S.C. Burklund

As a parent, you have hundreds of counting books to choose from. Most of them help children memorize numbers. As a former preschool teacher, I wanted to create a book that would lay the foundation for math success.

Yes, Burly the Squirrel®: The Counting Game can be used as a traditional counting book for children who are just beginning to learn their numbers by having them count up only the left side of the path. But once they're ready, the real learning begins.

Instead of simply counting from one number to the next, children follow Burly along a unique number path, counting forward to each acorn and then backward as they help him carry it home. As they repeat this simple adventure, they begin to recognize number order, understand "one more" and "one less," and see how numbers move both forward and backward.

These are important building blocks for future math, but your child won't feel like they're doing math. They'll simply be helping Burly collect his acorns while naturally developing these skills through repetition and play.

My goal wasn't to create just another counting book. It was to create a learning adventure that children enjoy reading again and again—and every time they do, they're strengthening the foundation they'll use for math later in school.

I hope Burly becomes a favorite in your home and gives your child a confident start on their learning journey.