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My first degree was in mathematics, where I specialised in mathematical physics. That meant studying notions of mass, weight, length, time, and so on. After that, I took a master’s and a PhD in statistics. Those eventually led to me spending 11 years working at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, where the central disciplines were medicine and psychology. Like physics, both medicine and psychology are based on measurements.
Counting Lions written by Katie Cotton, illustrated by Stephen Walton is a book where things are not quite what they seem.
It features illustrations which look so incredibly lifelike that you think they must be photos. They are in fact hand drawn with charcoal – and lots of patience. It’s a counting book and is of course about numbers, but not only the first ten digits we learn. Rather it makes readers reflect on when numbers mean the difference between life and not just death, but extinction. It’s a remarkable book.
It’s a book to make you look, and think, and wonder in awe. Ten animals are introduced, each with a double page spread featuring Walton’s breathtaking and moving illustrations and a short poetic text giving the animals a context, introducing a few judiciously chosen facts about their lives. A tiger is described as “a flash of fire and night“. The elephants don’t just migrate, they “travel the dust paths of memory.”
Counting Lionscan be read as a learn-to-count book – one lion, two gorillas, three giraffes and so on. Young children will love the scale of the illustrations (this is an out-sized book), and I’m sure many a small hand will end up stroking the pictures, reaching out and feeling an emotional connection with the animals depicted. But don’t be fooled. This book will also capture the imagination of a ten year old who’s long past the 1,2,3 stage. The quiet, powerful language, the addition of fact files on each animal(including its status on the list of endangered animals) in an addendum, as well as links to further reading make this a springboard for anyone curious about and appreciative of the natural world.
Inspired by Walton’s remarkable use of charcoal we decided to explore this medium ourselves. I found this guide, this introduction and these tips very helpful background information.
We explored smudging, drawing fine lines, shading, removing charcoal with a rubber, “painting” with charcoal and a wet paint brush and more. Pretty soon we were quite dirty!
Charcoal is a very expressive medium to draw with – it makes such a satisfying mark even when pressing lightly. I’d definitely encourage you to use the largest possible sheets of paper if you try this out yourself as the ease with which such a juicy black line appears made us all want to make large movements whilst drawing.
We tried drawing in the dark, with just one light beaming on a “still life” (hence the lamp on the table in the picture above); this idea came from the rich darkness of the charcoal, and the sensory experience of drawing in the gloom was quite exciting! Here’s our final gallery:
Whilst we explored making art with charcoal we listened to:
The Lion by Benjamin Scheuer (do check out the video – it’s very lovely)
Other activities which might work well alongside reading Counting Lions include:
Reading Animal Rescue by PatrickGeorge – another book where things aren’t quite what the seem, and ideal for the crowd who are at the stage of learning their first numbers.
Doing a stock-take of your kids’ soft toys/plastic animals. Can they find out which ones (in real life) are endangered? What could they do to help? This resource from Wonderopolis might be useful.
The Story of Money written by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura is a humorous, wide-ranging tale about the evolution of money, starting with what people did before money was invented, exploring why it came into being and how money systems developed before coming right up to date with a discussion of modern day bank crashes and their consequences.
Although satisfying and curious facts about (for example) money’s relationship to the evolution of writing, the everyday use of official IOUs even in the 21st century and the remarkably tiny total volume of gold that exists on planet Earth pepper the conversational text, Jenkins presentation of these nuggets is unusual; rather than short, sharp fact boxes, or framed individual paragraphs (writing styles which are very common in non-fiction for children), he weaves a story together creating sustained texts over each 2-3 page chapter (each with their own funny title, echoing Victorian novels).
This slim hardback volume, ideal for upper primary aged children, is richly illustrated throughout with Satoshi Kitamura’s quirky and slightly wonky comic strip style images; they bring their own brand of humour to an enjoyable, approachable economics text which manages to make things as foreboding as inflation, deflation and taxation come to life.
The Story of Money is a digestible and entertaining introduction to many aspects of pecuniary history which offers up plenty of starting points for both practical and philosophical discussions about the value of money. An index and short bibliography add to the book’s utility both at home and in the classroom. Prepare to finish it feeling surprised: Surely there aren’t many other economics books which end by reminding us that there’s a great deal more to life than accumulating as much money as possible?
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A numismatist was selling low value world currency at a charity table-top sale we recently visited and I took the opportunity to by a bag of coins for £5 (yes, the girls and I did see the irony at using money to buy… money).
I threw in a few chocolate coins for good measure and then we set about investigating where our coins came from.
On a cheap wall map we highlighted the countries we had coins from, noting those countries which we had coins for but which no longer existed (e.g. Yugoslavia), and also those countries who have currencies are now something other than that which we had coins for (for example we had lots of pre-Euro-era European coins). Some coins also opened up new stories in history for the girls; we had several coins from former UK colonies which referred to their ‘Emperor’.
