1. Picture Books + Math = Fun
  2. E x p l o r i n g M a t h
  3. A learning tool for lifeListening to literature
      1. Classics never before available on audio:
      2. 800.243.4504
      3. New favorites available this Fall from Listening Library:

    B o o k L i n k s
    N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 4
    9
    Picture Books + Math = Fun
    by Sheri McDonald and Sally Rasch
    Preschool through elementary school
    B
    ringing math to life is a chal-
    lenge for educators. Math-
    oriented picture books have
    a place in math education because
    they often verbalize the concepts that
    students have difficulty understand-
    ing and show these concepts visu-
    ally. Picture books about math also
    demonstrate practical uses for math
    skills in daily life. Educators are often
    looking for ways to integrate math
    into their literature-based lessons, and
    picture books with math concepts
    offer an excellent way to include math
    in other curriculum areas.
    As with all picture books, math
    concept books may be categorized in
    many ways. Some picture books have
    math concepts hidden within the
    story, such as Hutchins’
    The Doorbell
    Rang
    , while others are
    written with particu-
    lar math concepts in
    mind, such as Leedy’s
    Subtraction Action
    .
    Some authors have made a career of
    writing series books that explain math
    concepts. Among these math
    series are Stuart Murphy’s
    MathStart books and
    Greg Tang’s picture books.
    (See the “Math Masters”
    sidebar on p.11 for more
    information.) Other math
    picture books develop
    the ideas behind real-life
    math, such as Demi’s
    One
    Grain of Rice
    .
    The picture books
    below can be used to en-
    hance math and literature-
    based thematic units and increase
    student awareness and knowledge
    of mathematical applications. Mak-
    ing literary connections with math
    will improve math skills and lessen
    student frustration with a subject that
    is often isolated in the curriculum.
    Addition and Subtraction
    Duke, Kate.
    One Guinea Pig Is Not
    Enough
    . 1998. 48p. Puffin, paper,
    $5.99 (0-14-056814-X).
    Preschool–Gr. 2. One lonely
    guinea pig is joined by others, one
    by one, and, together, they create an
    exciting day full of activities. In each
    illustration, the guinea pigs climb on
    large numerals as they enjoy their fun
    and games. Guinea pigs demonstrate
    subtraction, as well, by debarking
    from a sinking boat one by one, in
    Duke’s
    Twenty Is Too Many
    (Dutton, 2000).
    Giganti, Paul, Jr.
    Each Orange
    Had 8 Slices
    . Illus. by Donald
    Crews. 1992. 32p. Greenwil-
    low, $15.99 (0-688-10428-2);
    HarperTrophy, paper, $5.99
    (0-688-13985-X).
    Preschool–Gr. 3.
    Vibrant illustrations
    in this counting book
    provide visual cues to
    assist the reader in finding
    answers to simple math word prob-
    lems. While reading, ask students to
    make pencil drawings of each illus-
    tration to use as a tool in counting.
    Leedy, Loreen.
    Subtraction Action
    .
    2000. 32p. Holiday, $17.95 (0-8234-
    1454-X); paper, $6.95 (0-8234-
    1764-6).
    Gr. 1–3. As Miss
    Prime’s students hap-
    pily participate

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    E x p l o r i n g M a t h
    Joan Holub’s riddles and Regan
    Dunnick’s illustrations make
    numbers approachable, even funny,
    in
    Riddle-iculous Math.

    10
    B o o k L i n k s
    N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 4
    in their school’s math fair, they are
    introduced to mathematical concepts
    involving subtraction skills. The car-
    toon illustrations and dialogue bal-
    loons in each chapter provide readers
    with the information needed to solve
    problems. Also see Leedy’s
    Mission
    Addition
    (Holiday, 1997).
    Long, Lynette.
    Domino Addition.
    1996. 32p. Charlesbridge, paper,
    $6.95 (0-88106-877-2).
    K–Gr. 3. This simple book begins
    by using dominoes to introduce com-
    binations for the numbers 1 through
    12. Addition facts are then illustrated
    with appropriate number sentences.
    In the classroom, use a box of real
    dominoes to create number sentences,
    or extend the lesson by forming
    number sentences with more than
    two addends. Mary Lankford’s book
    Dominoes around the World
    (Harper-
    Collins, 1998) features additional
    domino activities and games.
    Merriam, Eve.
