What’s the Big Deal About Counting to 10 in PreK? (Spoiler: Everything!)

I wrote and illustrated "Digit Chomps to 10" to help children learn to count.

Counting to 10 might seem simple—but for young children, it’s a powerful gateway into the world of math. When I pitched my idea for, Digit Chomps to 10, to my publisher Singapore Math my intention was always to create more than just a counting book. We wanted to help families launch their math journey together—with joy, storytelling, and real early learning strategies grounded in the way math is taught today.

Whether your child is 2, 4, or just starting kindergarten, Digit Chomps to 10 meets them right where they are: in that magical space where play, art, and learning collide. Created in collaboration with math educators from Singapore Math and the team behind We Didn’t Learn Math This Way, this book introduces essential concepts using fun visuals and just the right kind of challenge.

Counting to 10 might seem simple—but for young children, it’s a powerful gateway into the world of math.

Counting Isn’t Just Reciting

Many of us grew up thinking counting meant saying “one, two, three…” But for children, learning to count involves something deeper: connecting each number word to a thing. Whether it’s bananas, socks, or frogs, kids have to learn that one object equals one number—this is called one-to-one correspondence.

In Digit Chomps to 10, each page features configurations of objects that are intentionally designed to build this skill. Straight lines, circles, scattered arrangements—they all help your child practice seeing groups, recognizing patterns, and making sense of quantity in different ways.

Learning how to count is one of the most important early lessons children tackle.

Why We Use Digits (Not Words)

You might notice the book uses numerals (1, 2, 3) rather than spelling out the words. That’s on purpose. Learning the written symbol for a number is a key early math skill. It’s different from reading or spelling—and in fact, today’s math curriculum encourages kids to focus on digits as math tools. That’s why we chose to highlight them in the artwork.

We also introduce the concept of cardinality—the idea that the last number you say tells you how many there are altogether. When Digit chomps through a plate of cookies and says “Ten!”, that’s not just the end of the count—it’s the total. That’s an important “aha!” moment for young learners.

Reading Aloud = Math Time

The best part? You don’t need to be a math expert to support your child. Just reading Digit Chomps to 10 aloud opens up opportunities to build math skills. Encourage your child to touch and count each item. Ask them to predict what comes next. Notice the rhymes, the patterns, the “chomp!” moments.

These interactions lay the foundation for number sense—and build your confidence as a parent supporting math at home.

Launch your Child's Math Journey Today!

Digit Chomps to 10 is more than a book—it’s the first step in a bigger journey. We’re building resources to go along with it: simple, joyful tools that help parents and kids grow in math together.

Let’s use story, art, and play to raise a new generation of math-confident kids—starting with one curious chomp at a time.

Snag your copy of Digit Chomps to 10 today at https://www.singaporemath.com/products/digit-chomps-to-10 !