That £5 I spent opened up so much exploration; from what coins are made out of, to the sometimes exquisite art on them, via the history they reflect as well as the geography they open up, I was quite amazed at how much interest and enjoyment we got out of a small coin collection (to say nothing of the very tactile and romantic experience of handling coins that have somehow landed up on your kitchen table even though they were made 1000s of miles away, sometime more than 100 years ago – what stories led them into our hands we wondered?).
Whilst mapping our money we listened to:
Money makes the world go round sung by Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey in Cabaret
Money for Nothing by Dire Straits (every child’s education ought to include _that_ guitar riff, right?)
Money, Money, Money by Abba
Money (That’s What I Want) by Barrett Strong (though I also like the Flying Lizzards version)
Your activities are always so clever. I look forward to reading the book review and wondering what creativity I’ll see below. The money songs are great! I love them all.
Zoe said, on 11/16/2014 11:18:00 PM
Thank you Rosalyn.
Catherine said, on 11/17/2014 12:19:00 AM
Although she doesn’t need money we have just started giving our daughter pocket money so that she can learn the value of money and have experience handling coins. She likes to just ‘play’ with money and make different combinations of the same amounts. It’s fun for her but she’s also learning at the same time.
This whimsical and educational book combines a love for both animals and numbers, which makes it a great way to get animal lovers excited about math while giving them the opportunity to learn more about the individual animals as well.
The southern Mexican state of Oaxaca celebrates the Guelaguetza every July. Guelaguetza means sharing. This festivity brings together the splendor of the eight regions of Oaxaca through dances, music, food, and art.
Count me in! is written by Cynthia Weill and complemented by the talented Aguilar Sisters. Count me in! is a colorful and artistic counting book with the unique and finest ceramic figurines made by the gifted Aguilar sisters.Count me in! offers an unforgettable bilingual experience while learning numbers one through ten along the músicos, pretty danzantes and joyful niñas y niños as each page shows the traditional calenda before the Guelaguetza begins. Una marmota, an enormous white balloon held by a wooden stick, leads the parade with la banda de musica playing. Dos cueteros come along to throw firecrackers into the air. Tres músicos follow the cueteros. Cuatro monos or giants puppets bring happiness to the parade. The world-known art by Guillermina, Josefina, Irene and Concepción Aguilar will show Oaxaca’s beauty as you count from one to ten. Visit the nearest library to read this amazing book. Reading gives you wings!
The Aguilar sisters are Mexico’s most beloved artisans. They learned how to make clay figurines from their mother Isaura Álcantara Diaz. These lively independent women are considered great masters of Mexican folk art and have been presented to Queen Elizabeth, Queen Sofia of Spain, various Mexican presidents and Nelson Rockefeller. Their humorous ceramics of the people of their town and state are in museum collections worldwide.
The collection of parade figures from Count Me In was acquired by the Field Museum in Chicago for its permanent collection.
I landed in Jordan late this afternoon. I'm in my hotel right now. I'll be up for a 6 am pick-up -- I need to be at the camp for bread distribution, first thing in the morning.
Since the start of the Syrian warfare, over two and a half million people have fled the fighting and gone somewhere else. Half a million of them have come to Jordan. The population of Jordan is a little over 6 million. By percentage of the population, that's what would happen if twenty five million people arrived as refugees in the US over a couple of years, or five million people sought refuge in the UK. It means lots and lots of people here have Syrian families living with them. It means that there are refugee camps -- small cities built in the desert, all temporary structures.
I was invited to come out here by UNHCR - the United Nations Refugee Agency - with the purpose of making one or more short films, telling stories and writing articles that draw attention to what's going on in refugee camps.
I packed for myself on this trip and, for various reasons, did a terrible job of packing and remembering what to bring. And every time I start getting grumpy for not having something, it occurs to me that the people I'm seeing tomorrow brought with only what they could carry for often hundreds of miles - and that included carrying children...
Book: Ten Eggs in a Nest (Bright and Early Books for Beginning Readers)
Author: Marily Sadler
Illustrator: Michael Fleming
Pages: 48
Age Range: 3-7
Ten Eggs in a Nest is an early reader from the Bright and Early Books collection. In my house, we've found it to be quite educational (and fun) for a pre-reader, too. The premise of the story is that Gwen the chicken and Red Rooster are going to be parents. Out of supersition ("It's bad luck to count your eggs before they hatch.") Gwen won't tell Red how many eggs there are. As the eggs hatch, in increasing size batches (starting with one), Red rushes off to the worm store. Each time, before he gets back, there are more chicks, with a total of ten.
This book works as an early reader. The words and sentence structure are simple (though not boring), and there is plenty of repetition. It also works as a counting and simple addition book. Like this:
"ONE plus TWO makes THREE baby chicks!" said Gwen.
ONE! TWO! THREE!"
And, laterL
"ONE plus TWO plus THREE plus FOUR makes TEN baby chicks!" clucked Gwen.
As a read-aloud, it's enjoyable, though I did find myself skimming by the fourth or fifth read. I think for new readers the repetition will provide scaffolding, and work well. The capitalizing of the text of the numbers helps to highlight those, too.
