This children’s book is all about a group of number characters who are out at recess and get invited by their teacher, Mrs. Wiggles, to play an “I spy” game—but with patterns! Each number finds different repeating patterns in things like gardens, frogs, chickens, and even eggs. Poor Number Zero doesn’t get it at first, but by the end, he figures it out in a super satisfying way by painting a colorful 1–100 chart. It’s cheerful, it’s bouncy, and it makes patterns feel like a playground adventure.

The rhyme and rhythm in this picture book are really fun. It feels like a song you’d want to sing out loud while reading. The language is simple without being boring, which is a tricky balance to get right. The way the story weaves in real examples of patterns—visual, numerical, even animal stripes and dots—makes the idea stick without it ever feeling like a lesson. And the artwork is bright, colorful, and packed with little things to point out. It kept me smiling the whole way through.

But what really got me was how Zero has this little arc—he starts out confused and a bit nervous, and then he ends up making this huge discovery. It’s sweet, empowering, and a little inspiring. It’s one of those books where the message sneaks in without you realizing it: trying matters, noticing the world is fun, and even when something feels tricky, you can figure it out. It’s not preachy, just kind and encouraging.

If you’ve got a preschooler or kindergartener who’s starting to explore numbers or getting curious about patterns, this kids’ book is perfect. It’s also great for teachers looking for a light way to introduce math thinking. I’d recommend it for ages 3 to 6, especially kids who like to count or love to find “what’s the same.” This book has heart, color, and brains.

Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0F3Y48WSM