    12 Ways to Get to 11
    .
    Illus. by Bernie Karlin. 1993. 40p.
    Simon & Schuster/Aladdin, paper,
    $6.95 (0-689-80892-5).
    Preschool–Gr. 2. Clever illustra-
    tions and simple sentences describing
    common situations demonstrate the
    12 number combinations that add up
    to 11. While reading, ask students to
    write each number sentence. Broaden
    the lesson by asking students to write
    additional number sentences that
    identify the combinations of numbers
    that, when added together, equal a
    larger number, such as “13 ways to
    get to 12.”
    Multiplication and Division
    Anno, Masaichiro, and Mitsumasa
    Anno.
    Anno’s Mysterious Multiplying
    Jar
    . Illus. by Mitsumasa Anno. 1983.
    42p. Philomel, $19.99 (0-399-
    20951-4); Puffin, paper, $8.99 (0-698-
    11753-0).
    Gr. 3–6. The Annos use a fantasti-
    cal multiplying jar with a magical
    island inside it to help readers visual-
    ize the challenging concept of factori-
    als. Lesson extensions are found at the
    end of the book.
    Hutchins, Pat.
    The Doorbell Rang
    .
    1986. 24p. Greenwillow, $15.99
    (0-688-05252-5); HarperTrophy,
    paper, $5.99 (0-688-09234-9).
    Preschool–Gr. 3. When their mother
    makes a batch of chocolate chip cook-
    ies, Victoria and Sam divide them.
    As the doorbell continues to ring, the
    cookies are divided among more and
    more children. Practice division skills
    by asking the class to find ways to di-
    vide a batch of cookies equally. Further
    challenge students by changing the
    number of cookies or people.
    Neuschwander, Cindy, and Marilyn
    Burns.
    Amanda Bean’s Amazing Dream:
    A Mathematical Story
    . Illus. by Liza
    Woodruff. 1998. 40p. Scholastic,
    $16.95 (0-590-30012-1).
    Gr. 2–4. Amanda counts every-
    thing she sees until she has a dream
    that multiplying can help her count
    even faster. At the end of the book,
    suggestions for activities to practice
    multiplication skills are provided.
    Pinczes, Elinor J.
    A Remainder of One
    .
    Illus. by Bonnie MacKain. 1995. 32p.
    Houghton, $16 (0-395-69455-8);
    paper, $5.95 (0-618-25077-8).
    K–Gr. 3. The Queen orders Joe to
    have parading bugs march in equal
    rows, but Joe can’t come up with an
    arrangement that doesn’t leave him
    out. Using plastic bugs, ask students
    to assemble each formation in the
    book. For another buggy math story,
    see Pinczes’
    One Hundred Hungry
    Ants
    (Houghton, 1993).
    Fractions
    Adler, David.
    Fraction Fun
    . Illus. by
    Nancy Tobin. 1996. 32p. Holiday,
    $16.95 (0-8234-1259-8); paper,
    $6.95 (0-8234-1341-1).
    Gr. 2–4. This brightly illustrated
    book helps explain the basic concept
    of fractions and includes examples
    that can be adapted to hands-on
    activities in the classroom. For a
    photo-essay on food items and frac-
    tions, see Bruce McMillan’s
    Eating
    Fractions
    (Scholastic, 1991).
    Leedy, Loreen.
    Fraction Action
    . 1994.
    32p. Holiday, $17.95 (0-8234-
    1109-5); paper, $6.95 (0-8234-
    1244-X).
    Gr. 2–4. The students in Miss
    Prime’s classroom study fractions
    found in the world around them. In
    the classroom, use this picture book
    in parts by introducing each chapter
    as that fraction concept appears in the
    curriculum.
    Pallotta, Jerry.
    Apple Fractions
    . Illus.
    by Rob Bolster. 2001. 32p. Scholas-
    tic/Cartwheel, paper, $5.99 (0-439-
    24173-1).
    Gr. 2–4. This straightforward
    exploration of simple fractions show-
    cases all sorts of apples with appealing
    illustrations. Pallotta’s math books
    featuring Hershey’s chocolate, Twiz-
    zlers, and Reese’s Pieces are also effec-
    tive, but be aware of school district
    food restrictions before using these
    selections in a classroom setting.
    Geometry
    Adler, David A.
