12 Ways to Get to 11
by Eve Merriam
Reading Profile
Should I read this?
Bright, short and playful, this picture book turns counting into a hide-and-seek game: each double-page shows numbers and clues as readers hunt for the missing eleven. What works best is its read-aloud shape—rhythmic lines and visual surprises that invite pointing and participation for preschoolers learning to count. Limitation: the joke and counting device are simple and can feel repetitive on repeated readings, so adults who need varied activities or older children seeking deeper number concepts may find it thin.
Read this if...
- •preschool teacher running a morning circle focused on counting: quick read-aloud that invites group pointing, prediction, and a short follow-up count-through.
- •parent reading at bedtime to a 2–4-year-old learning numbers: short, rhythmic spreads hold attention and let the child hunt and announce where eleven might be.
- •children's librarian planning a themed storytime (magician, farm, or Halloween): varied hiding spots across spreads give visual hooks and movement for an interactive sing-along session.
Skip this if...
- •you'll likely put it down when the missing-'11' gag repeats without a fresh payoff — repeated readings can feel the same after a few sessions.
- •annoying if you prefer concrete math explanation or progressive counting activities — the book is playful, not a step-by-step number lesson.
- •not suited for older early-years educators who need classroom-ready exercises or manipulatives; lacks hands-on exercises and lesson plans.
Twelve witty double spreads take young readers on a counting adventure of adding to eleven.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 __ 12 What happened to 11Is it in the magician's hat Maybe it's in the mailbox or hiding in the jacko'lantern Don't forget to look in the barnyard where the hen awaits the arrival of her new little chicks. Could that be where eleven ...
Before You Buy
Reading Specifications
Difficulty:easy
Audience Fit
- preschool teacher running a morning circle focused on counting: quick read-aloud that invites group pointing, prediction, and a short follow-up count-through.
- parent reading at bedtime to a 2–4-year-old learning numbers: short, rhythmic spreads hold attention and let the child hunt and announce where eleven might be.
- children's librarian planning a themed storytime (magician, farm, or Halloween): varied hiding spots across spreads give visual hooks and movement for an interactive sing-along session.
- you'll likely put it down when the missing-'11' gag repeats without a fresh payoff — repeated readings can feel the same after a few sessions.
- annoying if you prefer concrete math explanation or progressive counting activities — the book is playful, not a step-by-step number lesson.
- not suited for older early-years educators who need classroom-ready exercises or manipulatives; lacks hands-on exercises and lesson plans.
Check formats, pricing, and availability options for Kindle, physical print, or audiobooks directly.
View available editions on AmazonKey themes
Why recommended
appears in Math and Fiction.
Recommendation Signals
Recommendation proof is sourced from public posts, interviews, reading lists, and cited references.
No verified recommendation proof available yet.
Appears In
Not sure if this is the right fit?
Consider Full House by Dayle Ann Dodds.
“Full House by Dayle Ann Dodds is a bright, sing-song picture book set in the Strawberry Inn where guests arrive until every room is full; the rhyming text and busy, whimsical art make it an easy read-aloud that nudges toward simple fraction ideas through counting and sharing. Its useful part is creating a playful, memorable frame for introducing halves and quarters without heavy exposition. Limitation: math remains implicit and adults looking for precise teaching language or practice prompts will find it thin.”
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Each recommendation is collected from a public source — interviews, articles, or curated lists — and linked to its original URL. Books with many verifiable recommendations from respected people rank higher.