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Math can be fun – really. And starting the children off right, by making addition, weights and other numerical concepts fun and interesting, can probably make future learning a whole lot easier. This month’s books all have a lesson rooted in numbers; all are fun and colorful. And if they help make algebra easier down the line, so much the better. If nothing else, your child can choose favorites from among the 100 animals chosen for one of this month’s selection. Numbers equal a whole lot of reading fun [For ages 2 and older] Little 1 Written by Ann Rand; illustrated by Paul Rand (Chronicle Books, hardcover, 30 pages, $15.95) Originally published in 1962, this fanciful numbers book was illustrated by one of the most famous graphic designers of his day, Paul Rand. Rand created some of the world’s best-known corporate logos, including ABC, IBM and UPS. His wife, Ann, wrote the charming text to go along with this tale of a lonely Number 1. He tries to get other numbers to play with him. But they want no part of him. It isn’t until Number Zero comes along that they find they can team up to become something really big. The pictures are colorful, bright, animated and expressive and help get across the lesson that no one ever has to be a zero. Ton By Taro Miura (Chronicle Books, hardcover, 20 pages, 15.95) Japanese illustrator Taro Miura has created a unique book as a way for children to learn about weight. A worker carries a 50-pound girder; two workers combine to carry 100 pounds. As the weight increases, so does the equipment needed to handle the weight – a wheelbarrow, a forklift, a crane, a truck and a train. The pictures are simple, but very sophisticated in their graphics and muted colors. I Can Name 50 Trees Today Written by Bonnie Worth; illustrated by Aristides Ruiz and Joe Mathieu (Random House, hardcover, 48 pages, $8.99) This latest entry in the Cat in the Hat Learning Library tackles numbers, measurements and botany. The Cat and his crew stop to admire some of the world’s most amazing trees, teaching young readers how to identify them by crown, shape, leaves, bark and fruit. The text is rhyming, in the Seussian style; a glossary and index for further reading are included in the back. Certainly worth keeping for the future botanist in the house. Ten in the Den By John Butler (Peachtree Publishers, hardcover, 28 pages, $15.95) Ten sleepy little animals cuddle together in their den for bedtime. But Little Mouse just can’t get comfortable. “Roll over,” he says to his friends. And one by one, they all roll over, out of the den and down the hill. Soon Little Mouse finds himself all alone. John Butler, an English illustrator-author, has taken an old nursery rhyme favorite and created charming pictures to go along with the familiar text. The baby animals are adorable, and young readers will have fun counting down the critters. Jake’s 100th Day of School Written by Lester L. Laminack; illustrated by Judy Love (Peachtree Publishers, hardcover, 28 pages, $16.95) It’s the 100th day of school, and everyone in class is excited. Jake is particularly excited. He has spent a lot of time compiling an album of 100 picture memories, and he plans to bring it to class to share. In addition, his Grandma Maggie is bringing a terrific surprise for the class. All around him, students have brought 100 something… paper clips, beads, bottle caps. But Jake has left his backpack – with his memory book inside – at home. He is so disappointed. What will he do? Judy Love’s whimsical drawings, done in bright pencil, ink and watercolors, perfectly capture a young, bursting-with-energy classroom, while Lester Laminack’s gentle text conveys sensitivity along with the fun. [For ages 1 and older] First 100 Animals Numerous photographers contributed to this picture book (Priddy Books for St. Martin’s Press, hardcover, 14 pages, $8.95) The publisher has compiled a photo catalog of the first 100 animals that your child may want to know. Loosely, this grouping is broken into “Pets,” “Babies on the Farm,” “On the Farm,” “Rivers and Lakes,” “Forests and Woods,” “Jungle,” “African Animals,” “Polar Animals,” “Seas and Oceans,” “Australian Animals,” and “Little Critters.” The photos, each with the name of the animal, work well for those first impressions. As your child gets a bit older, this might be a refresher course on which ones live where. Your future wildlife anthropologist will thank you. |
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