Fractions in Disguise

Fractions in Disguise: A Math Adventure (Charlesbridge Math Adventures) is a math picture book that uses humor and a bit of robbery to engage students in reviewing the concepts of greatest common factors, lowest common denominators, and reducing fractions.

The story begins with fraction collectors gathered for an auction of a 5/9 fraction. During the auction, the lights go out and as in any good mystery the object disappears leaving the need to seek it out. George Cornelius Factor, GCF starts out on the journey to recover the 5/9 and in the process demonstrates the how and why fractions are reduced by finding the greatest common factor.

I love books that attempt to use humor, art, and fun to teach math concepts. I think this one might be a better review or post introductory book. I'm not sure I'd start my lessons on GCF and LCD with this book as it explains around the topic rather than directly defining. I think once kids had been introduced to the topics this would be a great, fun reinforcement of those concepts.

It also could just be used as a picture book that introduces the idea in passing without being too concerned with how much a child absorbs. The choice is really in the hands of the parent or teacher. The last page in the book does give a more formal explanation of how to reduce fractions. I did think this book might inspire some fraction art projects.

Sir Cumference and the Roundabout Battle

I've been a huge of Cindy Neuschwander's Sir Cumference series for quite some time. Sir Cumference and the Roundabout Battle does not disappoint. It provides a fun tale, while demonstrating an important math concept rounding.

In this episode we find Sir Cumference's steward, Edward Rounds working with his son, of the same name on the accounts. To avoid confusion the two are known as Rounds 1 and Rounds 2. While the younger, Rounds 2 enjoys counting, double digit adding is not his strength and he struggles with how to quickly add the columns of numbers to provide accurate counts that Sir Cumference and his men rely on in doing their daily tasks. His father emphasizes that while it is important to be an accurate counter to be steward, the ultimate purpose in counting is to supply an inventory that will be useful to those needing to use it in the castle. Accurate data from counting is essential for the inventory to be correct, but without finishing the final step in adding up the numbers the inventory is not very practical for those who come to ask for information.

Rounds 1 and 2 discuss how much easier it is to count with round numbers, but his father does emphasize the need for an accurate count. As the story continues, Rounds 2 stumbles upon an invasion force and now the inventory is more important than ever, for Sir Cumference needs to know how many bows and arrows he has available to fight off the incoming forces. Rounds 2 panics because he has not had the chance to finish adding all the columns. Rounds 2 lacks the time to add all the columns so he grabs a tape measure to help him figure the closest friendly 10 for each entry. Once he has his estimates, the columns are much easier to add. He is then able to present a rounded count just as the invasion force is arriving. It is looking scary for Sir Cumference's forces, but help arrives from an unexpected resource and all is resolved in favor of the heroes.

This was a great way to demonstrate a practical use for rounding. It also used larger numbers that demonstrated a need for rounding. One issue I struggled with as a child is we started rounding with problems I could answer without rounding. Why do the extra work of rounding when I know the "real" answer. This presents both Round 2 and the children with real practical reasons to round numbers.

Math Picture and Other Books

I've been reviewing math picture books and decided it would be a good idea to create a list that sorted them so it would be easy to find them and have a reference point when I needed it. I will continue to add titles as I locate them.

Updated April 2018

Algebra:

Mystery Math: A First Book of AlgebraReview here

Division:

The Great Divide: A Mathematical Marathon Review here

Estimation:

Great Estimations

Sir Cumference and the Roundabout BattleReview here

Fractions:

Fractions in Disguise: A Math Adventure (Charlesbridge Math Adventures) Review here

Full House: An Invitation to Fractions Review here

If You Were a Fraction (Math Fun)Review here

Geometry:

The Greedy Triangle (Scholastic Bookshelf) Review here

Mummy Math: An Adventure in GeometryReview here

Sir Cumference and the Isle of Immeter (Math Adventures)Review here

Three Pigs, One Wolf, Seven Magic Shapes (level 3) (Scholastic Reader, Math)Review here

What's Your Angle, Pythagoras?

Graphing:

Coordinate Graphing:

Sir Cumference and the Viking's Map (Charlesbridge Math Adventures (Paperback))Review here

Math Concepts:

Equal ShmequalReview here

Measurement:

Inchworm and A HalfReview here

Mixed (has multiple types of math):

Edgar Allan Poe's Pie: Math Puzzlers in Classic PoemsReview here

Math at the Art MuseumReview here

The Lost Key: A Mystery with Whole Numbers (Manga Math Mysteries (Paperback))Review here

The Math Inspectors: Story One - The Case of the Claymore Diamond (Volume 1) Review here


Multiplication:

Amanda Bean's Amazing Dream (Marilyn Burns Brainy Day Books)
Review here

Multiplying Menace: The Revenge of Rumpelstiltskin (A Math Adventure)Review here

Place Value:

A Place for Zero (Charlesbridge Math Adventures (Paperback))Review here

Positive & Negative Numbers, Oh My! (Got Math!)Reviewhere

Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens: A Math Adventure Review here

Probability:

A Very Improbable StoryReview here

Sir Cumference and the Viking's Map

In Sir Cumference and the Viking's Map (Charlesbridge Math Adventures (Paperback))Cindy Neuschwander continues her Sir Cumference series with an exploration of coordinate geometry.

