes, children can practice sequencing and memory skills by remembering and recounting the order of events in the story.
Real-World Application: These skills assist children in following instructions at home or school and in remembering the sequence of daily activities.
Example Lesson: Understanding emotions
Explanation: Tiny Cat experiences a range of emotions throughout the story. This helps children understand and identify various emotional expressions.
Real-World Application: Children learn to recognize and name their own emotions and those of others, which is crucial for emotional intelligence development.
Example Lesson: Cause and effect
Explanation: The story demonstrates the concept of cause and effect as actions Tiny Cat takes lead to a series of outcomes.
Real-World Application: Children can relate this to understanding consequences of their actions in interactive play or in classroom settings.