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Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Fun Math (giveaway)

(Does anyone else think that the title of this post is as oxymoronic as I do!?) The truth is - I hate math. Numbers and I are not friends. I cannot remember them and I have a hard time caring what they do. Start spouting off numbers to me, and my brain shuts down. I can't even go there with you. Let's use words when we communicate to one another, ok? That makes much more sense!

My husband, on the other hand, can handle the numbers. Aptly. Any math/number related questions go to daddy. Just leave mommy out of it!

In fact, I dislike match so much that I think it's rather ironic that I'm posting this review and giveaway but a.) I really thought one of these books was ultra, super cute and b.) Jonathan liked them. That explained, I have three math-related books to introduce you two, the first two being from Sleeping Bear Press and the last being from DK Publishing. (Could you find a better pairing than that? I ask you . . .)

My favorite of these three books is Zero, Zilch, Nada : Counting to None and it is a recent Sleeping Bear Press release.



In Zero, Zilch, Nada we learn to count from 1 to 100 (and back down to none) by counting balloons. Now, for a toddler, this book is absolutely perfect. We are given a story to count through and in it we meet Harry the bunny who gets a job at the 4 Color Balloon Factory. His boss is named Mr. Huffy and Mr. Huffy assigns Harry the job of blowing up 100 balloons for Mrs. Doopido's birthday party. (Yes, the name is silly but this works when you are three going on four, trust me!) Written by Wendy Ulmer and illustrated by Laura Knorr, I think this book is cute. We enjoyed counting up and down with Harry and his 100 balloons and I feel that I can heartily recommend this one if you are dealing with the concept of counting by 10's (which we are.)

Next up we have Whole-y Cow: Fractions Are Fun also by Sleeping Bear Press.



It opens as follows:

"One whole cow was calmly eating hay, and decided to act differently on this particular day."

Her friends end up painting her half blue. "What fraction of the cow is blue? What fraction of the cow is white?" One whole cow then wears a red white and blue swimsuit and takes a dive in the local pond. "What fraction of the swimsuit is red?" And so on and so forth.

There are numerous scenarios set up in the form of a story wherein the young reader is prompted to figure out the percentages for each page spread. This one is a really cute idea but then, aren't cute ideas what Sleeping Bear Press does best? (What percentage of Sleeping Bear Books does Carrie truly not like? I mean, seriously.)

The last book is from DK Publishing (another well-known publisher!) and is called Help Your Kids with Math: A visual problem solver for kids and parents and was just released this past summer.



Open the book and you are greeted by pi. (But not the kind I like.) Ok, like I said, this book was one that Jonathan rather liked as it helps to explain mathematical concepts with visual images. I open the book and I just see numbers and, well, I've already told you how I feel about that.

Help Your Kids with Math does cover a rather wide variety of concepts through, from your basic addition to statistics and trigonometry.

Take the subject of Trigonometry for instance and the book contains this information:

1. What is Trigonometry
2. Working with trigonometry
3. Finding missing sides
4. Finding missing angles

The Algebra section contains information on sequences, Quadratic expressions, formulas, linear graphs and the list goes on and on. And there are nice visual explanations for each concept explained.

Given the fact that this book spans the gamut of math subjects, I should think it would be helpful at any age, but perhaps most particularly - at MINE!

If you are having trouble figuring out a way to explain math concepts to your little ones, or need a refresher course yourself (ah hem) then this book might be just the ticket for you!

I'm happy to say that there is a chance for you to win a copy of all of the above three books as both Sleeping Bear Press and DK Publishing have offered up a copy of each to one Reading to Know winner. To win? Leave a comment below. This contest is open to U.S. Residents only and will be open through Thursday, September 30th.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
congrats to the winner, selected by Random.org - #4 -Marks of Faith!

Also, I'm linking this up to the Fall Festival of Children's Books (and giveaways!) over at 5 Minutes for Books! Be sure to check that out this week!

39 comments:

Annette W. said...

Sleeping Bear Press and DK books are excellent resources for parents to help their kids to learn. Zero, Nada, Nilch looks like it would quickly become a favorite!

Amy @ Hope Is the Word said...

Sign me up! :-)

Beth said...

I love teaching every subject with books...these look so cute!

Marks of Faith said...

Loved your post! We share mutual feelings when it comes to math, etc. The first two sound like they have some really cute concepts going to explain their own little spheres. Thanks for sharing!

