For Picture Book Friday I have selected a few picture books that help kids appreciate the power of numbers. Great stories that teach math, well that adds up to great fun (ok, perhaps I took the pun a little to far ... it's been a long day, please forgive!)
Title: One Grain of Rice
Author: Demi
Target: Kindergarten and up
What this book is about:
This is a mathematical folktale about a raja in India who stored rice for his subjects. When famine came, he was unwilling to share what he had stored, so a very clever girl, Rani, came up with a plan. After doing a good deed for the raja, he lets her choose her reward. She asks for one grain of rice .... to be doubled every day for thirty days. The raja thinks the girl is a fool, but thirty days later, his storehouses are bare and Rani has accumulated over a billion grains of rice!
This is a mathematical folktale about a raja in India who stored rice for his subjects. When famine came, he was unwilling to share what he had stored, so a very clever girl, Rani, came up with a plan. After doing a good deed for the raja, he lets her choose her reward. She asks for one grain of rice .... to be doubled every day for thirty days. The raja thinks the girl is a fool, but thirty days later, his storehouses are bare and Rani has accumulated over a billion grains of rice!
Why I love this book:
This book is a visual treat to show kids the power of doubling. Every child I read this book to thinks like the raja at the beginning of the story, that the grains will amount to nothing, and by the end their mouths are hanging open. Of course their next comment is always “if you give me a penny today and double it every day for thirty days....” Some of the more ambitious kids ask for a dollar!
This book is a visual treat to show kids the power of doubling. Every child I read this book to thinks like the raja at the beginning of the story, that the grains will amount to nothing, and by the end their mouths are hanging open. Of course their next comment is always “if you give me a penny today and double it every day for thirty days....” Some of the more ambitious kids ask for a dollar!
Who this book is for:
I think all kids will get excited about the power of math after reading this book.
I think all kids will get excited about the power of math after reading this book.
Final thoughts:
Let’s see, if you visit my blog today and double your visits every day .... A girl can dream!
Let’s see, if you visit my blog today and double your visits every day .... A girl can dream!
To purchase this book, click on the following link to connect to Amazon: One Grain Of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale
A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog.
A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog.
Title: Zero the Hero
Author: Joan Holub
Target: Kindergarten and up
What this book is about:
Zero feels about as bad as a number that doesn’t count for anything can. Addition and subtraction don’t need him and he can’t divide. To amount to anything he has to stand to the right of a number. However, when he discovers the power he holds in multiplication, to make the other numbers disappear, they run from him, afraid of his strength. It is not until the numbers get held hostage by the Roman numerals that zero can use his powers for good and be the hero he always knew himself to be!
Zero feels about as bad as a number that doesn’t count for anything can. Addition and subtraction don’t need him and he can’t divide. To amount to anything he has to stand to the right of a number. However, when he discovers the power he holds in multiplication, to make the other numbers disappear, they run from him, afraid of his strength. It is not until the numbers get held hostage by the Roman numerals that zero can use his powers for good and be the hero he always knew himself to be!
Why I love this book:
This book is just filled with math concepts to challenge kids and it is presented in such a humorous way. The illustrations are almost like a comic book, with each character having a mouth bubble and interjecting their thoughts into the story, and these are incredibly clever thoughts.
This book is just filled with math concepts to challenge kids and it is presented in such a humorous way. The illustrations are almost like a comic book, with each character having a mouth bubble and interjecting their thoughts into the story, and these are incredibly clever thoughts.
The author’s goal was to create a great story that also subtly teaches math concepts. She has even managed to cleverly get in even/odd numbers, rounding and place holding, without ever taking away from the fun of the story!
Who this book is for:
This is not a preschool picture book. The humor is a little too sophisticated for such a young age and the math concepts presented, such as multiplication, division and Roman numerals are for an older audience.
This is not a preschool picture book. The humor is a little too sophisticated for such a young age and the math concepts presented, such as multiplication, division and Roman numerals are for an older audience.
Final thoughts:
I can think of 100 reasons to read this book, so I will dedicate my enjoyment to the number zero!
I can think of 100 reasons to read this book, so I will dedicate my enjoyment to the number zero!
To purchase this book, click on the following link to connect to Amazon: Zero the Hero
A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog.
A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog.
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