    Shape Up! Fun with
    Triangles and Other Polygons
    . Illus.
    by Nancy Tobin. 1998. 32p. Holi-
    day, $16.95 (0-8234-1346-2); paper,
    $6.95 (0-8234-1638-0).
    K–Gr. 3. Students can snack on
    their props after using this colorful
    introduction to polygons, which sug-
    gests the use of cheese slices, pretzels,
    and bread to teach about shapes.
    Emberley, Ed.
    The Wing on a Flea: A
    Book about Shapes
    . 2001. 32p. Little,
    Brown, $15.95 (0-316-23487-7).
    Preschool–Gr. 2. On a black back-
    ground, bold geometric illustrations of
    objects help the young reader visual-
    ize shapes. Go on a walk around the
    school or playground and ask students
    to list the shapes they observe. Also
    see Ifeoma Onyefulu’s photo-essay
    A
    Triangle for Adaora
    (Dutton, 2000), a
    shape hunt set in an African village.

    B o o k L i n k s
    N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 4
    11
    Greene, Rhonda Gowler
    . When a Line
    Bends . . . a Shape Begins.
    Illus. by
    James Kaczman. 1997. 32p. Hough-
    ton, $16 (0-395-78606-1).
    K–Gr. 3. The rhyming text of this
    story explains how basic shapes are
    made with simple lines. Descriptions
    of each geometric shape are laid out
    to form the shape discussed. Connect
    math with language arts by asking
    students to choose a shape and write a
    description of a real-world object that
    shares that shape. Publish the geomet-
    ric descriptions in a class book.
    Tompert, Ann.
    Grandfather Tang’s
    Story: A Tale Told with Tangrams
    . Il-
    lus. by Robert Andrew Parker. 1990.
    32p. Dragonfly, paper, $6.99 (0-517-
    88558-1).
    K–Gr. 3. Grandfather Tang and
    Little Soo share a tangram story of
    the fox fairies Chou and Wu Ling.
    Grandfather Tang uses tangrams, an-
    cient Chinese shape puzzles, to show
    how the fox fairies try to outdo each
    other. Have students create their own
    set of tangrams to manipulate after
    sharing this story.
    Measurement
    Adler, David A.
    How Tall, How Short,
    How Faraway?
    Illus. by Nancy Tobin.
    1999. 32p. Holiday, $15.95 (0-8234-
    1375-6); paper, $6.95 (0-8234-
    1732-1).
    K–Gr. 3. This graphically dynamic
    picture book introduces measure-
    ment, including how measuring sys-
    tems developed in ancient Egypt and
    Rome; how measurements became
    standardized; the origin of the metric
    system; and methods of measuring
    length, height, and distance.
    Leedy, Loreen.
    Measuring Penny
    .
    1998. 32p. Holt, $16.95 (0-8050-
    5360-3); paper, $6.95 (0-8050-
    6572-5).
    K–Gr. 3. Lisa’s dog Penny is her
    inspiration when she begins to learn
    about measurement. Also see Rod
    Clement’s
    Counting on Frank
    (Gareth
    Stevens, 1991), in which a boy uses
    his dog as a unit of measurement.
    Pinczes, Elinor J.
    Inchworm and a
    Half
    . Illus. by Randall Enos. 2001.
    32p. Houghton, $15 (0-395-
    82849-X); paper, $5.95 (0-618-
    31101-7).
    Preschool–Gr. 2. Worms in a
    Some authors are so dedicated to explaining math concepts
    that they’ve written a multitude of math-oriented titles.
    Below are some of the most versatile math picture-book
    authors and information about their series.
    • Axelrod, Amy.
    Fun with
    Math
    . Illus. by Sharon
    McGinley-Nally. Simon
    & Schuster. Individual
    books, 40p., $13.95–$15;
    paper, $5.95–$6.99.
    K–Gr. 3. The Pig family
    helps students learn math
    concepts such as geometry,
    measurement, and
    probability in these books
    marked by bright, lively
    illustrations. Titles include
    Pigs on the Ball: Fun with
    Math and Sports, Pigs Go to the Market: Fun with Math
    and Shopping, Pigs on the Move: Fun with Math and
    Travel,
    and
    Pigs at Odds: Fun with Math and Games.
    • Marilyn Burns Brainy Day Books. Scholastic. Indi-
    vidual books, 40p., $15.95–$16.95.
    K–Gr. 5. These books cover a variety of topics,
    including shapes, area and perimeter, addition,
    place value, and counting. Titles include
    The King’s
    Commissioners
    and
    A Cloak for the Dreamer,
    both by Aileen
    Friedman, and
    The Greedy Triangle
    and
    Spaghetti and
    Meatballs for All,
    both by Marilyn Burns.
    • Murphy, Stuart. MathStart
    .
    HarperCollins. Individual
    books, 32–40p., $15.95–$15.99; HarperTrophy, paper,
    $4.99.
    Preschool–Gr. 3. Murphy employs realistic dialogue,
    authentic emotions, and genuine humor in these
    stories that show math as part of daily life. Books
    are divided into three age levels, and a variety of
    topics, such as measurement, time, graphs, and
    operations, are clearly presented, with related
    activities featured in the back of each book. The
    50-plus titles include
    Bug Dance, Game Time!,
    Elevator Magic, Lemonade
    for Sale,
    and
    Divide and
    Ride.
    • Tang, Greg.
    Mind-
    Stretching Math Riddles
    and
    others. Scholastic. Individual
    books, 32–40p., $16.95;
    paper, $5.99.
    Preschool–Gr. 4. Tang uses
    jaunty rhymes and engaging
    objects, from ice-cream
    cones to ladybugs to famous
    works of art, to help young
    readers learn to add and
    multiply by grouping items
    rather than counting them
    individually. Tang’s playful, brightly illustrated titles include
    Math Fables, The Grapes of Math, The Best of Times, Math
    for All Seasons, Math Appeal,
    and
    Math-terpieces.
    Math Masters

    12
    B o o k L i n k s
    N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 4
    Much Is a Million?
    , below, explains
    the history of measurement, and in-
    cludes basic information about linear,
    weight, and volume measurements. A
    presentation on the metric system is
    included. After sharing this title, have
    students translate familiar measure-
    ments into metric terms.
    Tabor, Nancy María Grande.
    El gusto
    del mercado Mexicano/A Taste of the
    Mexican Market
    . 1996. 32p. Charles-
    bridge, paper, $7.95 (0-88106-
    820-9).
    Preschool–Gr. 4. A trip to a Mexi-
    can market for produce illustrates
    methods of weighing, counting, and
    making comparisons. Bring this book
    to life by creating a food market in
    the classroom, and supply various
    fruits and vegetables for students to
    weigh and compare. For an introduc-
    tion to the numbers one through
    eight in Spanish, see Susan Middleton
    Elya’s
    Eight Animals on the Town
    (Put-
    nam, 2000), which follows another
    shopping expedition.
    Number Concepts
    Beil, Karen Magnuson.
    Mooove Over!
    A Book about Counting by Twos
    . Illus.
    by Paul Meisel. 2004. 32p. Holiday,
    $16.95 (0-8234-1736-0).
    Preschool–Gr. 1. Countingtown’s
    trolley driver is used to counting his
    passengers two by two, but when
    an ornery cow climbs aboard and
    displaces everyone, he loses track. Ac-
    tivities to help teach counting by twos
    are included in the back of the book.
    McKissack, Patricia C.
    A Million
    Fish . . . More or Less
    . Illus. by Dena
    Schutzer. 1991. 32p. Dragonfly,
    paper, $6.99 (0-679-88086-0).
    K–Gr. 4. Papa Daddy and Elder
    Abbajon tell Hugh Thomas tall
    tales about fishing on the Bayou
    Clapateaux. The tales include large
    numbers, weights, word problems,
    and counting. Place value can also be
    studied with this story.
    PLUS, new releases from favorite authors Ann M. Martin, Hilary McKay, Barbara
    Park, Mary Pope Osborne, Polly Horvath, T. A. Barron,
    Tom Bodett, and many more!

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    A learning tool for life
    Listening to literature
    BALLET SHOES
    by Noel Streatfeild
    read by Elizabeth Sastre
    1-4000-9140-3 • 4 cass.
    1-4000-9497-6 • 6 CDs
    THE YOUNG MAN
    AND THE SEA
    by Rodman Philbrick
    1-4000-9460-7 • 3 cass.
    THE TEACHER'S
    FUNERAL
    by Richard Peck
    read by Dylan Baker
    1-4000-9103-9 • 3 cass.
