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Oral Language

Introduce the book to your toddler by showing her the front cover. Read the title: 1 2 3 while pointing to each number as you read it. Bring your toddler’s attention to the fingerprint illustration on the front cover. You might say:

“Here are three yellow chicks! Let’s count them — one, two, three. Three yellow chicks. What do chicks say? They say Peep, Peep, Peep!”

Invite your toddler to touch the illustration on the front cover. Talk about the texture. You might say:

“The chicks feel bumpy. Let’s count them together. One, Two, Three! Three yellow chicks!”

Guide her hand over each chick as you count. Encourage her to count with you, say the word chick, or tell you the animal sound (peep). 

Phonological Awareness

As you read the words of the text that correspond to each fingerprint creature, read the rhyming words slowly, deliberately and rhythmically. Place emphasis on the words that have the same beginning sounds (Example: Cool Chameleon, Silly Snails, Little Lambs, etc.).

Invite your toddler to touch and feel the texture of the fingerprint creature(s) after you read each page. Guide her hand over each textured print as you count with the corresponding number. You might also draw your toddler’s attention to the book margin and encourage her to touch and count each fingerprint, introducing her to the concept of one-to-one correspondence.

Draw your toddler’s attention to the vibrant colors that are predominant on each page and name each color. You might ask her to identify a color by pointing. For example, you might say:

“Show me green. Point to black. Where is white?” (If your child doesn’t know a color, just give her the answer.)

After you've read the book several times, your toddler may begin to notice some rhyming words. You might try pausing slightly before reading the last rhyming word on a page, giving her a gesture of encouragement and allowing her to finish the last word. As you read, be sure to maintain the rhythm of the book.

Oral Language and Beginning Writing

Help your toddler explore the shape of her fingerprint. She will love making her own fingerprint creatures using pudding, nontoxic finger paint or play dough.

Guide your toddler in counting each fingerprint.

Encourage vocabulary development by talking to your toddler about the shapes she is creating. For example, you might encourage her to create fingerprint bugs (e.g., butterfly, ladybug, caterpillar or bumblebee). Assist her by drawing legs and antennas on her creations.

If you use a nonperishable material, like finger paint, display your toddler’s creation so that you can enjoy talking about the concepts with her in the days to come.

Find more recommended children’s books for toddlers 12 to 17 months, or find an easy at-home activity designed to strengthen pre-reading skills in your toddler.