Bringing Children's Math Literacy Texts into Math Instruction Book Reviews Kait Hodgin-Western Oregon University-2018

Common Core
State Specific math Effectiveness
Standards concepts Fiction/ Character Math in Teaching Engaging Engaging
Title Author Illustrator Series Publisher Book's Summary (on back/front flap) Math Domains mentioned Nonfiction Plot Development Accuracy Math Content Text Pictures Final Thoughts
This book captures how different things can be sorted in a variety of different ways. They
cover size, shape, color, etc. which is a great introduction to the attributes concepts. It
While the cat's away, the mice will visit the playroom! But when all
Counting & Sorting, attributes, also follows an engaging story line in which the mice have to problem solve by sorting
A Mousy Mess Laura Driscoll Deborah Melmon Mouse Math Kane Press the toys come tumbling down, can Albert sort them back into the Fiction 3 3 4 5 4 5
Cardinality and classifying while still having fiction elements such as a problem and solution. There is also a page of
right bins before the People come home? (Math concept: Sorting)
"fun activities" at the back to lead students through different activities to extend both math
and literacy ideas.
Math and Art History? Of course! Best-selling author Greg Tang
knows that kids need to develop a variety of skills in order to think
This book has a great combination of basic math concepts intertwined into learning about
creatively when it comes to problem solving. With Math-terpieces,
Counting & different artists. Each page presents a certain art piece and the artist using a poem to
the fifth in his acclaimed series of mind-stretching math challenges,
Cardinality, teach about them. The poem finishes by asking the reader to group the items on the next
Tang creates his most revolutionary learning environment yet.
Operations & page into a specific total with a given number of ways. The items relate back to the
These visually oriented problems - inspired by artwork of twelve
Math-terpieces: Algebraic Make ___ using original art pieces. This concept repeats through the whole book which can help students
Scholastic great masters, including Cezanne, Degas, Picasso, and Warhol -
The Art of Greg Tang Greg Paprocki Thinking, the provided Nonfiction 0 0 4 4 5 5 build number sense when combining groups of items (beyond just make five or make ten)
Press give children ages five to seven fascinating ways to practice adding.
Problem-Solving Numbers & groups while also thinking about problem solving strategies to track their solutions or finding the
Kids up to ten years old will be stimulated to solve math problems in
Operations in best strategies to find the given total. The book isn't approach with characters or a plot but
entirely new ways. And all readers will take away a new
Base Ten, Other: still does a great job of keeping the reader engaged. When this is used as a read aloud, it
understanding and appreciation of the ways we look at art. Greg
Problem Solving might be best to have a poster, manipulative cards, white boards, or something for
Tang's intuitive approach to teaching combines poems and playful
students to use to create the groups so it is hands on.
illustrations to inspire kids to embrace the challenges of problem-
solving. Math will never be the same.
This deceptively simple bedtime book, the first in the McKellar Math
line, gives your child the building blocks for math success. As
children say goodnight to the objects all around them—three wheels This book doesn't follow a plot line but instead counts from 1 to 10 in saying goodnight to
on a tricycle, four legs on a cat—they will connect with the real items around the house while different families are getting ready for bed. Each page
numbers in their world while creating cuddly memories, night after shows a ten frame with the given number in both word and number form and a large
Crown Books night. variety of groups hidden in the pictures of the specific number on each page. This book
Goodnight Counting & Numbers (groups),
Danica McKellar Alicia Padron for Young Fiction 0 0 4 4 5 5 would be best used in preschool or kindergarten since it is targeted on counting skills. The
Numbers Cardinality counting
Readers Explore the secret math on each page using special tips at the end final pages give families suggestions on how to help build math skills and concepts while
of the book! at home as well as suggestions for how to use the book to build number skills. My favorite
part of this book is the inside of the front and back because it lists 1-10 in multiple
Actress, math whiz, and New York Times bestselling author Danica languages, shows it in roman numerals, tallies, and ten frame in a couple different ways.
McKellar uses her proven math success to show children that loving
numbers is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
This book walks the reader through creating different shapes with specific items in a step
by step way. For example, making dots and connecting them with a straight line to create
a triangle or quadrilateral. Then it has the reader use other items (pretzels, bread, graph
Shape Up!: Fun Shapes, Polygons,
paper, etc.) to create specific types of triangles, quadrilaterals, and polygons. The book
with Triangles Holiday Triangles,
David A. Adler Nancy Tobin None provided Geometry Nonfiction 0 0 5 5 5 5 also walks through the different characteristics that these shapes have (angles, side
and Other House Quadrilaterals,
lengths, etc.) in order to classify them correctly. This book doesn't follow a story line and is
Polygons Angles
more of a how to create different shapes. I think this would be awesome to read aloud
while students are doing each step to make the different shapes because hands on math
and learning is so important.
This book walks the reader through how measurement systems were created and why
There are millions of things to measure . . . and almost as many
using a common measurement system is so important. The characters learn about
ways to measure them!
different units of measure that are used in the US with different items. They also learn how
sometimes the conversion between measurements is confusing and hard to remember.
Marvelosissimo the Mathematical Magician is back -- and ready to
Height, Weight, The book then guides the characters into learning about the metric system. The math is
Millions to explore the invention of length, weight, and volume measurements. Measurement &
David M. Schwartz Steven Kellogg HarperTrophy Volume, Metric Fiction 0 0 5 4 5 5 all extremely accurate and engaging but I think students would get lost in the amount of
Measure After that, with another wave of his wand, the wizard introduces the Data
System concepts covered. I would fear that if the whole book is read in one sitting that the
world of metrics and makes it easy to understand the basic pattern
students would confuse concepts because there isn't the chance to practice or differentiate
of meters, liters, and grams. With Steven Kellogg's playful and
between the content. Students would need something to help track their learning (math
delightfully detailed illustrations, measuring has never been such a
log, anchor chart, etc.) while reading or the book would need to be read in sections so
blast!
students have a chance to practice what they have learned.
This book uses counting to help the reader learn the importance of sharing. I think
Two bears. Three yaks. Four seals. Six cats. All of them have one
students would be engaged because of the rhyme and content of the story but I don't think
thing in common: they hate to share.
One Big Pair of Beach Lane Counting & that it is the best option for teaching counting. However, it does show one less since each
Laura Gehl Tom Lichtenheld Counting87 Fiction 3 3 4 3 4 4
Underwear Books Cardinality item has one less than the number of animals that want the item so one is always left out.
But here comes a pack of twenty pigs - count on them to prove that
The pictures and story are cute and follows a good pattern but I just feel like something is
sharing makes everything twice as fun!
missing to make this a real high quality math read aloud book.
This book follows a group of characters who are "looking for problems" and end up visiting
a town called Shapeville. The town suffered a storm that blew away all the squares so
they help the townspeople figure out how to put shapes together to create new shapes.
Counting &
They also visit Count Town where they are launching a rocket but have to find missing
Why would anyone go looking for problems? Because they're fun. Cardinality,
numbers in the countdown. While the story does an okay job of how different shapes can
Frances Join Max and his brothers on a rollicking ride through Shapeville and Operations & Shapes and
Max's Math Kate Banks Boris Kulikov Fiction 3 3 4 3 4 4 be put together to create new shapes, the story jumps all over and can be hard to follow. I
Foster Books Count Town, where shapes and numbers come to life in bold and Algebraic Counting
think students would be engaged but sometimes its hard to see how the plot follows a
unexpected ways, leading to a grand finale. Thinking,
sequence that actually makes sense. I think this would be a good introductory book to
Geometry
how shapes can be used to make new shapes and then followed by an activity in which
students do the same thing. I don't think this is a strong stand alone book that should be
used to teach math content.
This book does a great job of using graphing vocabulary in the context of the story. Also
the story has characters creating different graphs while competing with each other to see
who will make the best graph. The story includes multiple types of graphs, even venn
diagrams, and then uses the graphs to make conclusions about the data by means of
dialogue between characters. While I got a little lost in the speech bubbles sometimes, it
The Great Holiday Measurement &
Loreen Leedy Loreen Leedy None provided Graphing Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5 does a great job of keeping the reader engaged while including a lot of rich math
Graph Contest House Data
vocabulary. Then the last few pages give the reader more information about each graph
that was made during the book as well as instructions on how to make different kinds of
graphs. I think this book would be a great introduction to graphing or even something to
read when students are learning to make conclusions about their graph's data. While the
graphs aren't necessarily complex, it does a great job of demonstrating the math correctly.
This book takes specific things happening in the story and creates math equations using
those events which is displayed in the picture on the page. The story follows two siblings
Counting & going to the store which isn't the most engaging as far as read aloud books go. I think
Join Lola as her brother, Charlie, patiently explains what comes after
Absolutely One Cardinality, Counting, Math students would relate to the sibling aspect of the book as well as specific events but there
Candlewick twelve, how many a thousand leaves are, and that a squillion may
Thing: Featuring Lauren Child Lauren Child Numbers & Equations based Fiction 3 4 4 4 4 4 are things mentioned in the book, such as twenty-seventeen as a number, which isn't
Press not be a real number in this funny look at what really counts from
Charlie and Lola Operations in on story context corrected by the older brother. While these leads to great conversation, I don't think this
award-wining children's book creator Lauren Child.
Base Ten book is the best model when it comes to the concepts the author intended to cover. I do
like the way the story models equations based on events in the story so this could be a
great opportunity for students to model similar problems after reading this book.
This book walks the reader through understanding basic concepts with fractions before
giving them opportunities to do hands on math with fractions using plates, rules, crayons,
Fractions,
graph paper, scales, coins, etc. This book does a great job at step by step walking the
Numerator,
reader through learning basic concepts with something tangible to apply their learning to
Numbers & Denominator,
Holiday similar to book Shape Up also by David A. Adler. I think this book would be great to read
Fraction Fun David A. Adler Nancy Tobin None provided Operations- Comparing Nonfiction 0 0 5 5 5 5
House aloud while creating an anchor chart with the information learned and then giving the
Fractions Fractions,
students the needed materials to complete each step from the book for the different
Equivalent
concepts rather than just doing it as a whole class. This would be a great introduction to
Fractions
fractions or something to read shortly after introducing the concept to reinforce learning
and help students with different learning styles.