    1-4000-9496-8 • 4 CDs
    WHISPERING TO
    WITCHES
    by Anna Dale
    read by John Curless
    1-4000-9085-7 • 4 cass.
    THE LAST HOLIDAY
    CONCERT
    By Andrew Clements
    read by Fred Berman
    1-4000-9470-4 • 2 cass.
    1-4000-9493-3 • 3 CDs
    A CHRISTMAS
    STORY
    by Jean Shepherd
    read by Dick Cavett
    0-7366-9644-X • 2 cass.
    1-4159-0522-3 • 3 CDs
    Classics never before available on audio:
    800.243.4504
    http://library.booksontape.com
    A division of Random House, Inc.
    The best in children's publishing
    from Books on Tape
    New favorites available this Fall from Listening Library:
    garden work together to measure the
    vegetables that grow there. When an
    inchworm is unable to measure an
    object, a shorter worm comes to help.
    Use this story to introduce the ruler
    and the segments that make up an
    inch. Have students practice measur-
    ing everyday objects and compare
    their measurements with one another.
    Also see Leo Lionni’s classic picture
    book
    Inch by Inch
    (HarperCollins,
    1960).
    Schwartz, David M.
    Millions to Mea-
    sure
    . Illus. by Steven Kellogg. 2003.
    40p. HarperCollins, $16.99 (0-688-
    12916-1).
    Gr. 1–4. Marvelosissimo the Math-
    ematical Mathematician, also the
    star of Schwartz and Kellogg’s
    How

    B o o k L i n k s
    N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 4
    13
    Packard, Edward.
    Big Numbers and
    Pictures That Show Just How Big They
    Are
    . Illus. by Salvatore Murdocca.
    2000. 32p. Millbrook, $22.40
    (0-7613-1570-5).
    Gr. 1–6. Using humorous illustra-
    tions of peas, this book counts by tens
    from one to one quadrillion. After
    writing down their own big num-
    bers, have students pair up and try
    to read each other’s number. For the
    converse, see Packard and Murdocca’s
    Little Numbers and Pictures That Show
    Just How Little They Are
    (Millbrook,
    2001).
    Ray, Mary Lyn.
    Pumpkins: A Story for
    a Field
    . Illus. by Barry Root. 1992.
    32p. Harcourt/Gulliver, $16 (0-15-
    252252-2); Voyager, paper, $6 (0-15-
    201358-X).
    Gr. 2–4. A man grows pumpkins
    to try to raise enough money to save
    a beautiful field from being sold to
    developers. Many numbers found
    in the text represent reasonable and
    unreasonable numbers. After read-
    ing, discuss the reasonableness of the
    numbers in the text, as well as how
    unreasonable numbers could be made
    reasonable.
    Reid, Margarette S.
    The Button Box
    .
    Illus. by Sarah Chamberlain. 1990.
    24p. Dutton, $14.99 (0-525-
    44590-0); Puffin, paper, $5.99 (0-14-
    055495-5).
    Preschool–Gr. 1. While examining
    the buttons in Grandma’s box, a child
    sorts, counts, and compares the but-
    tons. Ask students to practice various
    patterning techniques, such as ABAB,
    AABAA, and so on, using buttons. For
    more on patterns, see Trudy Harris’
    Pattern Fish
    (Millbrook, 2000) and
    Pattern Bugs
    (Millbrook, 2001).
    Schwartz, David M.
    How Much Is
    a Million?
    Illus. by Steven Kellogg.
    1985. 40p. HarperCollins, $16.99
    (0-688-04049-7); HarperTrophy,
    paper, $6.99 (0-688-09933-5).
    K–Gr. 3. Schwartz and Kellogg
    demonstrate the sheer size of mil-
    lion, billion, and trillion in the first,
    second, third, and fourth dimensions.
    For an exploration of even larger
    numbers, as well as the concept of ex-
    ponents, see Schwartz’s
    On Beyond a
    Million: An Amazing Math Journey
    (Doubleday, 1999).
    Turner, Priscilla.
    Among the Odds and
    Evens: A Tale of Adventure
    . Illus. by
    Whitney Turner. 1999. 32p. Farrar,
    $16 (0-374-30343-6).
    K–Gr. 5. Two letters,
    X
    and
    Y
    ,
    crash land in the Kingdom of Won-
    too, where the residents, who are
    numbers, live in two groups—the
    predictable evens and the eccentric
    odds.
