How do we love you, Stuart J. Murphy? Let us count the ways!
These books are the answer to anyone who says reading can't be integrated into any subject! Just look at all these titles, including children who respond to art and narrative into the math-loving equation! Where were these books when I was a kid? Maybe then I wouldn't have had to try to see Carlos D'Agostino's answers all the time! (Sorry, Mr. Porok! You tried!) These books focus on math concepts rather than counting, and if you add them up you'll have kids with improved math skills and reading comprehension!
The Grapes of Math by Greg Tang (math riddles, problem-solving strategies)
Tiger Math: Learning to Graph from a Baby Tiger by Ann Whitehead Nagda and Cindy Cickel (graphing)
One Grain of Rice : A Mathematical Folktale by Demi (exponential theory)
G is for Googol by David M. Schwartz (math vocabulary...great book!)
Math Curse by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith (math anxiety)
Math Man by Teri Daniels (real world math situations)
Amanda Bean's Amazing Dream : A Mathematical Story by Cindy Neuschwander, illustrated by Liza Woodruff (multiplication)
The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns, illustrated by Gordon Silveria (geometry)
The King's Commissioners by Aileen Friedman, illustrated by Susan Guevara (place value)
One Riddle, One Answer by Lauren Thompson (value of zero)
On Beyond a Million : An Amazing Math Journey by David M. Schwartz (counting by powers of 10)
The I Hate Mathematics! Book by Marilyn Burns (math anxiety)
Cool Math: Math Tricks, Amazing Math Activities, Cool Calculations, Awesome Math Factoids, and More by Christy Maganzini (math tricks and shortcuts)
Arithmetricks: 50 Easy Ways to Add, Subtract, Multiply and Divide Without a Calculator by Edward H. Julius (math shortcuts)
Math Mini Mysteries by Sandra Markle (investigative math)
Midnight Math by Peter Ledwon (twelve terrific math games)
The Math Chef: Over 60 Math Activities and Recipes for Kids by Joan D'Amico and Karen Eich Drummond (mucho math in the kitchen)
Eating Fractions by Bruce McMillan (fractions)
Jelly Beans for Sale by Bruce McMillan (money)
One, Two, One Pair! by Bruce McMillan (pairs)
Fraction Action by Loreen Leedy (fractions)
The Monster Money Book by Loreen Leedy (money)
2 X 2 = Boo: A Set of Spooky Multiplication Stories by Loreen Leedy (multiplication)
Mission: Addition by Loreen Leedy (addition)
Math Games & Activities from Around the World by Claudia Zaslavsky (math games)
Marvelous Math : A Book of Poems edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins (math poems)
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table : A Math Adventure by Wayne Geehan (circumference and diameter)
Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar by Masaichiro and Mitsumasa Anno (factoring)
Roman Numerals I to MM by Arthur Geisert
Shape Up! by David Adler (polygons)
When a Line Bends...A Shape Begins by Rhonda Gowler Greene (shapes)
Twelve Snails to One Lizard : A Tale of Mischief and Measurement by Susan Hightower (measurement)
Math Trek : Adventures in the Mathzone by Ivars Peterson and Nancy Henderson (advanced math concepts)
The Number Devil : A Mathematical Adventure by Hans Magnus Enzensberger (math anxiety chapter book, plus tons of fun math puzzles)
The Librarian Who Measured the Earth by Kathryn Lasky (measurement and history!)
How Big is a Foot? by Rolf Myller (measurement)
Mother Goose Math edited by Harriet Ziefert (just for fun)
How Much Is a Million? by David M. Schwartz (large numbers)
If You Hopped Like a Frog by David M. Schwartz (ratio and proportion)
Bats Around the Clock by Kathi Applet (time)
Bats on Parade by Kathi Applet (multiplication)
The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins (division)
One Hundred Hungry Ants by Elinor Pinczes (division, grouping)
A Remainder of One by Elinor Pinczes (division with remainders)
Inchworm and a Half by Elinor Pinczes (measurement with fractions)
How do we love you, Stuart J. Murphy? Let us count the ways!
You may notice from the list above, many authors like to "do" math books: Loreen Leedy, Elinor Pinczes, Bruce McMillan, Anno, David Schwartz, Kathi Applet...but one guy has them all outnumbered! Stuart Murphy's books are complimented with artwork by a wide variety of talented illustrators, and I can't think of many authors who are so prolific and have maintained such a high standard of excellence. His "Mathstart" series of books teach both quality and quantity! Exposure to these books increases probability of a love of math exponentially. I can't think of aparent or teacher who wouldn't love a complete set, but if that involves a little too much subtraction from the old bank account, use this list below (yes, ALL by the Murphymeister!) to find the books that match the concepts you need.
Give Me Half! (halves)
Divide and Ride (division)
Let's Fly a Kite! (symmetry)
Lemonade for Sale (bar graphs)
The Penny Pot (counting coins)
Beep, Beep, Vroom, Vroom! (patterns)
Get Up and Go! (time lines)
Missing Mittens (odds and evens)
Betcha! (estimating)
A Pair of Socks (matching)
Dave's Down to Earth Rock Shop (classifying)
Just Enough Carrots (comparing amounts)
Super Sandcastle Saturday (measuring)
Elevator Magic (subtraction)
Too Many KangarooThings to Do! (multiplication)
Ready, Set, Hop! (addition and subtraction)
Spunky Monkeys on Parade (counting by 2's, 3's and 4's)
The Best Vacation Ever (data collecting)
A Fair Bear Share (regrouping)
Circus Shapes (shape recognition)
The Greatest Gymnast of All (opposites)
Probably Pistachio (probability)
Monster Musical Chairs (subtracting one)
Game Time! (time measurement)
Animals on Board (addition)
Rabbit's Pajama Party (sequencing)
Shark Swimathon (subtracting 2-digit numbers)
Henry the Fourth (ordinals)
Pepper's Journal: A Kitten's First Year (calendar)
Jump, Kangaroo, Jump! (fractions and division)
The Best Bug Parade (size comparison)
Every Buddy Counts (counting)
Room for Ripley (capacity)
Seaweed Soup (matching sets)
Racing Around (measuring distance)
Stuart J. Murphy keeps adding to his collection! He's got at least five new titles coming out over the next two years. He's putting 'em out faster than I can count 'em...keep up with new releases by clicking here.
Another talented math author is Amy Axelrod, whose work is consistently illustrated by Sharon McGinley-Nally. This series shows children how math is used in real-world situations in the swine-iest way possible!
Pigs on a Blanket: Fun with Math and Time
Pigs at Odds: Fun with Math and Games
Pigs Go to Market: Halloween Fun with Math and Shopping
Pigs in the Pantry: Fun with Math and Cooking
Pigs on the Ball: Fun with Math and Sports
Pigs Wll Be Pigs: Fun with Math and Money
Pigs on the Move: Fun with Math and Travel
And for one last hurrah that covers both readin' and 'rithmetic, try the Math Together set by Candlewick, containing six...count 'em, six!...paperbacks all integrating math! Storybooks, a puzzle book, poems and folktales make this a number-one pick for aspiring mathematicians 5 and up.
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