We All Went on Safari
By Laurie Krebs
The Story
A group of Maasai children sets out across the grasslands of Tanzania, counting animals from one to ten — a leopard, ostriches, giraffes — as they journey through the wild.
Why It's Special
For the kid who counts everything in sight, this turns counting into a journey across a real landscape, alongside real animals and real children.
- Big idea: Numbers are everywhere, and counting can be an adventure — a way of noticing the world, not just a lesson.
- Vibes: Sunny, rhythmic, and wide open — the feel of a long walk under a big sky.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy counting and number games
- love animals from around the world
- are working on counting from one to ten
- respond well to rhyming, rhythmic read-alouds
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & counting: Can you count along with Arusha, Mosi, and Tumpe as they spot each animal?
- Language learning: Can you say the Swahili word for one of the numbers you counted?
- Imagination: If you went on safari, which animal would you most want to see first?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever gone on a long walk or trip where you counted things you saw along the way?
- Curiosity: What did you learn about Tanzania or the Maasai people from the pictures?
