A magical math book is a book that inspires wonder, excitement, and/or delight for both reader and listener.
What is a Magical Math Book?
A Crafty, Colorful Counting Book
Sheep Won't Sleep: Counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s was published in 2017 by Holiday House. Written by Judy Cox and illustrated by Nina Cuneo, this book's whimsical characters and gentle prose are perfect for inspiring colorful dreams and connection through counting before bedtime.
Story+Math+Diversity = One Mathical Book
Baby Goes to Market was written by Nigerian-born Atinuke. Atinuke started her career doing traditional oral storytelling. Atinuke's story follows Baby and Mama through a Nigerian Market. Baby's is so adorable that the banana seller gives Baby six bananas. Baby eats one and secretly puts five bananas in Mama's basket. Baby continues to collect items at the market, eating one of each, and placing the rest in Mama's basket. The story ends with a secret between Baby and reader that is sure to bring a smile.
Interview with the Authors of Funville Adventures
While sifting through piles of old math books, I came across the book below. The cover image coupled with the title bothered me. Women experience mathematics too! Opening the book, I hoped to see at least one female mathematician inside. I did not. 61 images, all male. Images are important. In the words of Annie Perkins... Continue Reading →
Pi Day is coming…Is your magical math book stack ready?
If you need ideas for how to celebrate Pi Day with your students/ children, Why not pick a magical math book to share and call it a day.
This is Not a Math Book, It is a Magical Math Book
Weltman has masterfully curated a collection of activities that open doors to profound and curious mathematical questions. Some of these questions are written into the text ("Did you know you can fit an infinite number of circles into a finite space?" Wait. WHAT?!), however most questions Weltman magically tucks away inside unmade art waiting to be created and discovered by the reader.
Shapeshifting and Storytelling with Tangrams
This week's book added tangrams into our math story time. The tangram is a dissection puzzle consisting of seven flat shapes, called tans, which are put together to form shapes. The objective is to form a specific shape (given only an outline or silhouette) using all seven pieces, which may not overlap. In this NPR article*,... Continue Reading →
Magic Emerges from a Cookie Fiasco
I didn't realize until researching this book that Mo Willem's Elephant and Piggie series is done, finished, finito. What?! Say it ain't so. Sorry, it is so. However, you can still get your Elephant and Piggie fix by reading Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat. In this book within a book, Mo Willem's iconic duo make a cameo as they introduce and reflect upon Dan Santat's story The Cookie Fiasco. The Cookie Fiasco provides opportunities to explore both division and fractions.
Ladybugs/Ladybirds make for Math/Maths Book Magic
Aren't ladybugs magical? Did you know that these adorable polka-dotted crimson creatures are only called ladybugs in the U.S.. In the U.K., and other English speaking countries, they're called ladybirds. Ben Orlin, wrote and sketched some math-related differences between U.K. and U.S. here on his awesome blog, Math with Bad Drawings. Here's an example of... Continue Reading →
Multiplication as Scaling with a Multiplying Menace
In The Multiplying Menace, Rumpelstiltskin returns, demanding repayment for the gold he spun for a princess (who's now Queen). Rumpelstiltskin requests that the Queen's son, Peter, works off the debt. Threatening to increase the pest population and decrease the kingdom's livestock if repayment is not made. Peter must figure out how Rumpelstiltskin's magical stick works to save the kingdom.