    X
    and
    Y
    try to change the habits
    of the numbers, but learn that their
    customs are unique and necessary.
    Advanced Math
    Demi.
    One Grain of Rice
    . 1997. 40p.
    Scholastic, $19.95 (0-590-93998-X).
    Gr. 3–6. When a selfish raja
    promises to reward Rani for a good
    deed, the clever young girl asks for
    one grain of rice, with the amount
    to be doubled each day for 30 days.
    Children will be as surprised as the
    raja to see how quickly Rani’s rice
    accumulates. For a humorous take on
    the concept of doubling for younger
    readers, see
    Minnie’s Diner
    by Dayle
    Ann Dodds (Candlewick, 2004),
    which features a family of brothers,
    each twice as big and hungry as the
    one before.
    Ellis, Julie.
    What’s Your Angle,
    Pythagoras?
    Illus. by Phyllis Hornung.
    2004. 32p. Charlesbridge, $16.95
    (1-57091-197-5); paper, $6.95
    (1-57091-150-9).
    Gr. 4–7. As young Pythagoras
    learns about temple architecture and
    shipping routes in ancient Greece, he
    discovers how to accurately measure
    the sides of a right triangle. This
    handsomely illustrated explanation
    of the Pythagorean Theorem will
    resonate most with readers who are
    already aware of the equation.
    Nagda, Ann Whitehead, and Cindy
    Bickel.
    Polar Bear Math: Learning
    about Fractions from Klondike and
    Snow
    . 2004. 32p. Holt, $16.95
    (0-8050-7076-1).
    Gr. 3–5. Color photos of two
    polar bear cubs at the Denver Zoo
    are accompanied by mathematical
    expressions of fractions in graphs,
    charts, and formulas, which demon-
    strate aspects of the bears’ care. Also
    see Nagda’s
    Tiger Math
    (Holt, 2000),
    which explores graphs through the
    story of an orphaned tiger.
    Neuschwander, Cindy.
    Sir Cumference
    and the First Round Table: A Math
    Adventure
    . Illus. by Wayne Geehan.
    1997. 32p. Charlesbridge, $16.95
    (1-57091-160-6); paper, $6.95
    (1-57091-152-5).
    Gr. 3–6. Students already familiar
    with shape principles will get the
    most out of this punny medieval story
    in which Sir Cumference, his wife
    Lady Di of Ameter, and their son
    Radius try to help King Arthur cre-
    ate the perfect table for his knights.
    Other Sir Cumference titles deal with
    angles, the number Pi, and three-
    dimensional shapes.
    Listed below are articles from
    past issues of
    Book Links
    that
    relate to math. For information
    on how to obtain back issues,
    see p.3.
    • “Math: More than Numbers,”
    November 1991, p.32
    • “MathStart in the Making”
    by Stuart J. Murphy, July
    1996, p.25
    • “Summertime Math,” July
    1998, p.45
    • “Counting above and beyond
    1, 2, 3,” November 1999,
    p.12
    • “Exploring Math with Litera-
    ture,” May 2000, p.58
    • “Taking the Worry out of
    Math” by Greg Tang, Octo-
    ber/November 2002, p.44

    14
    B o o k L i n k s
    N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 4
    Schwartz, David
    M.
    If You Hopped Like
    a Frog
    . Illus. by James Warhola.
    1999. 32p. Scholastic, $16.95
    (0-590-09857-8).
    Gr. 3–8. With an engaging pre-
    sentation that will also appeal to
    early-elementary students, Schwartz
    and Warhola dramatize ideas of ratio
    and proportion using images from
    the animal kingdom: “If you were as
    strong as an ANT . . . you could lift
    a car!” Detailed factual explanations
    of each ratio are included at the back
    of the book. Have students work in
    groups to write their own “if ” phrases
    and support them with mathematical
    solutions that prove the validity of the
    ratio.
    Poetry and More
    Franco, Betsy.
    Mathematickles! Fun
    Poems to Tickle Your Funnybone.
    Illus.
    by Steven Salerno. 2003. 40p. Simon
    & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry,
    $17.95 (0-689-84357-7).
    Gr. 2–4. This book offers brief
    poems using forms suggested by
    mathematical equations, for example,
    “feet - shoes + grass = barefoot.”