I think what made my daughter ask to read it again (and again) was a combination of the fun of doing the counting, and the charm of Red Rooster. He's so proud when his babies are born - it's really adorable. Like this:
"Red strutted into Worm World.
He held his head high.
He puffed his chest out.
Pinky Pig was behind the counter."
There's also repeated humor when Red is surprised and says that you could have knocked him over with a feather. That, together with the "don't count your chicks before they are hatched" gives parents a chance to introduce the idea of sayings.
Michael Fleming's illustrations are boldly colored and inviting, with thick outlines and a spare use of texture. The birds are not representational, but they are all cute, especially the strutting red. My daughter noticed that the sign in Worm World is written with worm shapes, and she was quite charmed by this detail.
all in all, Ten Eggs in a Nest is an early reader done well. It's definitely worth a look, and worth adding to school and public libraries.I look forward to trying it again when my daughter is actually ready to read.
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (@RandomHouseKids)
Publication Date: January 28, 2014
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher
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After a red-hot August of publishing news and impressive numbers, we wondered what was next for the WordPress.com community. Here’s a snapshot of September: You blew up the internet. Again. Month after month, we’re blown away by what you publish. Talk show host Matt Walsh‘s post, “Dear parents, you need …
11 Comments on WordPress.com News and Numbers: The September 2013 Hot List, last added: 10/9/2013
jdtphotography.co.uk said, on 10/9/2013 9:32:00 AM
Wow! What a great month.
Ron Scubadiver said, on 10/9/2013 9:47:00 AM
I had over 50,000 views in August. That is a bunch for a photoblog.
SmallHouseBigGarden said, on 10/9/2013 10:23:00 AM
Sadly, all these numbers are saying we need to get off our devices and interact more in person. I find this post rather depressing.
t upchurch said, on 10/9/2013 10:28:00 AM
Wow, that’s a lot of numbers.
Cheri Lucas Rowlands said, on 10/9/2013 10:32:00 AM
I see your point. Though I think what we all do online, on our WordPress.com blogs or elsewhere, is really just a slice of what we do each day. I’m overwhelmed and impressed by these numbers — but I think they reflect just a fraction of how we spend our time. We all go about our days, interact with people in person, and create and are part of stories out there in the world — it’s oftentimes the fodder we use to write our blog posts.
Cheri Lucas Rowlands said, on 10/9/2013 10:33:00 AM
That’s awesome!
hsugarmill said, on 10/9/2013 11:47:00 AM
Thank you, WP. I can’t tell you how many folks have thanked me for distilling all the information out there on diet and cancer and delivering clear, concise summaries on my blog.
Together we can do more. Who said that?
Amy @ Love and Be Loved said, on 10/9/2013 11:48:00 AM
Smallhousebiggarden expressed a similar thought that crossed my mind, but then Cheri responded with my thoughts exactly. In fact, for me, writing my blog posts absolutely helps me live my life more fully. If I didn’t take the time to write and post, I would undoubtedly missed out on the beauty that surrounds me. Thank God for WordPress!
Amy @ Love and Be Loved said, on 10/9/2013 11:53:00 AM
Writing my poems and pieces actually helps me live and live anew the joys and even the sorrows of my days; it gives me pause and perspective, and I am ever-thankful for that. In fact, I’ve got a blogging buddy with whom I literally meet up in person and share the graces of posting!
zeudytigre said, on 10/9/2013 11:55:00 AM
I disagree with SmallHouseBigGarden’s comment above as I enjoy the interaction between bloggers through reading posts, commenting and replying. I feel that I have got to know people in a worldwide community who I would never otherwise get the chance to meet. I wish I had more time to read more blogs as so many are informative and thought provoking as well as being entertaining. These numbers show just how much stuff is out there waiting to be discovered.
School is back in full swing now, and I’ve returned to my storytelling sessions at J’s school on a Friday afternoon, where I get to read stories and play and craft in what is termed “Golden Time”. It’s a brilliant way to round off the week (definitely much better than the Triple Latin I once had), and it means I’m always on the lookout for picture books which not only lend themselves to creative play, but which also work exceptionally well as class read-alouds.
Big! by Tim Hopgood struck me as one such book the moment I first read it. And given that it is all about growing up, and thinking about being bigger, it was a natural choice for the start of the school year, where all the children have moved up a class and are enjoying being that much “bigger” than they were last year.
What does it mean to be big? And when, exactly, do you become big? Such existential questions are really quite important in young kids’ lives: When will they be big enough to play on your phone? When will they be big enough to have a new bike? When will they be big enough to stay up as late as their older brother or sister? Certainly, J – being the youngest in our home – asks these sorts of questions very often indeed, and finds it very frustrating that she is not yet as big as she would like to be.
And so it was no surprise that she lapped up Hopgood’s observant and giggle-inducing take on being big. Being big partly depends on what you compare it with. Compare yourself to a piece of popcorn and you’re massive! And compare your big sister with a bear, and even she will appear to be tiny
Image: Tim Hopgood. Used with permission.