1
Bringing Children's Math Literacy Texts into Math Instruction Book Reviews Kait Hodgin-Western Oregon University-2018

Common Core
State Specific math Effectiveness
Standards concepts Fiction/ Character Math in Teaching Engaging Engaging
Title Author Illustrator Series Publisher Book's Summary (on back/front flap) Math Domains mentioned Nonfiction Plot Development Accuracy Math Content Text Pictures Final Thoughts
This book does a great job of starting by explaining that words and numbers are similar.
Just because a word has the same three letters, the order determines what we read, just
like with the order of numbers. Then the book dives into explaining place value by
comparing multiple numbers that have the same digits in different orders while giving a
visual representation for each. Then it also explains decimals by using dollar bills, dimes,
and pennies for the different places. While this could be a little above younger students
Numbers & heads, I think the concept taught with money is a great idea to make learning more
Holiday
Place Value David A. Adler Edward Miller None provided Operations in Place Value Nonfiction 0 0 5 5 5 5 concrete because decimals can be so abstract. It also talks about the history of our
House
Base Ten number system and where it came from which gives good background knowledge to
students. I think it is important for kids to know why we do things a certain way not just
how to do it which this book covers nicely. The book is engaging while covering very rich
math content because it uses monkeys on each page who are baking to demonstrate
different steps in their recipe that relate back to the story. This would be a great book to
read to students of any grade level because it would be a great refresher book for older
students.
This book does a great job at showing the varying meanings of equal as well as how
mouse used problem solving to find a way to make the game fair. The story is engaging in
a way that would keep student attention while also teaching them about math and real life.
What does it mean to be equal? Mouse and her friends want to play Numbers & I love the way this book allows a discussion about things being equal in regards to math
Equal, halves,
tug-of-war but they can't figure out how to make equal teams. Plant- Operations in but also it could work for a discussion about students on the playground for equal teams. I
Equal Shmequal Virginia Kroll Philomena O'Neill Charlesbridge weight/balanced Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5
eaters against meat-eaters? Fur against no fur? Nothing works until Base Ten, Other: think this book provides the opportunity for students to understand that equal numbers
scale
Mouse takes things into her own paws and levels the playing field. Problem Solving doesn't always mean equal teams which is represented really well in this book. It isn't until
mouse uses the seesaw to create equal weights for each team that the game becomes
fair. The last page also explains what it means to be equal in the context of math, art, law,
and teams.
This book does a great job at following a child who is having an "odd day" in which
everything around him is not only weird but in odd numbers. It does a great job of
repeating the different odd numbers but also hiding odd numbers and odd collections of
items in the pictures for the reader to search for. The book ends with the boy waking up to
Join in the fun as a young boy awakens to find that everything
Numbers & an even number of doors and beds which leads into the next book of One Even Day. The
Doris Fisher and around him is "odd." See if you find all the odd things that surround
One Odd Day Karen Lee Arbordale Operations in Odd Numbers Fiction 5 4 5 5 5 5 book also includes a section about the different meanings of odd in regards to math
Dani Sneed him throughout the day - both at home and at school. Will his "odd
Base Ten (including probability) as well as a hundreds chart that students can color to show the odd
day" end when he goes to bed that night?
numbers. This is a great book to use to remind students of odd numbers or even to
introduce odd numbers to students due to it's rhyming pattern as well as the engaging
pictures. It would be great to project this so students could circle odd numbers or
collections on the white board as a way to further extend learning.
This book, like One Odd Day, does a great job at explaining even numbers while also
This time, the young boy awakens to find that it is another strange having even numbers and collections hidden in the pictures. The repetition of the even
day - now everything is even, and his mother has two heads! A Numbers & numbers is a great way to remind students while also having them search the pictures for
Doris Fisher and
My Even Day Karen Lee Arbordale school field trip to the zoo is dealt with in an odd, but even-handed Operations in Even Numbers Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5 collections of even numbers. The story ends with the boy waking up to only half of his
Dani Sneed
manner. Children will spend hours looking for all the hidden objects Base Ten head covered in hair which leads to the final book in the sequence My Half Day. This book
in the incredible art. also includes activities and questions at the back to extend student learning about even
numbers.
"Imagine for a moment that all the water on Earth came from just
one well. This isn't as strange as it sounds. All water on Earth is
connected, so there really is just one source - one global well - from
which we all draw our water."
While I was hoping this book would include more math, the text focuses more on informing
All living things depend on Earth's One Well. Life would be the reader about the different uses of water between all living things as well as the
impossible without it. But the water in the Earth's well is threatened importance of respecting and preserving fresh water. There is a lot of data within the text
by our growing population and increased demands. What can we that would be good to discuss with students. I think reading the book and having the
do to protect it? different facts that include data written on an anchor chart could be powerful. There is also
One Well: The Measurement & a page that discusses how water is used across different countries which is a scaled
Kids Can Measurement,
Story of Water Rochelle Strauss Rosemary Woods One Well answers this important question while telling the eye- Data, Other: Nonfiction 0 0 3 2 5 5 pictograph. This could be used for a math lesson so students find out how much water
Press Data, Graph
on Earth opening story of water on Earth. Problem Solving each of those countries are using and then extend it further by looking up the population of
each country. Then students could see if the largest populations are using the most water
Water has the power to change everything - a single splash can and if not, problem solve what should be done. I do think this book is more focused
sprout a seed, quench a thirst, provide a habitat, generate energy toward science and citizenship but there is some math hidden that would provide
and sustain life. How we treat the water in the well will affect every opportunities for math instruction. This book is great and highly recommended, but in my
species on the planet, now and for years to come. opinion, not necessarily for math instruction.

