When I was a kid, math ranked somewhere between dark basements and giant spiders on my list of greatest fears. Only recently have I discovered how much fun it is to play with numbers. Power up your brains and get ready to dig in to these engaging, definitely-not-scary books about math.
What can you make with a green triangle, two yellow circles and a blue diamond? The characters in Mouse Shapes devise a clever way to hide from a hungry cat. What else will they create along the way?
In Inch by Inch, a quick-witted inchworm uses math—specifically, his ability to measure beaks, necks and even songs—to escape danger. This Caldecott Honor book will grab even reluctant readers with its colorful depictions of forest animals. See how many colors you can find hidden in the toucan's beak.
Count the Monkeys has four grizzly bears, eight lumberjacks, "10 polka-dotted rhinoceroses with bagpipes and bad breath" and a whole lot of monkeys. To find out exactly how many, you'll have to read the book. Warning: There will be five swarms of bees!
Everyone knows that Pete the Cat loves his white shoes, but did you also know he has a thing for buttons? In Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, watch Pete lose his shirt, one button at a time. Look out for a twist at the end!
Don't let the creepy title fool you, Math Curse has all the clever humor of Jon Scieszka classics The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales and The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, plus tons of thought-provoking math challenges thrown in for good measure. You'll never see your cereal bowl the same way again.
Add a comment to: Fun^2 – Anxiety = Math Books for Kids