Radius and Per discover Viking Xaxon Yellowbearyd's map with axes (yes a play on the word axis) and must learn how to read the gridded map. It appears maps are not common in Angleland. The children learn through trial and error that the X is read before the Y and decide that it is because X comes before Y in the alphabet. The children are chased by robbers who want to capture the treasure and helped by the ghost of Xaxon Yellowbearyd himself. Children may be surprised by the treasure, but it ties to the skills Per and Radius have acquired from their journey and more valuable to the kingdom than gold.

A Place for Zero

A Place for Zero (Charlesbridge Math Adventures (Paperback))is a fun adventure story designed to introduce children to place value and the purpose of zero. Many children are taught to count from one. Children encounter zero when they get to ten, but he is often not seen as an individual number in the same way the numbers one through nine are viewed. As the hero of the story, Zero attempts to find his purpose in life. In doing so, he reminds not only children, but also adults about the importance of remembering to talk about zero and its function in math. From the story, children learn about why we have a zero and are provided with a basic introduction to place value.

I am glad to see more picture books taking on the challenges of math vocabulary and concepts in a fun and engaging way for children.

Sir Cumference and the Isle of Immeter

Once again Cindy Neuschwander has found a fun way to introduce math concepts with Sir Cumference and the Isle of Immeter (Math Adventures) math adventure. In case you did not guess it from the title, in this book she addresses perimeter and area.

The story begins with Per visiting her Uncle Sir Cumference, her Aunt Lady Di Ameter, and their son Radius. They teach her a game that is one that children can also play after reading this story and learn some valuable math skills. The game is called Inners and Edges and requires the children to determine the number of edges a shape made of tiles has after being told the number of inners. They are told the game originally belonged to the Countess Areana who lives on the Island of Immeter that is guarded by a sea serpent that keeps visitors away.

This of course leads the children Radius and Per to making a visit to the Island of Immeter where they must use their knowledge of the game to safely get into the tower without being eaten by the sea serpent. As Per works her way through the challenges, with the help of Radius she finds herself the keeper of Immeter Island, becoming Lady Per of Immeter.

This math series is a great way to introduce more challenging math concepts to children. The stories are engaging, and the math solid.

Amanda Bean's Amazing Dream

Amanda Bean's Amazing Dream (Marilyn Burns Brainy Day Books)
is a funny story designed to help children see the relevance of multiplication facts.

While Amanda Bean loves to count, she fails to understand why she should learn to multiply. After all as someone who loves to count, what would be the point in learning to multiply?

Through a few adventures and some very funny dreams, Amanda comes to understand that multiplication is a huge time saver when it comes to counting things. She decides it is a practical tool. Learning it will save her time for other things she loves to do.

For children and parents who have ever questioned why they must learn math, Amanda Bean's journey is a fun story to read. It is not as strong as some of the other math stories I have reviewed in terms of direct instruction. This requires more work from parents or teachers to help children use the opportunities to multiply provided in the story. Marilyn Burns does provide parents and teachers with ways to extend the story and use the examples to help engage children in practicing multiplication. This is likely to be just a fun story about a fantastic dream without some intervention. Other math titles I have reviewed are more successful in engaging children to learn about math independently.

Multiplying Menance The Revenge of Rumpelstiltskin

In Multiplying Menace: The Revenge of Rumpelstiltskin (A Math Adventure)Rumpelstiltskin is back and he wants revenge on the parents he feels cheated him. He has a new weapon and he is not afraid to use it to get back the child he thought should have belonged to him.

In order to save his parents the child leaves with Rumpelstiltskin and observes how his magical cane works. The magic the cane uses involves multiplication. The boy carefully observes how Rumpelstiltskin uses whole numbers and fractions to create the outcomes he desires.

When Rumpelstiltskin does not keep his word about restoring his father's nose, the boy is determined to steal the cane and return the kingdom back to normal. As he practices with the cane, he learns the importance of precise math language. In one example the cane only works when he uses zero, other more commonly used substitutions fail.

One of the strengths of this book was that it introduced multiplication of fractions in a practical visual way. While many students may not leave this book ready to multiply fractions, it does provide an introduction at an early age that is age appropriate and does not make fractions mysterious and something to be feared. I always appreciate titles that seek to make math friendlier to all students and I think this one makes that list.