Gina said...

These look like such wonderful resources. Thank you so much for the opportunity!

wideeyedwren(at)gmail(dot)com

Catherine said...

These sound great!

Alison said...

All three of these books look really cool.

Jen @ Happy Little Homemaker said...

I love sleeping bear press. they have such beautiful books!

Lisa said...

My eyes sort of glaze over when it comes to numbers too, but I'm trying to muster some enthusiasm for my son. Please enter me.

Unknown said...

If math isn't fun, it makes me want to cry.

Shonya said...

As one of the strange people who enjoys both subjects of Math and English, I have always tried to incorporate math literature into our reading. Sign me up! :)

Anonymous said...

Love that cow book

Jill O. Miles said...

I sure could use "Help Your Kids With Math" to well, help my kids with math :)

Anonymous said...

Another great book was written by Danica McKeller. She was the actress who played Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years way back when...in the 80s. She went on to get a PhD in Mathematics and wrote a book for middle school girls called "Math Doesn't Suck." I have the book (thanks to a good friend who got it for me as a Christmas gift) and I've actually used some of her stuff in my middle school math classroom! If you've got middle school girls, or you'd like some tips and tricks for yourself, check it out!

Katrina @ Callapidder Days said...

I admit, there's a bit of a math nerd in me, even though I've forgotten most of what I learned in high school. :) These books look great and I'd love to win them!

Casey said...

I love Sleeping Bear Press books! Thanks for sharing these.
Casey(at)maritimemom(dot)com

Heather VanTimmeren said...

These look like great resources! Please enter me.

Krista said...

Um, sweet! Just remind me not to talk about math when we get together and we should get along fine... ;)

rbooth43 said...

My grandson is five years old and in Kindergarten. I would love to win these books for him. So far he loves for me to read to him and now he is learning his ABC's and Numbers, and Shapes and love to use the computer and loves the websites of Nick Jr. and Disney. any book that would help him learn is a winner.

rbooth43(at)yahoo(dot)com

Janet said...

I saw your post title and immediately thought I'd make a comment like the ones you open with here -- We're definitely on the same page with math!

I would actually love to win a copy of these. Count me in...

Ruthie said...

My grandson would LOVE these! Please enter me, thanks.
Email suscriber

ruthiekb72@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I'll throw my hat in, because the visual Math thing might be helpful for me to use with Amanda, and I don't have the other one.

I DO have the Wholey Cow one, and I absolutely adored it and plan to give it to Kyle's teacher, but I would love an extra.

Ronnica said...

I've decided that when I'm a math teacher, I want to decorate my class in books. Why NOT combine my loves? I don't think math should be presented in a boring black-and-white setting.

wmmahaney said...

As a former math teacher and a mom, I love anything that has to do with math or with books and here they are together. My sons love math and would love these.
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

apple blossom said...

Love to win thanks for the chance.
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Alicia said...

We love books! Hope to win these....

katklaw777 said...

I have never met a DK book I did not like...thanks for the giveaway. katklaw777 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Would love to add these to our bookshelves!

artandjen at juno dot com

Jen N

PS Did one of your posts say you were expecting in the spring? I just found out I am,too...thought that was a fun connection! God Bless!

Sky said...

Oh I hope I win, I hate math and I want my kids to love it!

Anonymous said...

I would love to win these thank you so much. trishbazin(at)yahoo.com

Anne said...

Sounds like my family! I'm all about the words, my husband's all about the numbers! Great giveaways!

Angela W. said...

Children's Literature is my favorite teaching tool. The Math titles sound wonderful!

angwells(at)fewpb(dot)net

Nancy said...

I love math myself and would love to share these with my kids!

Serena said...

They ALL sound like wonderful books, and about at my math skill level... ;) I'm okay at fractions and percentages, but beyond that I'm hopeless. My mind does not get geometry, and I sew, and that's often a very bad combination!

Megan said...

These would be the perfect books for my boys!

Kristie said...

What a fun way to help kids with math! Thanks for the giveaway!

khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com

LitLass said...

These all look great! Thanks for the giveaway.

Amy DM said...

Oh, I need to win this one. Please sign me up. I'm in the process of teaching one teenager pre-algebra and helping another teenager prepare for the GED. and I never took High School math. Help!

Mozi Esme said...

I love literary math! :)

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

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