    Using this colorful book as a spring-
    board, challenge students to write
    their own “mathematickles.”
    Marvelous Math: A Book of Poems
    .
    Edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Illus.
    by Karen Barbour. 1997. 32p. Simon
    & Schuster, $17 (0-689-80658-2);
    Aladdin, paper, $6.99 (0-689-
    84442-5).
    Gr. 2–6. This delight-
    ful collection of
    poems about
    math points
    out how it is
    found in the
    world around
    us. Link language
    arts with math
    class by asking stu-
    dents to write their
    own math poems,
    or have them research
    the meanings behind
    some of the mathemati-
    cal phrases.
    Schwartz, David M.
    G Is
    for Googol: A Math Alphabet Book
    .
    Illus. by Marissa Moss. 2000. 56p.
    Tricycle, $15.95 (1-883672-58-9).
    Gr. 3–5. Entries include
    abacus
    ,
    binary
    ,
    cubit
    , and so on, up to
    y-axis
    and
    zillion
    . Schwartz explains the
    sometimes-esoteric terms in ways
    middle-grade children will under-
    stand. See how many other math
    terms students can come up with for
    each letter of the alphabet.
    Problem Solving and Riddles
    Helakoski, Leslie.
    The Smushy Bus
    .
    Illus. by Salvatore Murdocca. 2002.
    32p. Millbrook, $15.95 (0-7613-
    1917-4).
    K–Gr. 3. Mr. Mathers has to find a
    way to stuff 76 students into a small
    school bus. This humorous book of-
    fers great opportunities for problem
    solving discussions. Bring the story
    to life by creating a tiny space in the
    classroom and encouraging students
    to find room for a defined number of
    objects.
    Holub, Joan.
    Riddle-iculous Math
    .
    Illus. by Regan Dunnick. 2003. 32p.
    Albert Whitman, $14.95 (0-8075-
    4996-7).
    Gr. 2–5. With verbal puns, rhymes,
    and Dunnick’s wild cartoons, the
    puzzles and riddles in this book cover
    everything from metric food fights
    to pizza fractions and more. Answers
    accompany each word-and-picture
    scenario.
    Jenkins, Emily.
    Five Creatures
    . Illus.
    by Tomek Bogacki. 2001. 32p. Farrar,
    $16 (0-374-32341-0).
    K–Gr. 3. A narrator describes the
    similarities and differences among
    five creatures––three people and two
    cats––who share a home, encouraging
    readers to use deductive reasoning to
    determine who can open cupboards
    and climb trees, among other things.
    Lewis, J. Patrick.
    Arithme-Tickle: An
    Even Number of Odd Riddle-Rhymes
    .
    Illus. by Frank Remkiewicz. 2002.
    32p. Harcourt, $16 (0-15-216418-9).
    Gr. 1–5. Eighteen humorously
    illustrated rhyming word problems
    inspire young solvers to practice math
    strategies. Some riddles may contain
    a clue or phrase that needs to be de-
    fined in order to solve the problem.
    Scieszka, Jon.
    Math Curse
    . Illus. by
    Lane Smith. 1995. 40p. Viking,
    $16.99 (0-670-86194-4).
    Gr. 2–up. When it’s proven that
    the world is made up of math prob-
    lems, a student’s math anxiety turns
    into a curse, as a single school day be-
    comes one continuous math problem.
    Continue the story by asking students
    to write a sequel. Scieszka and Smith’s
    own sequel,
    Science Verse
    (Viking,
    2004), is now available.
    Sheri McDonald
    is the librarian for patrons
    in preschool through fifth grade at Kreinhop
    Elementary in Klein Independent School
    District in Houston, Texas.
    Sally Rasch
    serves
    students in kindergarten through fourth grade
    at Carroll Academy, a magnet school for inter-
    national studies in Aldine Independent School
    District in Houston.
    • Math Matters. Kane. Individual
    books, 32p., paper, $4.95.
    Preschool–Gr. 3. These cheerfully
    illustrated titles offer children
    in primary grades practice in
    reading as well as in math.
    Charts and suggested activities
    are included to back up the
    information found in the
    text. A wide variety of math
    topics are covered in the
    30 titles, which include
    Math Fair Blues, The 100-
    Pound Problem, Henry
    Keeps Score,
    and
    Deena’s Lucky Penny.
    Series Connection

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