The story in three lines. Tí plants twelve seedlings in three rows, but in a hurry, so the rows come out five, four and three. Counting one by one, he loses his place. Skipper the frog can only hop-count rows that are the same, so Tí moves one seedling to make four, four, four, and Skipper counts four, eight, twelve.

The five nights. Night one, listen. Night two, let your child say the bold last words. Night three, join in the refrains. Night four, stop when Tí loses his place and ask how he could count. Night five, tell it to a toy.

One thing to do at the table. Twelve buttons, raisins or pasta shapes. Put them in three rows. Are the rows the same? Count by the row: four, eight, twelve. Then try four rows of three.

The grown-up layer. Counting equal groups a group at a time is the first step to multiplying. Rows that are not equal still make twelve, but you cannot hop them. ArrayPals has the same rows.

For the ride home. Ask: how many wheels on two cars? Hop by the car.