One Well is richly illustrated and timely book. Its call to action
shows how every one of us has the power to conserve and protect
our global well.
At this moment, there are more than 7 billion people on the planet!
It's hard to picture so many people at one time - but what if we
imagine the whole world as a village of just 100 people? In this
This book does a great job at taking the large population of the world and breaking it down
village: 21 people speak a Chinese dialect, 10 earn less than two
into a village of 100 people to make the numbers more tangible for the reader. The book
dollars a day, 14 cannot read or write, 45 have a television in their Measurement &
If the World looks at different aspects of this village which would be great for students to graph so they
home, 44 do not always have enough to eat. Data, Ratios &
Were a Village: could visually see the representations. I also think with older students, it would be great to
Shelagh Kids Can Proportional
A Book about David J. Smith Ratios, Data Nonfiction 0 0 4 3 5 5 convert the provided numbers back to the whole population so students could understand
Armstrong Press If the World Were a Village tells us who we are, where we live, how Relationships,
the World's that it isn't just one person in the village but 72 million people since that is the proportion
fast we are growing, what languages we speak, what religions we Other: Problem
People being used. I think that would have more impact with older students. This book does a
practice and more. This new edition updates and expands the Solving
great job at discussing real life issues while using math to support their data and prove the
statistics and provides new information on food security, energy
importance of the main idea.
consumption and health, as well as several new activities that will
stimulate discussion and show children and families how they can
become more world-minded.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 __ 12 What happened to 11?
This book shows the reader different collections of items in a variety of settings that have a
Is it in the magician's hat? Maybe it's in the mailbox or hiding in the
Counting & total of 11 items. While the book doesn't write math equations into the picture like some
jack-o'-lantern? Don't forget to look in the barnyard where the hen
Cardinality, other books, this book provides the opportunity for students to write equations on a white
12 Ways to Get awaits the arrival of her new little chicks. Could that be where eleven
Eve Merriam Bernie Karlin Aladdin Numbers & Counting Nonfiction 0 0 4 4 4 4 board or as a whole class while the book is being read. I think the book showing the
to 11 went?
Operations in different collections is a great way to demonstrate how you can have the same total sum
Eve Merriam and Bernie Karlin take young readers on a counting
Base Ten with a variety of different addends. I also think you could have students try to come up
adventure as they demonstrate twelve witty and imaginative ways to
with their own collections to make 11 or a different given number after reading this book.
get to eleven.
Greg Tang cooks up delicious new riddles that make math fun. In
this follow-up to the acclaimed bestseller, The Grapes of Math, and Math Potatoes does a great job at giving students a variety of different math problems to
its sequel Math Appeal, he gives kids more practice in his creative Grouping solve as well as a given strategy to use in order to help them do math quicker. For
Scholastic approach to his favorite subject. Each clever riddle poses a problem Other: Problem numbers, problem example, looking for specific groups or counting as a specific number and then subtracting
Math Potatoes Greg Tang Harry Briggs Nonfiction 0 0 5 5 5 5
Press and offers a helpful hint. Kids who look for smart ways to group Solving solving, skip the ones missing. While this would be a lot to cover just one after another, I love the idea
numbers will find their answers in a flash! Greg Tang's techniques counting of using this as a math intro activity or a brain break/transition activity where students are
build valuable problem-solving skills - and get kids ready for the solving one problem a day so time can be spent really focused on the given problem.
challenges of higher math.