Hopgood effectively cobines lots of bold blocks of solid colour (there are no white pages anywhere) with visual texture, and draws his questioning boy with such apparent simplicity that it could have been drawn by a child (think Charlie and Lola, and you’ll have the right sort of idea); all this adds further appeal for young readers and listeners. Use of a variety of font sizes lends the book to very expressive reading-aloud – great for groups, but also for young children reading this to themselves.
Full of reassurance about one of life’s BIGGEST questions, Tim Hopgood has created another hit I can warmly recommend.
To go along with reading Big! all the kids in my group at school got to make their own growth chart, using paper measuring tapes stuck onto long lengths of fax paper (used for its convenient width). We talked about tall things which we might draw onto our charts (giraffes, beanstalks, blocks of flats and so on) and then the kids had free rein to decorate their charts how they saw fit. Here are my girls creating their own charts at home:
At school there were two other activities kids could choose to take part in; building the tallest tower they could out of a variety of building blocks, and measuring each other with popcorn (mirroring a suggestion in Hopgood’s book).
I taped a large sheet on the floor of the classroom and kids worked in pairs, whilst one lay down and the other lined up popcorn to see how many pieces of popcorn high they were. This was an incredibly popular activity (especially when I lay down and the kids got to measure me), and was worth every bit of the rather large amount of mess it made!
Whilst making our growth charts at home we listened to:
It’s A Big World by Renee & Jeremy – a soothing, very lovely lullaby, and good to cool down with after headbanging along to Scribblemonster.
Other activities which would work well alongside reading Big! include:
Making telescopic toys which grow bigger and bigger! Here’s a great tutorial from Mr Printables. I considered adapting this for class use (using cardboard rolls from inside loo rolls and till receipt rolls for the paper, but the project requires some careful precision which would work fine at home, but would be a challenge in a class of 30 5 year olds I decided.)
Growing giant flowers and plants. At home, or in school, you could have a competition to see who can grow the biggest pumpkin / marrow / sunflower (the seeds of which are all easy for little hands to manage). Or for something which isn’t so season dependent, you could just grow beans in a cup and see which grows the tallest in a set amount of time.
If you’d like to make growth charts with your class at school, I do have some spare paper tapes (150cm long, marked in both inches and cm); I’d be happy to post them to you (anywhere in the world), with the proviso that they’re for group use (I don’t want to post fewer than 20 in a go, because they are very difficult to pack!). Let me know, and the first 3 people to contact me will get the tapes!
Disclosure: I received a free review copy of Big! from the author.
1 Comments on Big! by Tim Hopgood = a perfect storytelling start to the school year, last added: 9/25/2013
Enter to win a signed copy of Zero the Hero by talented author Joan Holub and bestselling illsutrator Tom Lichtenheld.
Everyone loves a hero, right? And “nothing” beats a hero named Zero. The hero of this book will knock One’s socks off!
Giveaway begins March 1, 2012, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends March 29, 2012, at 11:59 P.M. PST.
Reading level: Ages 6-10
Hardcover: 40 pages
Book overview: Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. That’s what all the other numbers think of Zero. He doesn’t add anything in addition. He’s of no use in division. And don’t even ask what he does in multiplication. (Hint: Poof!) But Zero knows he’s worth a lot, and when the other numbers get into trouble, he swoops in to prove that his talents are innumerable.
Publisher: Henry Holt / Macmillan
About the author: Joan Holub has authored over 100 children’s books, including Groundhog Weather School; Shampoodle; and Vincent van Gogh Sunflowers and Swirly Stars. She is also the co-author of the popular Goddess Girls series for ages 8-12. joanholub.blogspot.com
About the illustrator:Tom Lichtenheld is the illustrator of the New York Times-bestselling books, Goodnight Goodnight, Construction Site; Duck! Rabbit!; and Shark vs. Train. tomlichtenheld.com
How to enter:
Fill out the required fields below
Maximum entries: Three (3)
Giveaway Rules:
Shipping Guidelines: This book giveaway is open to all participants with a US mailing address.
Giveaway begins March 1, 2012, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends March 29, 2012, at 11:59 P.M. PST, when all entries must be received. No purchase necessary. See official rules for details. View our privacy policy.
I'm going to collect photos of numbers (actual and representations) and letters. By the end of the year, I'll be able to make my own Alpha-Numeric picture book through the iPhoto store!
Top row: 0 (garden stepping stone) 0 (knot in wood) 0 (classroom sink strainer) 00 (rings around the moon)
Row three: 3 (oak leaves on the oak that's growing in the geranium on my classroom windowsill -- formerly the geranium on my front porch!) 3 (hemlock cones -- one of my favorite pictures of all time -- love the light and the sky...) 4 (acorn split by squirrels) 4 (number on sign at the deaf school soccer field)
Row four: 5 (sweet gum leaf) 12 (bloggers + 1 big red dog) A (fence along McConnell walking trails) Avocado Mismatch (not really part of the ABC/123 project)
Row five: S (vine along McConnell walking trails) W (tree trunks along McConnell walking trails) Winter (not really part of the ABC/123 project; along McConnell walking trails) Y (rabbit track in the snow along McConnell walking trails)
6 Comments on January Mosaic and A New Photographic Focus, last added: 2/6/2012
This is the coolest focus, and you're going to end up with a world of neat photos. These are fantastic! Do you have IF ROCKS COULD SING? (Did your blog introduce me to IF ROCKS COULD SING?) If not, you will love it. I can't wait to see this collection grow, Mary Lee... a.
This is going to be amazing-when I used to travel to Boston w/ 50 fifth graders we would always see art work with pictures from Boston that would spell Boston. It was such a neat idea I always wanted to try it can't wait once again to follow this visual discovery! I bet at the end of the year you will have some amazing words :)
Children’s Ezine Guardian Angel Kids: Math Concepts – February 2012 Issue
Teaching math concepts beyond traditional number problems opens up creative opportunities for both teachers and students. Different strategies include the use of poetry, stories, engaging articles, and activities that get the body and mind working in unison.
Come explore the world of "Math Concepts" in the Guardian Angel Kids February 2012 issue and learn how to tell time, add, subtract, and divide, rap to numbers through poetry, learn the history of pennies, how powerful zero truly is, and hands on math activities. Make it a family learning experience and fun will surely be had by one and all.
Letter from the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Donna M. McDine
Featured BookS:
Learn to Count 1-10 flip book by Eugene Ruble
Sparkie: A Star Afraid of the Dark book video by Susann Batson
Children’S poetry, SHORT STORIES, and articleS:
“Can You Tell Time?” quiz by Marion Tickner – explores the different timepieces before the technology explosion.
“How Many Are Half?” poetry by Donna J. Shepherd – Grandma’s delicious chocolate chip cookie treat and how the cookies are shared.
“Numbers Rap,” poetry by Bill Kirk – the wonder of numbers all around us.
“Cookies with Sprinkles,” by Shari L. Klase and illustrated by Julie Hammond – a whimsical adventure to Grandma’s house.
“The Value of Pennies,” by Gina Napoli – discover the history and significance of pennies.
“The All Powerful Nothing,” by Mary Reina – learn about the power of zero and how it turns nothing into something.
“Hands on Math Activities for Home or School,” by Kathy Stemke – get moving and grooving with enjoyable Math activities.
“Hopscotch Math,” by Karen Robuck – teach and reinforce basic Math skills with the fun of hopscotch
1 Comments on Guardian Angel Kids E-Zine Is Up!, last added: 2/2/2012
City Numbers by Joanne Schwartz photos by Matt Beam Groundwood Books, 2011 review copy provided by the publisher
I'll admit, I'm a little surprised to be reviewing this book. Photographs of numbers around you in the city? Big deal. The book starts with 000. Not much of a surprise. Next up is... 1/2 ?? Hmm... Then 1, and... 2nd (second). That's exactly how long it took me to be hooked -- as soon as I wasn't sure what was going to happen on the next page, I was eager to see what number came next and where it was found. (Each two page spread has the photo on the right, and on the left, the number, in digits and words, and the location and media. 2nd is "Printed on paper, pasted on steel. Electrical box." Besides cardinal and ordinal numbers, the book includes decimals, percents, prices, and one iconic number: 007 ("Double-O Seven").
Two things happened when I read this book.
1. I said to myself, "I can do that." And then a half a heart-beat later, I said, "I'm going to do that!!" Here is my theme for my photos in 2012: I am going to look for numbers in my environment in all varieties of media, location, and form. Suddenly, I feel reinvigorated to continue my personal Project 365 for a fourth (FOURTH!!!) year.
2. I wanted to get this pair's book City Alphabet and see what they did with letters and words in a similar format. I will not limit myself to numbers next year, I will also look for words and letters. Maybe. Maybe I need to be patient and stay focused on one theme at a time...hmm...stay tuned for a decision on that one.
E-Mergency! by Tom Lichtenheld and Ezra Fields-Meyer Chronicle Books, 2011 review copy provided by the publisher
Which letter in the alphabet is used with the most frequency?
E!
What happens when E comes down the stairs too fast and breaks her leg?
An E-mergency! E is taken away in the ambulance and A assembles the rest of the alphabet to discuss how they will proceed without the letter E. "Someone is going to have to take the place of E while she gets better. O, you're the obvious option because you're so well-rounded."
This is a VERY punny book. If you don't get that from A's choice of replacement letters, check this out:
I can't wait to share this book with my students. I'll put it under the document camera and we'll study every page for visual and verbal puns. And we'll all laugh when we solve the mystery of why E is
3 Comments on Numbers and Letters, last added: 12/8/2011
This is great fun, Mary Lee. What a lot of things to see in this book. I'm also glad you shared about your plan for your mosaic. I didn't know about the comic app. Missed your post then I guess. Thanks!
In honor of Saint Patrick's Day, here's a jaunty little rhyme for March. I was once told in a very nice rejection letter that a serious math journal wouldn't publish such doggerel. But that's all right. It was fun to write. Enjoy.
"Numbers Rap" by Bill Kirk
Numbers, Numbers, all around us. Numbers, numbers, they astound us!
Integers can be quite mental; Fractions, never transcendental.
Counting numbers may well taunt you. But ignore them and they'll haunt you!
Adding them to do your sums, May take fingers, toes and thumbs.
If subtraction is your game, Minus signs, you'll need to tame.
Try division if you're able. Multiply? You'll need a table.
Odd times odd is odd, not even. Odd times even's "even Steven."
Do your tens to reach a million; Times a thousand is a billion!
When you're counting, don't be frugal. Who knows? You might reach a googol!
Learning numbers is a quest. To succeed, just do your best.
Happy summer, everybody! For the next while, there are going to be some absences from the blog as we take vacations, but we'd hate to leave you guys hanging. It's no secret that we blog much more now than when we started this baby, and there are far more of you reading than there were way back when. So we thought we'd bring back some blog entries of days gone by that you may have missed if you just joined us in the last year. If you have any favorites you think your fellow readers might enjoy, give us a shout below!
by Lauren
Numbers don’t mean a whole lot to me. I was always much better at the arts/humanities portion of my education than the math/science one. That’s not to say I don’t find math absolutely fascinating—I actually do, I swear!—I just don’t get it the way I do literature and language.
Without a ton of context, statistics don’t tend to make an impact on my brain. But there are some numbers that even the biggest numerophobe in publishing really ought to know. Here are some you might find interesting:
U.S. publishing is a $35 billion industry, the Book Industry Study Group reported at BEA last year—net revenues reached $34.59 billion in 2005, which was an increase of 5.9% over the previous year. We may tell ourselves that in this age of video games, technology and instant gratification people are reading less and less—but if that’s true, we’re certainly paying more and more for the books we’re not reading. That same report projects that revenues will break $40 billion by 2010.
How many books does it take to bring in that kind of money? Well, approximately 200,000 new books are published each year, reported PW in 2004.
And how much paper does it take to print so many books? According to the New York Times (via the Authors Guild Bulletin in Summer 2006), Random House buys 110,000 tons of uncoated paper to publish books each year.
Many of us know that the Bible has more copies in print than any other book, but what’s number two? Dr. Spock’s Baby and Child Care, with more than 50 million copies in print and still going, according to Publishers Weekly from 2/12/07.
In 2006, Bowker, the self-proclaimed “world’s leading source for bibliographic information,” published a survey based on 13,000 novels published in the U.S.
1,550 of those with a location that could be identified were set in England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland.
New York and London were the two most common cities used as settings.
The same study showed that 65% of romance books, 61% of science fiction titles, and 58% of mystery/detective novels were published in paperback (meaning both mass market and trade).
And just how long were those books? The average for sci-fi was 329 pages with romance on its heels at 324. Mysteries were just shy of 300 at 292, followed by westerns at 261.
So just how long does it take to write those 13,000 novels anyway?
Tom Perkins, ex-husband of Danielle Steel, wrote Sex and the Single Zillionaire in 100 hours over 30 days.
Compare that with Donna Tartt and Shirley Hazzard. Tartt published The Secret History in 1992, then spent the next decade writing her second novel, The Little Friend.
Hazzard’s follow up took even longer—2003 saw publication of The Great Fire, 23 years after her debut, The Transit of Venus.
And do they sell well? The standards for success really do change from book to book based on any number of factors—category, author’s platform, size of the advance, size of the marketing budget—but everyone
0 Comments on From the Vault: By the numbers as of 1/1/1900
I read a bit of Jack Weatherford’s The Secret History of the Mongol Queens before going to sleep this morning, but when I woke up, I felt like reading YA fiction instead of adult non-fiction. Just a mood thing, because the first ten pages of the Weatherford book are just as fascinating as his Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World. (If Dori Jones Yang’s Daughter of Xanadu were already published, itwould have totally hit the reading spot.)
Instead, I read Nina de Gramont’s Every Little Thing In the World and Rachel Ward’s Numbers. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Every Little Thing…, but liked it quite a bit. After finding out she’s pregnant, Sydney tells only one person, her best friend, Natalia. Sydney’s relationship with her mother has diminished to the point where she can’t bring herself to tell her mom about it. When Sydney is sent to a month-long wilderness camp in Canada after getting in trouble, she still doesn’t tell anyone, figuring she can use her time at the camp to figure out what to do about her pregnancy.
There are many, many counting books published every year, but this book focuses on one number that is often ignored: zero. The absence of items is rendered here in verse and paintings. Children are shown the many places that there is zero in everyday life: no balls left in the bin during recess, no sleds on the hills when snow is melted.
Franco’s simple and brief poetry, done so subtly that many won’t notice that it is a poem, nicely necklaces the instances of zero together. Her examples of zero are simple, everyday occurrences that are made poignant by her focus on the transient nature of time. These glimpse of zero change, replenish, refill. Arihara’s gouache illustrations have small details but also an expansive view, matching the tone of the poem perfectly.
