By Liz Vincent
Mathematics is more than just using numbers and equations. It is all around us. It also develops valuable skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and language. A great way to tap into these skills and dive deeper into the world of math is by reading math books. Since 2015, the Mathical Book Prize has been awarded annually to fiction and nonfiction books that inspire children of all ages to see math in the world around them. These stories include picture books, graphic novels, chapter books, and young adult literature.
Here are a few of my favorite Mathical Book Award winners to get you started.
Baby goes to Market
by Atinuke, illustrated by Angela Brooksbank (PreK-K)
Join Baby and his doting mama at a bustling southwest Nigerian marketplace for a bright, bouncy read-aloud offering a gentle introduction to numbers and counting.
Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13
by Helaine Becker (K-2)
From Katherine’s early beginnings as a gifted student to her heroic accomplishments as a prominent mathematician at NASA, Counting on Katherine is the story of a groundbreaking African-American woman who not only calculated the course of moon landings but, in turn, saved lives and made enormous contributions to history.
Numbed!
by David Lubar (3-5)
When Logan’s class takes a trip to a math museum, his mischievous friend Benedict is sure it will be a boring day—until he discovers a robot and its creator in an off-limits area. The robot proves feisty, and soon both boys get zapped. They realize only later that they’d left the museum without their math skills. To get back the knowledge they need for school—not to mention buying food at the mall, divvying up dinner at home, and much more—they’ll have to get back to the museum and pass a series of math challenges.
To explore more Mathical Books, visit
www.mathicalbooks.org.