2
Bringing Children's Math Literacy Texts into Math Instruction Book Reviews Kait Hodgin-Western Oregon University-2018

Common Core
State Specific math Effectiveness
Standards concepts Fiction/ Character Math in Teaching Engaging Engaging
Title Author Illustrator Series Publisher Book's Summary (on back/front flap) Math Domains mentioned Nonfiction Plot Development Accuracy Math Content Text Pictures Final Thoughts
Counting &
Cardinality,
Did you ever wake up to one of those days where everything is a Operations &
problem? You have 10 things to do, but only 30 minutes until your Algebraic This book does a great job at showing how there is math all around us while also
bus leaves. Is there enough time? You have 3 shirts and 2 pairs of Thinking, Problem solving, introducing students to a variety of more complex math ideas. This book as a variety of
pants. Can you make 1 good outfit? Then you start to wonder: Why Numbers & fractions, math content that could work for a variety of age levels. Math Curse is probably a better fit
does everything have to be such a problem? Why do 2 apples Operations in equations, for older students so they could solve most of the problems in the book but you could read
Math Curse Jon Scieszka Lane Smith Viking Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5
always have to be added to 5 oranges? Why do 4 kids always have Base Ten, counting, it to younger and just have them solve the parts they can. I think this book could be fun to
to divide 12 marbles? Why can't you just keep 10 cookies without Numbers & measurement, read to the class and then have them write down the different math problems they see all
someone taking 3 away? Why? Because you're the victim of a Math Operations- volume around them for a week so they become more aware of how math intertwines into
Curse. That's why. But don't despair. This is one girl's story of how Fractions, everything.
that curse can be broken. Measurement &
Data, Other:
Problem Solving
Shapes (not by This book wasn't quite what I expected but I think it's a great way to introduce how shapes
The shapes in this book get mixed up, moved around, and reshaped Counting & name, all can make lots of different things. This book is more focused for K/1 but would be a great
Shapes,
Silvia Borando Silvia Borando Candlewick into all kinds of animals. But can you guess which animal before Cardinality, rectangles and Fiction 0 0 3 3 4 5 way K-2 to give students a pile of shapes that they turn into an animal. They then could
Reshape!
they reshape? Geometry squares though), write how many of each shape their animal is made up of. A great intro book to that sort of
counting down activity would be the best use of this book, in my opinion.
Peter marched wits with the Multiplying Menace once before, but
this time Rumpelstiltskin has changed the equation. And frogs
Operations &
somehow figure into the mix. Multiply, divide, This book is a great continuation of The Multiplying Menace. My students loved the first
Algebraic
As Peter races to find where his dog, Zero, buried the Great equal groups, book and I can't wait to teach a higher grade so I can read this one. It is a great way to
The Multiplying A Math Thinking,
Pam Calvert Wayne Geehan Charlesbridge Multiplier stick, Rumpelstiltskin and his sidekick, Matilda, put their dividing by a Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5 introduce the concept or just add it back in to see if students can make the connection
Menace Divides Adventure Numbers &
evil plan for revenge in motion. Armed with the Great Divide and the fraction, dividing during literacy time. The book also makes small references to other fairy tales which
Operations in
Frog Crystal, they attempt to divide and conquer the kingdom! by 0 would be a great way to sneak math into a fairy tale study.
Base Ten
Can Peter resolve this dilemma before his entire kingdom is reduced
to amphibians?
This is a great book to help introduce algebra with students. I know my third graders
Variables,
Operations & started to learn how to use variables to represent unknowns. There are parts of this book
Mystery Math: A Addition,
Holiday Algebraic that would be good for 3rd but I think 4th+ would be ideal because they have a better
First Book of David A. Adler Edward Miller None Provided Subtraction, Nonfiction 0 0 5 5 5 5
House Thinking, Other: understanding of basic operations. I also think this would be good for middle school
Algebra Multiplication,
Problem Solving students because it would be a good reteach opportunity or help students who are
Division, Algebra
struggling to understand basic algebra concepts.
Operations, This book does a great job of introducing a lot of different math vocabulary while teaching
Zero is all alone in the land of Digitaria. He can't play Addemup with
Positive, Infinity, the importance of the number 0. I think this book could be effective at a variety of different
the other numbers, because he has nothing to add.
Numbers & Digit, Additive levels because it shows how you get the same number when you add 0 to another
Angeline Sparagna A Math Join Zero as he goes on a journey to discover his place. His quest
A Place for Zero Phyllis Hornung Charlesbridge Operations in Identity, Binomials, Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5 number. It also shows how multiplying by 0 gives you a product of 0. In addition, the book
LoPresti Adventure takes him from the mysterious workshop of Count Infinity to the
Base Ten Factor, Product, shows how digits can be put together to get a new number. I think students would be
palace of King Multiplus, where Zero meets a stranger who looks
Ones, Tens, engaged in this book because the plot does a great job of adding mystery and problem
surprisingly familiar.
Hundreds solving as the 0 tries to find his place.
Numbers & This book does a great job at showing even and odd things in the world through a fun and
Even Steven Henry B. Hello Math Even Steven likes everything to be even. Odd Todd likes everything
Kathryn Cristaldi Scholastic Operations in Even and Odd Fiction 5 5 5 4 5 5 engaging story. The book also provides different ways to determine if some amount is
and Odd Todd Morehouse Reader to be odd. How will they get along?
Base Ten even or odd which could lead to good practice with students.
The guests come marching ten by ten. Sir Cumference and Lady Di
Place value, tens,
are planning a surprise birthday party for King Arthur, but their plans This book does a great job at showing how place value works while also showing how
Sir Cumference Numbers & hundreds, and
Cindy A Math are turning into a royal mess. More and more guests arrive, until the place value makes counting easier. This book would help students understand grouping
and All the Wayne Geehan Charlesbridge Operations in thousands, groups Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5
Neuschwander Adventure castle is full from tower to moat. And the guests need to be fed! The and regrouping to make different totals while also engaging them in the plot of the story.
King's Tens Base Ten of 10, 10 groups of
knight and lady race to count tens, hundreds, and even thousands of This book also would open a good conversation for problem solving throughout.
10,
partygoers in this introduction to place value.
Rectangle,
King Arthur has a problem! When his knights get together, they sit This book does a great job of discussing a variety of different shapes while problem
Square,
at such a long table that everyone has to shout to be heard. Can Sir solving to meet the needs of the characters in the story. I like how the illustrator made it
Parallelogram,
Sir Cumference Cumference and Lady Di of Ameter "measure up" to the challenge so the reader can see how the shapes can be changed in order to make another shape. I
Cindy A Math Triangle, Octagon,
and the First Wayne Geehan Charlesbridge of building a better table? Geometry Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5 also like the creative twist of the story with explaining diameter, radius, and circumference.
Neuschwander Adventure Oval, Circle,
Round Table Explore the castle, watch a tournament and ride along with Sir I could see students being able to remember these terms through the context of the book
Diameter, Radius,
Cumference as he searches for the shape of the future. Noisy for students that learn in other ways. The fun twist of Camelot and King Arthur makes it
Circumference,
knights, a clever carpenter, and a juggling jester all add to the fun. fun for students also.
Circumscribe
The castle steward, Edmund Rounds, has a son - Rounds 2 - who
helps count supplies for Sir Cumference and Lady Di. When
Rounds 2 goes to find out whether the travelers he's seen camping This book does a great job at teaching students about the efficiency of rounding through a
Sir Cumference
in the woods are in need of provisions, he discovers something that Numbers & Groups of ten, fun and engaging story. The book approaches rounding in a problem solving way that also
and the Cindy A Math
Wayne Geehan Charlesbridge sends him running in a beeline back to the castle. Operations in rounding, friendly Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5 has the main character using a tape measure (number line) to figure out how to round.
Roundabout Neuschwander Adventure
Base Ten tens This is a great way to introduce the concept to students or use it as a method to reinforce
Battle
The travelers are Sir Wantsalot and his men! Can Rounds 2 figure learning.
out the bow and arrow totals in time to know whether there are
enough to defend the castle?
Sir Cumference, Lady Di of Ameter, and Radius are back in their
Geometry,
second Math Adventure! This time, a potion has changed Sir
symmetry, circle,
Cumference into a fire-breathing dragon. Can Radius change him This book does a great job at making pi a real concept for students to understand. The
Sir Cumference halves quarters
Cindy A Math back? main character uses the circumference and diameter of pies, wheels, and other items to
and the Dragon Wayne Geehan Charlesbridge Geometry and eights, Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5
Neuschwander Adventure determine the relationship between the two. This would be a great book to read and then
of Pi diameter,
Join Radius on his quest through the castle to solve a riddle that will have students do a similar activity to see if they find the same relationship.
circumference, pi,
reveal the cure. It lies in discovering the magic number that is the
compass
same for all circles.
Radius, son of Sir Cumference and Lady Di of Ameter, wants to be a
knight more than anything. To earn his knighthood, he needs to
venture alone on a heroic quest. This book engages readers with a quest to find a missing king in which the main character
Sir Cumference Degrees, right
has to use a compass (family medallion) to measure degrees. Using the tool, he
and the Great Cindy A Math angle, straight
Wayne Geehan Charlesbridge With only a family medallion for luck, Radius dodges dangers and Geometry Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5 navigates his way through danger to find him. This book would be a great introductory
Knight of Neuschwander Adventure angle, obtuse,
dragons. The ultimate challenge lies in a mysterious castle with a lesson and then have a lesson/activity that students do in which they have to measure
Angleland acute, parallel
maze of many angles. Which way would you go if you were angles on a quest.
Radius? With the medallion at the back of the book, you can join in
on the adventure!
Vertex, edge, nets,
Sir Cumference is back geometry,
And he's not alone, symmetry, shapes,
Helping Sir Vertex height, length,
This book does a great job at looking at the edges, vertices, and faces of a variety of
Sir Cumference Seek the sword in the cone. width, faces,
Cindy A Math different shapes and then the relationship with cones and cylinders. This book could be
and the Sword Wayne Geehan Charlesbridge Geometry cylinder, cone, Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5
Neuschwander Adventure used in a variety of different ways to engage students in looking at base and height,
in the Cone King Arthur has hidden his sword, Edgecalibur. The knight who Euler's Formula
Euler's Formula, or edges, faces, vertices.
finds it will be the next king. Can Sir Cumference and Lady Di point (not specifically
Vertex in the right direction? Will Vertex's sharp thinking give him said but formula
the edge? given), base,
polyhedron

3
Bringing Children's Math Literacy Texts into Math Instruction Book Reviews Kait Hodgin-Western Oregon University-2018

Common Core
State Specific math Effectiveness
Standards concepts Fiction/ Character Math in Teaching Engaging Engaging
Title Author Illustrator Series Publisher Book's Summary (on back/front flap) Math Domains mentioned Nonfiction Plot Development Accuracy Math Content Text Pictures Final Thoughts
X and Y mark the spot. Xaxon Yellowbearyd was the fiercest Viking
Sir Cumference warrior of his time. Now a map to his hidden treasure lies in the Measurement & This book does an awesome job at introducing a coordinate grid system. This would be a
Cindy A Math Map, axes,
and the Viking's Wayne Geehan Charlesbridge hands of Radius and Per. Together the cousins must decode the Data, Other: Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5 great way to teach students this concept and then have them use a coordinate grid system
Neuschwander Adventure coordinates,
Map strange numbered grid on the map - and figure out the secret Problem Solving to solve a mystery or follow clues.
message of the Viking's X and Y axes.
Who can solve this circular mystery? Young Per loves to play
games. When she visits her uncle Sir Cumference and her aunt
Lady Di of Ameter, they teach her a new game. But the game has a Area, Perimeter, The book shows a great image of how a circle can be broken down into approximately a
Sir Cumference
Cindy A Math hidden message that points to a mysterious island. Circle, rectangle. Then it uses this information for the characters to find a formula to find the area
and the Isle of Wayne Geehan Charlesbridge Geometry Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5
Neuschwander Adventure Circumference, of a circle. This makes the concept and formula more real so students can better
Immeter
Per and her cousin Radius set sail for the Isle of Immeter. Can the Radius, understand why the formula actually works.
cousins unlock the secret of Immeter before the fearsome sea
serpent finds them?
Sir Cumference and Lady Di need a baker to prepare a special
Sir Cumference Pie Graph, Bar
Cindy A Math dessert for the annual Harvest Faire. Two bakers enter a Measurement & This book is a great introduction to graphing and does a great job at showing pie charts
and the Off-the- Wayne Geehan Charlesbridge Graph, tally marks, Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5
Neuschwander Adventure competition to prove who makes the best sweet treat. Both bakers Data and bar graphs as well as other basic components of graphing.
Charts Dessert picture graph,
struggle to keep track of the votes their desserts receive.
Sir Cumference and Lady Di of Ameter visit the Earl of Fraction at
the annual Fraction Faire. Their day is interrupted when they realize Fractions,
that goods are being stolen from their merchants. And then the denominator, Fractions are introduced in this book in an engaging way in which they are represented on
Sir Cumference earl's sheep go missing, too! Numbers & numerator, fourths, items. The main characters make the same mistakes that students normally make (like
Cindy A Math
and the Fraction Wayne Geehan Charlesbridge Operations- whole, sixths, Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5 denominators with larger numbers are bigger). This opens the opportunity for them to
Neuschwander Adventure
Faire The earl decides to use "Fraction numbers" to catch the culprits. Fractions eighths, thirds, connect with the book but also learn the correct relationships with fractions as well as how
After all, outsiders don't know how to read numerators and halves, equivalent the numerator and denominator works.
denominators properly. With the math trap set, will the earl and his fractions,
friends catch the thieves?
Will Pythagoras ever get anything right?
Straight, distance,
right triangle, 3-4-5
Pythagoras always seems to be in trouble, but it’s only because he’s
triangle, squares
so curious. You never know where you’ll find him. He could be up This book does a great job at making the Pythagorean Theorem more real for students. I
What's Your on the edges of
A Math in a tree with the birds, spying on workmen, or messing about with know when I was in school, we simply learned the formula and it wasn't til college that I
Angle, Julie Ellis Phyllis Hornung Charlesbridge Geometry triangles, squaring, Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5
Adventure maps. understood why the formula worked. This would be a great way to show students the
Pythagoras right angle, 5-12-
proof behind the formula and have them test it out with a variety of different triangles.
13 triangle,
He is deep into his latest adventure, and trouble, when he discovers
Pythagorean
a pattern that gets him on everyone’s good side.
Theorem formula

Pythagora’s cousin Octavius wants to win the music contest, but his
pipes are out of tune. Pythagoras compares the faulty pipes to this This book does a great job of using math to solve a problem with musical instruments that
length, width,
own perfect set. Together the cousins find a relationship between Operations & are not in tune. The main character finds a relationship between the width and length of
divide, greatest
Pythagoras and Phyllis Hornung A Math the longest and the shortest of Pythagoras’s pipes, which gives Algebraic his pipes which he then applies to other musical instruments in order to make them all play
Julie Ellis Charlesbridge common factor, Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5
the Ratios Peacock Adventure them an idea for how to fix Octavious’s set. The answer’s not so Thinking, in tune together. I think students would be engaged in this book and it would be a great
simplifying,
easy when cousins Reyna and Amara ask Pythagoras to fix their Geometry introduction for how ratios are set up. Then students could solve similar problems using
relationship, ratios
lyres so that they can join the contest, too. Will Pythagoras tune in what they learned.
to the solution in time?
This book does a great job at showing how negative numbers work through a graph and a
Line graph,
Perry the Penguin needs 9 clams to buy an ice scooter – but he’s real life story that could happen to kids. This makes the concept for real for kids since
Numbers & negative numbers,
not very good at saving. As Perry earns, spends, finds, loses, and some can really struggle to understand how negative numbers work. It would be great to
Less than Zero Stuart Murphy Frank Remkiewicz Math Start Harper Collins Operations in less than, adding Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5
borrows clams, a simple line graph demonstrates the concept of have students draw the graph with the main character as the teacher reads the book so
Base Ten negative and
negative numbers. they can see how the totals change right in front of them. There is also a section with
positive numbers
ideas for teachers and other books that have the same type of concepts as this book.
addition, equals,
symbol, sum,
If you were a plus sign, you would add things together. You could
Numbers & commutative
Picture add people and animals. You could add up and down or side to I think this book is a great introduction to addition but also covers some important concepts
If You Were a Trisha Speed Francesca If You Were Operations in property (not
Window side. Nonfiction 0 0 5 5 5 5 such as the commutative property for addition. This book could be read to review addition
Plus Sign Shaskan Carabelli A... Base Ten, Other: specifically named
Books but then teach the new concept that your students will be focusing on.
Problem Solving but concept
What else could you do if you were a plus sign?
explained), story
problem
subtract, symbol, This book is a good introduction to subtraction. Similar to the Plus Sign book, this book
If you were a minus sign, you would subtract one number from Numbers &
Picture take-away, teaches specific concepts that could be introduced through this book. For example,
If You Were a Trisha Speed Francesca If You Were another. In every problem, you would find the difference. Operations in
Window difference, story Nonfiction 0 0 5 5 5 5 checking your answer by adding. There is also a section at the end with story problems
Minus Sign Shaskan Carabelli A... Base Ten, Other:
Books problems, addition and a number line for students to use to solve. This could be a fun activity to do after
What else could you do if you were a minus sign? Problem Solving
to check reading with students.
half, thirds, fourths, This book has a lot of fractions woven into the story. However, it never explains how
Wacky fun continues as a young boy wakes to find a half head of
Numbers & fifths, sixths, fractions work or gives illustrations to represent the fractions used. With that being said, I
Doris Fisher and hair. After chugging down a glass of milk that’s two thirds gooey
My Half Day Karen Lee Arbordale Operations- sevenths, eighths, Fiction 5 5 4 3 5 5 think this book is still very engaging and would be a great way to test students on fractions.
Dani Sneed paste, he and his friend are off to camp for a day of fraction fun and
Fractions ninths, tenths, You could read the book and have the students draw the fractions mentioned throughout
an out-of-this- world soccer game.
whole, the story. This would show if they understand the concepts or need further practice.
story problems,
Are some kids naturally “good in math”? Or have they learned to addition, friendly
Grapes of Math does a great job at giving students new strategies to make their math
think about numbers and problems in more effective ways”? The 10 (mentioned as
quicker. I think it would be great to copy off a problem for students to solve. They could
The Grapes of Grapes of Math introduces children to the art of problem solving Other: Problem a match),
Greg Tang Harry Biggs Scholastic Nonfiction 0 0 5 5 5 5 draw on the picture and show the equation that is being used to solve the problem. This
Math through a series of engaging math riddles. These riddles challenge Solving subtraction,
would be good practice for applying the new strategy with the work right in front of them
kids (and parents!) to think creatively while teaching valuable tricks square, skip
which is most helpful for students.
for adding more quickly and accurately. counting, half, pair,
doubles, sum,
Math missionary Greg Tang brings us even more mind – bending
math puzzles. Every riddle in this book poses a problem. You can Friendly tens
Similar to Grapes of Math, Math for All Seasons does a great job at giving new strategies
solve it the slow way, by counting – or you can use the author’s (grouping by ten),
Math for All Other: Problem for solving problems and making math quicker. I think this book would also be great to
Greg Tang Harry Biggs Scholastic creative techniques to find the answer in a flash Even the youngest sum, subtract, Nonfiction 0 0 5 5 5 5
Seasons Solving copy so students can solve the problems on a page by writing on it to use the given
mathematicians will learn important problem solving skills from this groups, skip
strategy.
winning combination of clever games and vibrant illustrations. So counting, double,
get a head start on the road to higher math!
King Balbazar's kingdom has made a mess of measuring. Curtains
are too long, robes are too short, and no one knows how to solve This book does a great job of showing how a variety of different measurement lengths can
The Royal
Millbrook the problem. People measure length with everything from Measurement & measure, yardstick be troublesome. This book helps prove the necessity of having a standard unit of
Treasure Trudy Harris Ivica Stevanovic Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5
Press candlesticks to sausages to spoons. Finally, King Balbazar holds a Data rulers, foot, measurement through a fun and engaging story. There is also a note at the end about
Measure
contest. Who will come up with the winning unit of measurement - using the foot for measurement and how it would change based on the royal in charge.
and what will it be?
Counting & In the book, the math isn't explained on each page for representing each amount.
hundred,
Cardinality, However, there is a section at the end that explains the math for each step and how to
How Much is a How much is a million? Ever wonder just what a million of something thousand, hundred
David M. Schwartz Steven Kellogg Harper Collins Numbers & Nonfiction 0 0 5 4 5 5 check the math they used to find the measurements. I think this is tough for younger
Million? means? How about a billion? Or a trillion? thousand, million,
Operations in students to do but would be good for older as practice. This book could be used to help
billion, trillion
Base Ten students understand how big a million is but also the relationship with numbers.
Come one, come all, come to the zoo! This book is focused only on counting from 1-10 while animals are being transported to the
Philomel One elephant, two lions, three giraffes…. Counting & zoo. There is a train at the bottom that shows each set of animals which could be
1,2,3 to the Zoo Eric Carle Eric Carle Counting Nonfiction 0 0 5 5 5 5
Books Join Eric Carle’s delightful animal train to the zoo Cardinality enlarged as empty train cars and students could draw in each amount of animal to practice
As you count the animals one by one. counting. This book is definitely targeted toward kindergarten.

