Book Bundles: By the Numbers

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Edward Miller. Large swaths of pastel colors and simple cartoons illustrate this exploration of the metric system. After pointing out that English measurement and metric measurement are two ways of expressing the same information, well composed spreads compare English and metric units in the areas of length, weight, and volume. Frequent examples relate to readers' experiences (a football weighs about a pound; seven apples approximate a kilogram) and emphasize the easy scalability of the metric system, while occasional activity suggestions encourage readers to get involved. Back matter includes unit conversion notecards and ways to "Think Metric!"

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Michael Young. This witty history of math starts with ancient number systems and wends its way through notable developments and entertaining asides ("The Italian city of Florence...banned zero...in 1299. Other places feared algebra and thought of zero as black magic") to the present. Lighthearted "Schoolhouse Rock"–style cartoons show historical smart alecks cracking wise in dialogue bubbles, and the inclusive text celebrates Muslim, Chinese, Mayan, and Indian contributions. While some topics will probably be beyond the capabilities of the target audience, math geeks will go reciprocal over this appealing window into mathematical thought. Back matter includes a timeline, famous math mistakes, math puzzles (with answers), a glossary, and an index.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) PS Illustrated by Sara Infante. "An eight is two circles, / One high and one low-- / Like the jolly fat fellow / You build out of snow." Rhyming quatrains describe the shape of each number and relate it to images in the mixed-media illustrations, whose casually diverse cast of dynamically exaggerated adult and child figures picnic, bike, whale watch, and go trick-or-treating in a vibrant retro palette. Subtle dotted lines tracing the number shapes are repeated in the "How many numbers can you spy?" seek-and-find at book's end. A final spread uses images from the illustrations as counters to show zero to nine in this preschool-appropriate number- and counting-palooza.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam