I was TERRIBLE at math in school. Great at everything else, but I had to work incredibly hard to just pass math classes, starting in elementary school. I was never given a book like this that shows that math can be fun and practicing those problems doesn't necessarily have to be a bore. I don't typically push books like this, but I know how frustrating it is to just not get the math kids are taught and I think this book is brilliant.
As you can tell from the title, The Book of Perfectly Perilous Math, excitement is infused into math problems for middle schoolers. Each problem is accompanied by an activity to help solve, as well as a lengthy explanation by the author. The reader is also given advice as to how to solve the problem simply, without over-complicating it and then the solution is given, step-by-step. I always made the problems more difficult than they had to be, so I think this really would have helped my middle school self.
There are illustrations, crazy stories, and a lot of fun included with the math. Fractions, geometry, algebra and more are covered and there are 24 hands-on activities. The reader HAS to solve the problems...his life depends on it.
For those of you that live in the D.C. Metro area, like me, the author, Sean Connolly, will be at the U.S. Science and Engineering Festival on Saturday (4/28) with an on-stage demonstration from 12:45-1:30. It would be super cool to bring your kids to this event!
The Book of Perfectly Perilous Math
Sean Connolly
242 pages
Non-Fiction
Workman Publishing
9780761163749
April 2012
Review copy
Going to my grandparents' farm is always a special treat. Outside we have the chance to experience the wonders of nature with acres and acres to explore, rocks to climb, a winding, mesmerizing creek to splash in and garden full of treats. Inside their home, the kitchen is always full of bustle as grandma whips up sweet rolls, cookies and a rainbow of canned produce and jams.
I have so many wonderful childhood memories of visiting my grandparents and spending summer days watching them and learning their tricks. They grew up in a vastly different time, when TVs and computers did not exist and as children they learned to love nature and its marvels and cherish time together as a family. They made sure to engage their grandchildren in similar experiences. When we visited them we did not sit in front of the TV but instead participated in life-enriching activities, played games and lived in tune with nature.
"When you're sharing nature with a child, you'll find that even a short walk through your backyard will yield a crop of fresh discoveries and questions. Start a tradition of asking, "I wonder what's going on outdoors today?" - Toad Cottages & Shooting Stars by Sharon Lovejoy
Not all grandparents (or parents) live on a farm, but that doesn't mean that they can't also inspire and create a fun-filled environment for children to explore. Sharon Lovejoy's newest book,
Toad Cottages and Shooting Stars: Grandma's Bag of Tricks
is a treasure trove of wonderful ideas, crafts, cooking and gardening activities and the perfect resource to use with young children. The whimsical and beautifully illustrated book is divided into several interesting sections:
- The Neighborhood Naturalist (includes a mudpie recipe for attracting butterflies and instructions to make a moon phase flip book)
- Kids in the Kitchen (yummy recipes like Summer Berry Soup and how to make a solar oven)
- Kitchen Garbage Garden (setting up peek-a-boo plants and growing a citrus tree)
- Kids in the Garden (tips on container gardening, herbs, engraving pumpkins and planting a bale garden)
- Preparing Camp Granny (inspiring imaginative play and building child friendly places with fairy houses, faerie mailboxes, book baskets and more)
- Rainy Day Activities (crafting ideas like rain sticks, toad cottages and making a worm hotel)
I'm always on
The Association of American Book Publishers and the Children's Book Council paired P.S. 84 with Workman Publishing for Adopt-A-School Week. Today, Workman Publishing started off our week by sending three employees to lead a special Brain Quest Challenge in our school library for Grade 3 students. Workman donated copies of Brain Quest for every classroom and they sent extras for the school library.
On Wednesday Workman Publishing is sending author, Joy Masoff of Oh Yikes! History's Grossiest, Wackiest Moments and Oh Yuck! The Encyclopedia of Everything Nasty to speak with all Grade 4 and 5 students.
A huge thank you to AAP, CBC and Workman Publishing for providing these donations and fun events for our school library.
Check out Brain Quest
http://www.brainquest.com/
Oh Amanda, thank you!!! I'd never heard of this book, but it sounds perfect for my middle guy. He's actually quite good at math but he professed to hate it. Maybe this can make it a bit more fun for him! :)