4
Bringing Children's Math Literacy Texts into Math Instruction Book Reviews Kait Hodgin-Western Oregon University-2018

Common Core
State Specific math Effectiveness
Standards concepts Fiction/ Character Math in Teaching Engaging Engaging
Title Author Illustrator Series Publisher Book's Summary (on back/front flap) Math Domains mentioned Nonfiction Plot Development Accuracy Math Content Text Pictures Final Thoughts
Curious George is a good little monkey, and always very curious.
Now George is curious about numbers and loves to count. Can he
count all the way to 100? George has picked the perfect day to try –
Houghton it’s his town’s 100th birthday today, and everyone’s coming out to This book is focused on counting from 1 to 100 one at a time. I think students would be
Counting, groups,
Curious George Mifflin celebrate! engaged even though this is a long book. I was trying to guess what he would find next to
Anna Grossnickle Counting & pennies, nickles,
Learns to Count H.A. Rey Harcourt Fiction 4 4 5 5 5 5 count and I could see kids being the same way. I think this book is way too simplistic for
Hines Cardinality dimes, quarters,
from 1 to 100 Publishing From home to school to the center of town, there are so many things older students but it would be interesting to give them a copy of a few pages and ask them
dollars
Company for you and George to count – 9 stuffed animals, 26 pancakes, 57 to group the items to make them quicker to count.
mice, and so much more Along the way, you and George can count
by ones, or tackle the bigger numbers in all kinds of fun groupings.
George makes it easy to get curious about numbers!
Hundred, pairs,
sets, decomposing
I see younger students liking this book. There isn't as much math in it as I had hoped. It
100 (not
One Hundred Step Into Random Centipede has one hundred feet. And one hundred feet means one Counting & talked about 2 groups of 50, 5 sets of 20, and 10 groups of 10 which is important but it was
Charles Ghigna Bob Staake mentioned as Nonfiction 4 3 3 2 4 5
Shoes Reading House hundred shoes. How will Centipede choose his shoes? Cardinality a quick portion of the book. I think this is something that could be read for fun but not to
decomposing but
specifically teach any math content.
shows different
groups)
When are one hundred shoes too many shoes? And what do you This book also didn't have as much math as I had hoped. It did do a good job at showing
Centipede's 100 Henry Holt do with too many shoes? Why, you give them away! Find out who Counting & 100 and explaining that most centipede's don't actually have 100 legs. There were a
Tony Ross Tony Ross Counting Fiction 5 5 4 3 5 5
Shoes and Company gets them in this delightfully silly story about a centipede with sore Cardinality variety of different groups shown throughout the book. This should be used to review
feet. counting but not to teach it.
This book counts from 1-10 and then from 10's to 100. Each page has a variety of items
In this ingenious counting book, more than 2,500 items are
From One to Counting & hidden that match the page number. This is a good practice opportunity for students but I
Teri Sloat Puffin Books imaginatively arranged in a dazzling display of detail, color, and Counting Nonfiction 0 0 4 3 5 5
One Hundred Cardinality don't see it as being fully effective in trying to teach content. I do think students would be
inventiveness.
excited to look at the pictures to try and find the given amount of each picture.
Triangle, side,
angle,
Bored and dissatisfied with his life, a triangle visits a local
quadrilateral, This book does a great job at showing how different shapes are hidden around the world
shapeshifter to add another angle to his shape. Poof! He becomes
The Greedy pentagon, as the triangle tries to be different shapes. This book would be a great introduction activity
Marilyn Burns Gordon Silveria Scholastic a quadrilateral. But then he gets greedy and keeps adding angles Geometry Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5
Triangle hexagon, to shapes and then send students on a shape hunt in the classroom to see what different
until he’s completely transformed. A story so fun kids won’t even
heptagon, shapes they can find.
realize they’re learning basic math!
octagon, nonagon,
decagon,
Perimeter, area,
volume,
dimensions,
length, width,
depth, sides,
This book does a great job at showing the differences between dimensions in order to
Perimeter, Area, distance,
solve for area, perimeter, or volume. There is a variety of different problems given which
and Volume: A Holiday Measurement & circumference,
David A. Adler Edward Miller None Provided Nonfiction 0 0 5 5 5 5 help students understand the different components in a variety of different ways. While
Monster Book of House Data, Geometry radius, types of
this book is non fiction, the monster aspect makes it engaging for students and would open
Dimensions measurements,
up a variety of different projects to have students do to practice the skills taught.
rectangle, circle,
square, right
angles, multiply,
surface, cube,
cubic,
Quadrilateral,
closed, sides,
straight, figure,
This book shows a variety of different ways that quadrilaterals are hidden around while
Picture If you were a quadrilateral, you would have four straight sides. You polygon, angles,
If You Were a Francesca If You Were also explaining the different components that make each shape. I think this is a great
Molly Blaisdell Window could be a checkerboard, a kite, or a yoga mat. What else could Geometry measurement, Nonfiction 0 0 5 5 5 5
Quadrilateral Carabelli A... book to read to teach students about quadrilaterals while making an anchor chart to
Books you be if you were a quadrilateral? rectangle, square,
match.
rhombus,
parallelograms,
trapezoid,
Polygon, closed,
sides, straight,
regular polygon,
length, angles,
measure, irregular This picture does a great job at showing what is needed to be a polygon as well as a
Picture If you were a polygon, you would have at least three straight sides. polygon, vertices, regular polygon vs. irregular polygon. I think this book could also be read to teach
If You Were a If You Were
Marcie Aboff Sarah Dillard Window You could be a kite, a star, or a stop sign. What else could you be if Geometry triangle, square, Nonfiction 0 0 5 5 5 5 students about the variety of different types of polygons that students could go search for
Polygon A...
Books you were a polygon? rectangle, in the room. They could also take a variety of pictures and sort them based on being
pentagon, regular or irregular. There are a lot of options with this book.
hexagon,
heptagon,
octagon, nonagon,
decagon
Fraction, equal
This book shows a variety of different ways to represent fractions beyond food. Often
parts, whole, half,
teachers go straight to pies, pizza, cake, etc. to try and show fractions because it is easy
Picture If you were a fraction, you would be part of whole. You could be a Numbers & eighth, fourth,
If You Were a Trisha Speed Francesca If You Were to show the whole. However, this is part of what makes fractions hard for kids when they
Window part of a pizza or part of a pie. You could be part of an apple or part Operations- divided, thirds, Nonfiction 0 0 5 5 5 5
Fraction Shaskan Carabelli A... are looking at a fraction of a group of items. This book gives a variety of different
Books of a pear. Fractions subdivided, set,
approaches that helps students (and potentially teachers) understand new ways to look at
comparing
fractions.
fractions
Tessellations,
Enzo, the magician’s son, is better at math than at magic. curves, simplify,
triangles,
Tessel the shoemaker can’t figure out how to make twelve identical rectangles,
pairs of shoes from only one piece of leather. perigon, rotate, This book shows how math can solve a basic problem while introducing students to the
Toads and A Math internal angles, idea of tessellations. Many students create tessellations with pattern blocks but don't
Sharon Morrisette Philomena O'Neill Charlesbridge Geometry Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5
Tessellations Adventure Tessel’s sister, Aida, thinks Enzo may be able to help. round angle, realize the name for them. This book would be a great way to show how items can be
hexagon, gap, tessellated and then a fun activity with tessellating for art could follow.
When a spell snafu leads Enzo and Aida to a method of forming overlap, flip
patterns without gaps or overlaps, they find that math, nor magic, (reflection), slide
may be the answer to their problems. (translation),
transformation
The Zills family is summoned to Egypt to help find the hidden burial
chamber of an ancient pharaoh. But when Matt and Bibi get trapped geometric solids,
in the pharaoh’s pyramid, they stumble upon an even bigger cones, spheres,
This book does a great job at introducing geometric solids and having the characters use
Cindy Henry Holt mystery. With only each other, their dog Riley, and the geometric cubes, cylinders,
Mummy Math Bryan Langdo Geometry Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5 the number of faces to solve clues to work their way through the pyramid. You could make
Neuschwander and Company hieroglyphics on the walls to help them, the twins must use their pyramids,
an anchor chart while reading this book or simply use it as a fun way to wrap up a unit.
math skills to locate the burial chamber – and the way out. Luckily, tetrahedrons,
Matt and Bibi know their stuff when it comes to geometric solids, and prisms, faces
so will the readers of this adventure in math!

5
Bringing Children's Math Literacy Texts into Math Instruction Book Reviews Kait Hodgin-Western Oregon University-2018

Common Core
State Specific math Effectiveness
Standards concepts Fiction/ Character Math in Teaching Engaging Engaging
Title Author Illustrator Series Publisher Book's Summary (on back/front flap) Math Domains mentioned Nonfiction Plot Development Accuracy Math Content Text Pictures Final Thoughts
Mr. and Mrs. Comfort are having a family reunion! While Mr.
Comfort starts cooking up his famous spaghetti and meatballs, Mrs. This book shows how eight tables can be rearranged in multiple different ways with
Spaghetti and Comfort arranges the tables and chairs so that everyone has a seat. Area, perimeter, multiple different outcomes for the perimeter. Students could draw the new arrangements
Marilyn Burns Debbie Tilley Scholastic Geometry Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5
Meatballs for All Soon the guests arrive – with their own seating plans! This rearranging and find the perimeters through each step of the book to see if there will be enough seats
humorous story will draw children into thinking about area and for the guests coming to the party.
perimeter.
line, square, sides, This book does a good job at showing how there are a variety of different shapes beyond
When a Line rectangle, triangle, just polygons that are composed of line segments. Often we get focused on specific types
Rhonda Gowler Houghton
Bends…A James Kaczman None Provided Geometry circle, oval, star, Nonfiction 0 0 5 5 5 5 of shapes but this book would be a good introduction to a variety of different shape types.
Greene Mifflin
Shape Begins heart, crescent, Students could also use this book to sort the given shapes into polygons and non-
octagon, shapes polygons based on the requirements need for each.
Square, cube, The book uses a variety of different geometric solids to help the main character navigate
Captain
Captain Invincible must use three-dimensional shapes to help him faces, cone, circle, his way back to Earth. The book and character discuss different characteristics of each
Invincible and
Stuart J. Murphy Remy Simard Math Start Harper Collins get back to Earth safely in this action-packed intergalactic Geometry pyramid, triangle, Fiction 5 5 4 4 5 5 solid and how those features are going to help them defeat each problem. This would be
the Space
adventure! cylinder, sphere, a good book to introduce shapes and then have students write their own stories using
Shapes
rectangular prism shapes to help them solve a problem.
George Conelius Factor (or GCF, for short) is crazy about fractions.
When a brand-new 5/9 goes up for auction, he’s the first in line to
buy it. The bidding heats up – and then the lights go out. When
fractions,
they go back on, the 5/9 is gone.
equivalent This book does a great job at showing how to reduce fractions to its simplest form. The
Numbers & fractions, reducing main character uses a tool called a reducer to find a missing fraction that the villain in the
Fractions in A Math Has the mysterious Dr. Brok stolen the fraction and disguised it?
Edward Einhorn David Clark Charlesbridge Operations- fractions, lowest Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5 story has stolen. The book shows the steps needed to check if a fraction can be reduced
Disguise Adventure Can out intrepid hero strip away the disguise with his trusty
Fractions terms, numerator, and how to do the math to solve it. This book would be an awesome introduction or
Reducer?
denominator, extension lesson for students learning about this concept.
factor
Equal parts action and humor add up to a wholly entertaining
introduction to simplifying fractions.

Fractions,
decimals,
percents, parts of
Numbers &
whole, money, I think students would get lost in this book if they didn't already have an understanding of
Operations in
Fractions, denominator, fractions, decimals, and percents. While the book does a good job explaining each, I can
Holiday Base Ten,
Decimals, and David A. Adler Edward Miller None Provided numerator, Nonfiction 0 0 5 4 4 5 see students who are already confused get more confused. I think this book could be
House Numbers &
Percents decimal point, useful at the end of a unit or part way through so students already have an understanding
Operations-
hundreds, tens, of the concepts and don't start switching them around.
Fractions
ones, tenths,
hundredths, digit,
divide, equivalent
Parts of a whole,
portion. half,
A Fraction’s Numbers & This book also does a great job at showing fractions beyond just food concepts for thinking
Math is Millbrook fourth, equal
Goal – Parts of Brian P. Cleary Brian Gable None Provided Operations- Nonfiction 0 0 5 5 5 5 about parts of a whole. This would be a good intro book or refresher part way through a
Categorical Press fractions,
a Whole Fractions unit.
numerator,
denominator
This book focuses more on the history of money and how we reached coins and dollars. I
money, types of
Holiday Measurement & was hoping for more with counting money, spending money, etc. so students would have
Money Madness David A. Adler Edward Miller None Provided money, coins, Nonfiction 0 0 5 3 5 5
House Data practice with the math that relates to money. However, this book still provides good
value,
information for students to know when understanding how money works in our world.
Jack has a giant problem.

Jack climbs the beanstalk and finds a new friend. But the friend is a
Measurement, fair,
giant who is five times his height!
ratio,
multiplication, This book does a great job at showing the ratio between different problems in the story in
Beanstalk: The They try to play ball, but the ball is almost as big as Jack. Jack’s
A Math Measurement & parallel, order to solve problems that the characters in the story have. This would be a great way
Measure of a Ann McCallum James Balkovek Charlesbridge games are the perfect size for him, but are much too small for the Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5
Adventure Data perpendicular, to introduce the idea or even use it for an activity where students need to find the missing
Giant giant. How can the two ever play together?
squares, lines, amount before reading on in the story.
proportions,
When Jack invites his new friend home, he realized just how big the
relationship
problem is. Can a 4 – foot boy and his 20 – foot giant really be
friends?

