Savvy Blog

Everywhere you turn, we’re reminded that U.S. students are notoriously bad at math. Not all of them, of course. Your child may be a math whiz. But as a nation, we struggle with math.

As a parent who just never could seem to grasp advanced math, I’m always looking for ways to introduce my children to basic concepts in fun and creative ways. Last week at the library I picked up a book called Mathematickles.  Written by Betsy Franco with illustrations by Steven Salerno, this 2003 publication combines “brain ticklers” combining language and math. The book is written as a series of poems about the seasons, asking readers to pull together a wide range of concepts in non-direct ways. The best part is the way the book employs the look of equations, introducing young readers to the basic structure of math. Take, for example, this rhyme:

Red

Orange

Gold

+ Brown

——————————————-

Crunchy Rainbow on the Ground.

The book is colorful and full of inviting, whimsical illustrations that bring the beauty of each season alive. If you’re young reader is intimidated by math but loves to explore language, or if your young mathematician is great with numbers but finds word play uninteresting, this book is for you! The great thing is that is’t entertaining for parents as well. Learn more at the author’s webpage by clicking here.