This 100-page book provides activities that integrate mathematics and literature for teachers to use with students of ages 5-12.

This book is intended for classroom teachers, primarily at the elementary level, and can also be helpful for pre-service teachers. The purpose of the book is to provide these teachers with activities to use with their students that integrate mathematics skills and concepts with children's literature. The authors state that "using books, stories, and rhymes to stimulate thinking about mathematics and to develop and re-inforce mathematical concepts enhances children's understanding of mathematics, promotes their enjoyment of the subject and develops their conception of mathematics as an integral part of human knowledge" (p. 9).

Books You Can Count On is a useful resource for presenting ways that teachers can teach mathematics through the use of children's literature. In the first three chapters, the authors discuss their beliefs about language and mathematics in light of current research as they build a case and provide a framework for using literature in the teaching and learning of mathematics. Chapters 4 and 5 include descriptions of activities that correspond to 33 different children's books and seven poems. The activities are labeled for an appropriate age or grade level in one of the following clusters (based on Australian grade designations): lower primary, ages 5 to 7; middle primary, ages 7 to 9; or upper primary, ages 9-12. The book continues with chapters that address different aspects of literature/mathematics integration. Chapter 6 includes groups of books that could be used in thematic work, while Chapter 7 provides a description of a variety of counting books ranging from simple to complex. Chapter 8 briefly describes books related to other mathematical topics. Chapter 9 shares practical suggestions for implementing this approach, and Chapter 10 provides an in-depth discussion of student assessment.

Many of the lessons shared include more than one activity, and lesson extensions are described. Each lesson begins with a synopsis of the book and states its focus in terms of the mathematical content that is being addressed. A thorough description of the activities is included, and examples of student work are presented throughout the book. Each activity also includes a list of indicators designed to help teachers assess student understanding. The authors point out that teachers should be aware of the needs and range of abilities within any group of children when determining how to implement the activities. To facilitate this consideration of individual needs, the activities are designed to be open-ended and to allow children to use a variety of methods to address the problems. Many of the activities bring literature to life by having students role play or simulate what is occurring in the book mathematically. The real-life nature of many of the activities helps give meaning to the concepts and allows students to see the purpose and connection to their own lives.

The book provides a balance of research-based information, author beliefs, and practical information. The organizational structure of the book provides reference material easily accessible by classroom teachers. The "Overview of Mathematical Topics" and "Bibliography and Index" are additional tools for quick access to book titles and activities. The lessons are thorough and detailed, including everything the teacher needs to know to implement the lesson. The activities provided encourage critical thinking and help students make real-world connections through the use of authentic literature.

This book is a helpful source for the study of using literature to develop mathematical understanding. Chapters 1 through 3 provide a text for teachers to focus discussion on how mathematical thinking can be developed through literature and the benefits of using literature in mathematics. Discussion of these ideas would form a foundation for trying the activities in Chapters 4 through 8. As teachers try activities, opportunities would need to be provided for discussion and revision of lessons, as well as exploration of additional titles. Support from a professional development provider and from each other through dialogue and problem solving would be a valuable part of this process. Because this book was originally published in Australia, there is no mention of the NCTM Standards; one reviewer suggested that it would be useful for a professional development provider to correlate the activities to the Standards.

One reviewer noted that an important consideration when using this book is the print status of the titles that are referenced. Several of the books are currently out of print; the activities, however, are transferable and provide a starting point for teachers when thinking about how to use literature to develop a particular concept.