One day, Farmer Worth notices a little tree growing where nothing
has ever grown before. He gives it organic fertilizer and finds out
that money really does grow on trees!
This book involves a variety of different types of money but doesn't show as much math as
penny, nickles,
Once Upon a A Math Lewis and Cluck provide the chicken droppings. Dwight D. Measurement & I think is necessary for this to be a great text to use in the classroom. There is opportunity
Nancy Kelly Allen Adam Doyle Charlesbridge dimes, quarter, Fiction 5 5 4 3 5 5
Dime Adventure Oinkenhower provides the pig squish. And Moolly Pitcher provides Data for extensions off of this book or activities while reading (finding the value of each crop
one dollar bills,
the cow pies. Farmer Worth’s young helper counts up the coins and from the money tree).
dreams of more. Will he end up as happy as a pig in a puddle?

What is the real value of Farmer Worth’s crop?

The O’Malley kids are playing tally games, counting up all the gray This book is a super cute and engaging way to teach tally marks to students. The
cars or green T-shirts they see. First Eric wins, then Bridget wins – Measurement & characters play a tally game which would be great for families to play or students in the
Tally O’Malley Stuart J. Murphy Cynthia Jabar Math Start Harper Collins Tallying, bundle Fiction 5 5 5 5 5 5
but what about Nell? A surprise ending makes this a lively Data classroom. It reminds the reader to bundle when they get five and shows the different
introduction to the useful skill of tallying. amounts from the characters.
Every evening he makes wonderful plans for the next day. And
every morning those five pesky monkeys ruin them. They tease
him, they bug him, they make him fall down. Whatever he does, This book has the main character doing a different thing each hour. The actual time is
What Time Is It, Voyager they’re always around. Measurement & never mentioned during the book but there is always a clock showing that students could
Judy Sierra Doug Cushman Telling time Fiction 5 5 5 3 5 5
Mr. Crocodile Books Data have to read. It also looks at the schedule for his day which is also useful for students.
It’s time for Mr. Crocodile to do something drastic. It’s time to laugh, This book only focuses on times on the hour.
time to play – and time to make those bad neighbors go far, far
away!
This book does a great job at using rhyming to engage the reader in the content. The
A Second, a Time, seconds, book also gives different suggestions, like two claps is about a second, to help the reader
Minute, A Week minutes, days, get perspective on different lengths of time. This can be a hard concept for students so
Math is Millbrook Measurement &
with Days in It: Brian P. Cleary Brian Gable None provided weeks, months, Nonfiction 0 0 5 4 5 5 these suggestions can help make time more real. There were pieces that I wished were
CATegorical Press Data
A Book about years, hour. included (days in a week, days in a year) but all together, this book is a good introduction
Time decade to time or a good refresher for students who seem to have forgotten from one year to the
next.

6
Bringing Children's Math Literacy Texts into Math Instruction Book Reviews Kait Hodgin-Western Oregon University-2018

Common Core
State Specific math Effectiveness
Standards concepts Fiction/ Character Math in Teaching Engaging Engaging
Title Author Illustrator Series Publisher Book's Summary (on back/front flap) Math Domains mentioned Nonfiction Plot Development Accuracy Math Content Text Pictures Final Thoughts
infinity, percent,
counting, years,
seconds, time,
There once was a boy names Paul who loved math. He spent his
negative numbers,
days calculating, counting, and thinking about numbers. I picked this book to review because I thought it would be important for students to see
less than, rules,
famous mathematicians lives. This book isn't necessarily one to use to teach specific
A Boy Who prime numbers,
He couldn’t tie his shoes or butter his own toast – sometimes the content like the other books that I have reviewed but it does a great job at showing
Loved Math, divide, add,
Roaring Brook world just didn’t seem like it was made for a boy who only thought Other: students that mathematicians think about math all the time. It also shows how
The Improbably Deborah Heiligman LeUyen Pham subtract, even, Nonfiction 5 5 4 2 5 5
Press about math all day long. Mathematician mathematicians find math problems to solve by looking for patterns. I found this book
Life of Paul odd, epsilon,
extremely interesting and I think it opens up discussions on different math topics but also
Erdős number theory,
This is the story of how Paul found his own way in the world by what it means to be a mathematician during math time. The author also includes notes
combinatorics,
making friends and sharing his ideas, and how he grew to become that reference each page and information about it, or specific math content mentioned.
probabilistic
one of the world’s most famous and beloved mathematicians.
method, set
theory, codes,
erdos number
Roman numerals,
Hindu-Arabic
numerals,
fractions,
This is another book focused on a famous mathematician. This book isn't fully non fiction
measurement,
because there isn't a lot known about Leonardo Fibonacci. However, this book also shows
geometry, division,
The Italian mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci discovered that most how mathematicians think about numbers all the time including finding patterns in the
subtraction,
Blockhead, the Henry Holt things in nature follow a set pattern. We now call this the Fibonacci Other: world around them. While this math may be slightly above the head of some elementary
Joseph D’Agnese John O’Brien problem solving Fiction 5 5 5 4 5 5
Life of Fibonacci and Company sequence. It begins with 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55 . . .and can Mathematician school students, it is still interesting for them to understand how the brain of a
(rabbits),
go on forever! mathematician works. The book also has a page of activities for students to do. Some of
consecutive,
these activities are looking back at the book to try and find specific things, while others are
Fibonacci
looking at things in real life.
sequence, how to
show Fibonacci
sequence numbers
as a spiral,
This book isn't complex when it comes to the actual text but it forces students to think
about shapes in different ways. The book starts by giving four different shapes in a set
and asking the reading to pick which one doesn't belong. Then it walks through the
Shapes, attributes,
multiple options for why all four could potentially not belong depending on what specific
Which One Christopher Stenhouse alike, different,
None provided Geometry Nonfiction 0 0 5 5 5 5 thing you are looking at when classifying the shapes. Then there is a sequence of pages
Doesn't Belong? Danielson Publishers sides, square,
with different sets of shapes that ask the reading to pick which doesn't belong with there
angles, sets
being multiple options on each page. This would be a great challenge for students to think
beyond what their first instinct is but also to show how students in the same class can think
in different ways about math.
This book is targeted more for kindergarten with its basic counting and addition problems
In this charming counting book, one very big bear thinks he’s the (1+1+1=3). However, I see students being engaged in the book and looking at how
Oliver biggest thing around. Then two walrus come along and show him different things can make up the same total. You really could pull this book for third grade
One Very Big Abrams Counting &
Alice Brière-Haquet Philipponneau and that together, they’re just as big as he is. A parade of foxes, four Counting, addition Fiction 4 4 5 5 5 5 and have them write fractions for each set of animals that are making up the same height
Bear Appleseed Cardinality
Raphaële Enjary sea lions, five penguins, six sardines – and each group bands as the bear. Students could draw a picture to represent each part or you could even have
together to measure up to ONE very big hungry bear. pictures for kinder students to color and glue to a paper before writing an equation to
match.
This book is laid out with questions written to "Mary Math" and then her responses back
that answer the question which explains the math and how she arrived at her answer. I
comparison,
think students would be engaged in these questions a few at a time because it could be
proportions, time,
Mind - Boggling Millbrook What do a blue whale, a grizzly bear, and an elephant – size piggy Measurement & overwhelming as this is a longer book. There is a section at the end that shows the
Michael J. Rosen Julia Patton weight, distance, Nonfiction 0 0 5 4 5 5
Numbers Press bank have to do with math? Find the answers and lots more inside! Data specific math that was done to solve each question. There is also a page of metric
speed, area,
conversions for mass, volume, length, area, and speed as well as definitions of area,
volume
speed, and volume. You could read the question and solution and then show students the
math that the author did to solve the problem.