Are the images real photos or cartoons?

Priddy books almost always use bright, high-contrast photography of real objects. This is great for toddlers because it helps them recognize the actual cars and motorbikes they see in the real world.

How many pages are in the book?

It is a standard board book length, typically around 14 to 16 pages, but the 'find and count' elements make each page last longer than a simple picture book.

Is it small enough to fit in a diaper bag?

Yes, Priddy's Counting Collection books are usually designed for portability, making them a great 'emergency' distraction for restaurants or car rides.

Will this help with my kid's motor skills?

Definitely. The index tabs are specifically designed to help small children learn how to grip and turn pages one at a time, which is a big win for fine motor development.

Counting Collection: Counting Cars – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Counting Collection: Counting Cars

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2016Juvenile Nonfiction

85%

WISE Score

A seek-and-find vehicle hunt that turns a car-obsessed toddler into a pint-sized inventory manager.

Counting Collection: Counting Cars

book

2016, Juvenile Nonfiction

85%

WISE Score

A seek-and-find vehicle hunt that turns a car-obsessed toddler into a pint-sized inventory manager.

Jump to

Where to Read

Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased. Screenwise is a Bookshop.org affiliate and an Amazon Associate, so if you buy a book through one of our links, we may earn a commission. Bookshop.org purchases also support independent bookstores.

Screenwise Verdict

If your toddler screams 'TRUCK' every time you leave the house, just buy this. Roger Priddy is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the toddler board book, and this one hits all the right notes: bright photos, indestructible pages, and enough things to find that it will buy you ten minutes of peace in the grocery cart.

It is not high art, and it is not a deep story. It is a functional tool for early math and vocabulary that kids happen to love because it is full of shiny things with wheels. It is the kind of book that ends up with chewed corners and a permanent spot in the car seat pocket, which is exactly what it is for.

Age Fit

This is a bullseye for the 1-to-4-year-old crowd. It is built for kids who are just starting to point at things and name them, but it might lose its charm once they hit kindergarten and want more complex stories.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It is a pure, low-stimulation counting book focused on vehicles. No conflict, no snark, just cars and numbers.

Imaginative

While it is a seek-and-find book that encourages visual exploration, it relies on real-world photography and categorization rather than original storytelling or world-building.

Safe

100

A board book is the safest media format. No digital risks, and the physical construction is designed for the rough handling of toddlers.

Enriching

Excellent for early numeracy, vocabulary building, and fine motor skills via the sturdy tabs. It turns a passive reading experience into an active 'search and find' game.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

The sturdy tabs are perfect for toddlers who haven't mastered the pincer grasp yet, letting them drive the page-turning.
It uses high-contrast photography of real vehicles, which helps kids connect what they see in the book to the cars they see in the driveway.
The seek-and-find layout keeps kids engaged longer than a standard storybook by giving them a job to do on every page.
It covers seven themed collections, ranging from race cars to motorbikes, making it a solid vocabulary builder for 'things that go' fans.

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What to Watch For

It is a board book, so the 'reading' time is short—expect to go through it ten times in one sitting if your kid is in a car phase.
The focus is purely on counting and identification; if you are looking for a narrative or a bedtime story, this isn't it.

Conversation Starters

"Which car would you want to drive to the park?"
"Can you find a car that is the same color as our car?"
"How many wheels can you count on the big truck?"
"Which vehicle do you think makes the loudest noise?"

Deep Dive

The Priddy Aesthetic

Roger Priddy’s books have a very specific vibe: clean white backgrounds, bright primary colors, and crisp photography. For a toddler, this is exactly what the doctor ordered. Unlike busy illustrations that can be visually overwhelming, the layout here makes it easy for a two-year-old to isolate the object they are looking for.

More Than Just Counting

While the title says Counting Cars, the book actually functions as a categorization tool. By organizing vehicles into seven themed collections, it helps kids understand how to group things—race cars go together, family cars go together. This is a foundational cognitive skill that is just as important as learning to say 'one, two, three.'

Durability and Design

The physical design is the real winner. The tabs along the top and side aren't just for show; they act as a navigation menu for a kid who can't read yet. They’ll quickly learn that the 'race car' tab leads to their favorite page. It’s a small bit of agency that makes the reading experience feel more like a game and less like a lecture. If you are looking to build out a first library, this is a staple item.

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