Math For All Seasons: Mind-Stretching Math Riddles

In my opinion, this is a wonderful book to incorporate in a mathematics class for students who are learning how to count in several ways. There are several reasons why I love this book, which include the use of illustrations, language, writing, and information on counting objects. First, each page contains vivid illustrations of a particular season and certain aspects that go along with each season. For example, the pages on spring contain bright tulips, umbrellas for the rain, and colorful Easter eggs. The pages on summer contain melting ice cream cones, fluttering butterflies, and fireworks. The pages on fall contain acorns, jack-o-lanterns, maple leaves, and a turkey. The pages on winter contain snowflakes, icicles, and Christmas show more presents. These engaging pictures and backgrounds create a more exciting book that students would have fun reading. Second, imaginative language is used on each page to describe each season and discuss the mathematical information that goes along with it. For example, a page on spring reads, “A canvas made of fragile shells, a palette filled with soft pastels, a palette filled with soft pastels. Each becomes a painted prize, a treasure in a child’s eyes! Can you count each work of art? Here’s a hint before you start. When it’s painting that you view, try to think in groups of two!” This demonstrates that the book incorporates math in describing the seasons. Third, I really enjoy how this book was written. Rhyming patterns occur on every page, which makes the story predictable, fun and easy to read. One example of this is, “A might oak – the grandest tree. Consider what it used to be. A little acorn on the ground, a squirrel’s prize when it is found.” I love when stories rhyme because there is a certain rhythm to your voice when you read. Teachers can be enthusiastic while reading this book aloud to their class. Rhyming words also help with pronunciation, which can benefit certain readers. Fourth, this book provides great information on how to count objects in various ways. Students can interactively count the objects on each page, which can enhance their counting skills. Objects are arranged in particular ways so students can count them. At the bottom of each page, the book gives a tip to readers on how they should count the objects. One example of this is, “Group them in a special way, make sums of ten this rainy day!” I believe this is very useful information that will allow readers to recognize different styles of counting. Answers are provided in the back of the book, which are accurate and organized. This book pushes readers to think about the multiple ways of counting. The big idea of the book is mathematics can be incorporated in a language arts classroom through the use of children’s books. show less

This book provides students with many math riddles that include addition, subtraction, and the grouping of numbers. The riddles all contain a characteristic of nature and/or a specific season, such as an animal in association with the specific season.
This would be super fun to include in an Elementary School classroom, especially as a silent reading activity for after a math lesson. Not only could this book entertain students, but it could also help them challenge themselves, along with help them practice their math facts.

The fun rhymes and colorful illustrations add to the joy of learning...even if it is math =)

I loved this book. It is a great math book filled with poems and riddles. This book would work best either reading to a whole class or for students reading on their own. Throughout the book there are clever riddles that talk about what is going on on the page. There are then some things that involve counting things on the page as well. Simply put, it is a great learning tool for students. It gets them interacting and is exciting to read.

I am a fan of this book because it includes poetry and math which are both difficult topics to teach. It teaches students different concepts such as how to add and subtract while making it fun at the same time with vibrant illustrations and rhyme. Students learn more easily when something is taught to them in a rhyme or sing song form because it makes it easier to remember.

I loved this book! I think it could be used in any grade from Kindergarten to 3rd grade, depending upon what concepts you are trying to teach. It could be used in Kindergarten to teach seasons, holidays, or counting. It could be used in first grade to teach addition and subtraction. It could also be used in second or third grade to teach multiplication, grouping, and arrays.

Summary:
This lovely story book is filled with beautiful illustrations and rhyming poetry. Each poem gives a clue to a mystery; the math problem illustrated on the facing page. This book deals mostly with addition and subtraction, making it a useful book for kindergarten and 1st grade level children. The illustrations are eye-catching, the colors are bright, the paper is thick and glossy, and the book is a nice size for parent and child to read together at bedtime. My child has no interest in math, and I found that appealing to her more imaginative side as this book does sparked her curiosity. The method the author has used to pique children's interest in solving basic mathematical problems is creative and engaging.

Personal:
I have to say show more I will be using some of these authors’ books to help teach my son. I believe it has some great ideas for teaching a child addition subtraction. This book was fit for a smaller childlike around 5 year old. I find it very colorful that’s what caught my eye.

Classroom:
1. I would have the children get out the crayons and we could count them then I would show them that adding is faster by saying if I have three in one pile and 2 in another how many do I have. We would do that until the whole class understood.
2. I could separate the children into groups of about 4 and give them a problem like one group would have dinosaurs and I would have one student have two and one have one and have them add it together. I would give every group a couple problems like that. show less