Recommended for use in elementary math classes, this book will get children talking about where they see zero in their lives. It will inspire with the beauty of the language as well. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
Secretly, I think I'm a genius. And I'd like to write the kind of book that makes people finish the last page, close their eyes, smile, and then say aloud, "Genius!"
Now, I know such a book takes time. I was ready to put in that time. Until Arthur Q. Twitterfriend* tweeted** this article:
"You too can be a genius (if you can spare 10,000 hours)"
Yes, apparently, it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become a genius.
10,000 hours. Let's examine that.
180 days of school, but Destructo only goes 4/5 of those, so 144 days of school minus three sick days each for me and 2 kids = 135 days minus a half day each for annual doctor visit and dentist visit for each of us = 132 days minus Ann Arbor Public Schools anticipated 3 snow days per year = 129 days multiplied by about 6 hours a day, if I never did anything but write during the school day, ever, and then is one of you coming to be my house servant/personal assistant or is Thor quitting his job in which case, take a few hours away daily for "scavenging for food scraps" = 774 hours a year
So I should be a genius writer in, um, about 13 years.
I guess it's not that long to wait, in the grand scheme of things. By that time, Destructo will be able to drive himself around, so I can take all that genius and hole myself up in my office. And then, THEN, just you wait and see what I create.
It's gonna be genius.
* Not his real name. It's a code name for "Someone I Follow On Twitter But I Forget Who And I Tried For Thirty Minutes To Figure It Out But Then Oh My God What Am I Doing I Have Book To Write! So If It Was You Please Tell Me and I'm Really Sorry." ** Man, I still feel dumb using that verb when I'm not talking about birds.
4 Comments on Genius, by the numbers, last added: 10/15/2009
13 years? Surely, Jacqui, you are on the fast track.
And as the mom of a teenager about to start driving, I'll warn you - you have to take into account the hours you will spend distracted and worrying once Destructo is on the road.
Remember when I got all giddy about 08/08/08? Well, today is even better. Not only is it 09/09/09, but it's also my birthday. Hurrah!
(does silly birthday dance)
Yeah, I still love my birthday like a seven year old princess, because how many other days are ALL ABOUT ME (at least in my mind)?
There shall be raspberry-picking and jam-making and me-worshipping today; you can bet on it. And I will be demanding slobbery toddler birthday kisses and lanky seven year old birthday snuggles.
And, of course, there will be this:*
Wow. That is like cake porn. I keep re-reading this post just so I can drool at it. Mine won't look that good, but if I lived in St. Paul, I would go right now to Café Latte, on whose website I found this picture, and I would point to my computer screen and say, "That. I want that." And then I would eat it all with a glass of skim milk. And then I would rent a room at the lushest hotel in St. Paul and I would collapse into my featherbed without brushing my teeth and I would sleep until next Friday.
19 Comments on To the nines, last added: 9/10/2009
Okbutno, you'd have to save one piece, put it in the fridge till it gets cold, and the frosting turns all fudgy and thick, then put it in a bowl and pour milk- rich whole milk - over it and Eat It With A Spoon. Seriously. Try it at least once...
i baked a mississippi mud cake for my honey's bday once. he didn't appreciate it at all. i however lived an orgiastic ecstatic existence inside that cake for the next several days....
um, i figured if you said cake porn, the above description was a go, even given your comment rules....
I must bake you a chocolate cake like that some day. I'm kind of into cake decorating. It's like painting, but edible, so it's useful. (Is that Ayn Rand enough?)
Oh, the cake. First, the kids refused to help so I tried to entertain them but they started beating each other with the foam roller. Then there were no eggs, so I had to use the vegan cake recipe. Then the powdered sugar ran out before there was enough to make a good frosting. All in all: pathetic. Thank goodness my sister took me out for dinner and bought me caramel!
Ready to become a Spartan Warrior? With some training its possible to do. This workout is a decently quick one and will push you to the extreme. There is NO required equipment needed for this workout. Just find a good spot on the floor and maybe turn on some music and begin.
The point of this workout is to complete it as quickly as possible with as few breaks as you can. Retaining perfect form is a must throughout the entire session. Complete one excercise with precision, then move on to the next immediately or with only a few seconds break. These are all simple excercises, but when they are put together, they make the ultimate workout.
An optional addition to this workout is to add a flight or two of stairs inbetween each excercise. This will make your legs steal neccessary oxygen from your arms and abs, putting them under more stress for a better workout.
Spartan 300 Workout
30 pushups, elbows in.
30 pushups, elbows out.
15 pushups, hands as close to your hips as possible.
20 pushups keeping one hand away from you, and the other near you. (alternate hands each pushup)
10 dip/dive pushups.
10 clap pushups, push off the ground and clap hands before landing.
10 inclined pushups, put your feet on something about a foot tall.
30 second ab hold, lay down on your back and lift both your feet and your shoulder blades off the ground a few inches. Do not allow your feet to go too high or touch the floor. Leave your hands to either side of you not touching the ground.
30 second ab cross-over sissors.
30 second ab hold a second time.
10 leg lifts, lay down to some sort of post, hold on to it with your hands and lift your legs up to a near 90 degree angle.
10 leg lifts, same thing, now lift your legs up further in the air after you reach 90 degrees.
50 V-sit ups, same thing as a normal sit up only you bring your legs up as well as your sholders.
1 forward plank held for 60 seconds (or longer if you can), push up position with elbows/forarms on the ground. Have your hands together like you are praying. keep back as straight as possible and don’t allow your butt to sink down too low or up too high.
5 normal pushups in between each plank, 15 total.
2 side planks held for 45 seconds (or longer if you can), one elbow/forearm on the ground with the other in the air, facing to the side, keep same position as a regular plank.
Tips
Remember to drink lots of water afterwards, some before, and a little while doing exercise.
You can go a little out of order if you wish too, just make sure that they are done with little breaks!
Do this workout at least 2 times a week and keep it going.
Try not to do 2 Spartan workouts, one the day after the first… the second day is needed for recovery so that you can build up for the next one.
EAT, much of what you are is what you eat. So keep a heathly diet to get good performance with this workout.
Complete in good time. 20 minutes is perfect, but don’t cheat yourself. If you are finishing in less than 10 minutes, I can tell you that you are doing something wrong. (pushups or sit ups are done too fast, slower will give you a better workout) If you are above 30 minutes, you could just be out of shape, but try to take less breaks.
Roar when necessary to get that last pushup or sit up done.
Warnings
Be sure you are physically fit to do this workout.
Ready to become a Spartan Warrior? With some training its possible to do. This workout is a decently quick one and will push you to the extreme. There is NO required equipment needed for this workout. Just find a good spot on the floor and maybe turn on some music and begin.
The point of this workout is to complete it as quickly as possible with as few breaks as you can. Retaining perfect form is a must throughout the entire session. Complete one excercise with precision, then move on to the next immediately or with only a few seconds break. These are all simple excercises, but when they are put together, they make the ultimate workout.
An optional addition to this workout is to add a flight or two of stairs inbetween each excercise. This will make your legs steal neccessary oxygen from your arms and abs, putting them under more stress for a better workout.
Spartan 300 Workout
30 pushups, elbows in.
30 pushups, elbows out.
15 pushups, hands as close to your hips as possible.
20 pushups keeping one hand away from you, and the other near you. (alternate hands each pushup)
10 dip/dive pushups.
10 clap pushups, push off the ground and clap hands before landing.
10 inclined pushups, put your feet on something about a foot tall.
30 second ab hold, lay down on your back and lift both your feet and your shoulder blades off the ground a few inches. Do not allow your feet to go too high or touch the floor. Leave your hands to either side of you not touching the ground.
30 second ab cross-over sissors.
30 second ab hold a second time.
10 leg lifts, lay down to some sort of post, hold on to it with your hands and lift your legs up to a near 90 degree angle.
10 leg lifts, same thing, now lift your legs up further in the air after you reach 90 degrees.
50 V-sit ups, same thing as a normal sit up only you bring your legs up as well as your sholders.
1 forward plank held for 60 seconds (or longer if you can), push up position with elbows/forarms on the ground. Have your hands together like you are praying. keep back as straight as possible and don’t allow your butt to sink down too low or up too high.
5 normal pushups in between each plank, 15 total.
2 side planks held for 45 seconds (or longer if you can), one elbow/forearm on the ground with the other in the air, facing to the side, keep same position as a regular plank.
Tips
Remember to drink lots of water afterwards, some before, and a little while doing exercise.
You can go a little out of order if you wish too, just make sure that they are done with little breaks!
Do this workout at least 2 times a week and keep it going.
Try not to do 2 Spartan workouts, one the day after the first… the second day is needed for recovery so that you can build up for the next one.
EAT, much of what you are is what you eat. So keep a heathly diet to get good performance with this workout.
Complete in good time. 20 minutes is perfect, but don’t cheat yourself. If you are finishing in less than 10 minutes, I can tell you that you are doing something wrong. (pushups or sit ups are done too fast, slower will give you a better workout) If you are above 30 minutes, you could just be out of shape, but try to take less breaks.
Roar when necessary to get that last pushup or sit up done.
Warnings
Be sure you are physically fit to do this workout.
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Ten Eggs in a Nest is an early reader from the Bright and Early Books collection. In my house, we've found it to be quite educational (and fun) for a pre-reader, too. The premise of the story is that Gwen the chicken and Red Rooster are going to be parents. Out of supersition ("It's bad luck to count your eggs before they hatch.") Gwen won't tell Red how many eggs there are. As the eggs hatch, in increasing size batches (starting with one), Red rushes off to the worm store. Each time, before he gets back, there are more chicks, with a total of ten. 
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Your activities are always so clever. I look forward to reading the book review and wondering what creativity I’ll see below. The money songs are great! I love them all.
Thank you Rosalyn.
Although she doesn’t need money we have just started giving our daughter pocket money so that she can learn the value of money and have experience handling coins. She likes to just ‘play’ with money and make different combinations of the same amounts. It’s fun for her but she’s also learning at the same time.