March 14th is Pi Day! It’s the day when math lovers rejoice over the perfection of numbers. A day when puns and desserts abound. Okay, maybe that last one is an excuse to enjoy a piece of cherry pie, but whether you are a true mathematician at heart, or somebody with an insatiable sweet tooth, here are seven books to help you celebrate the wonders of our mathematical world.
Billions of Bricks: A Counting Book About Building, by Kurt Cyrus
More than just a counting book, Billions of Bricks pairs rhyme with engaging illustrations to create a guide to early math, construction, and community. Youngest readers will enjoy the rhythm of the text and the simple counting of the early pages. Older readers will take the time to dive more deeply into the complexities and nuances of the illustrations, as well as an appreciation for larger numbers. In short, this is a book readers can grow with. (Ages 4-8)
Zero the Hero, by Joan Holub and Tom Lichtenheld
Zero is not exactly the popular kid…er…number. He’s frowned upon by his peers. A nothing. A loser. A zero. But Zero has faith in his own abilities (as demonstrated by his superhero cape) and he knows there will come a day where his powers will be of use. When the other numbers find themselves captured by Roman Numerals, it’s Zero to the rescue! An introduction to mathematical principles blends with puns in this creative text hailing the power of the world’s most overlooked digit. (Ages 4-8)
Math Curse, by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
A teacher innocently points out to her students that you can think of almost anything as a math problem. Suddenly, the young narrator is not only seeing math everywhere…she can’t not see math! It’s the dreaded Math Curse! Problems appear throughout the day, from the breakfast table to her bedtime routine. It is only in her dreams that the narrator discovers a way to break herself of the curse. Presenting practical math problems with a hefty dose of humor, this is the kind of word problem math homework any child would enjoy. (Ages 4-8)
Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi, by Cindy Neuschwander and Wayne Geehan
The second installment of the Sir Cumference series sees the return of Sir Cumference, Lady Di of Ameter, and their son, Radius. This time, Sir Cumference himself is in dire straits. He has been turned into a fire-breathing dragon, and it’s up to Radius to save him. As he journeys through the castle, Radius encounters riddles that will help him find the cure. The concept of pi is introduced, and additional math vocabulary reinforced through storytelling that is both entertaining and educational. (Ages 8-11)
Edgar Allan Poe’s Pie: Math Puzzlers in Classic Poems, by J. Patrick Lewis and Michael Slack
Classic poetry with a side of math? Why not?! This creative text re-imagines classic poetry from well-known names such as Langston Hughes, Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, and, of course, Edgar Allan Poe. The new poems incorporate kid friendly rhyme and creative math challenges, which the reader is invited to solve (don’t worry, parents, the answers can also be found upside down on the bottom of each page). From addition and subtraction, to perimeter and area, to percentages, the challenges range in difficulty, while also introducing readers to the artistic style of some of the literary greats. (Ages 6-9)
Annika Riz, Math Whiz, by Claudia Mills
Annika Riz would rather do math more than just about anything else, a hobby her best friends Kelsey and Izzy just don’t appreciate. When the local library announces a sudoku contest, Annika knows she has a shot at winning, and proving to her friends that math is just as cool as their hobbies. But it’s not just the sudoku contest that has Annika’s mind occupied. It’s also time for the school carnival, the biggest fundraiser of the year. When, on the day of the carnival, Annika’s class booth is losing money, it’s Annika who figures out why…and how to solve the problem. (Ages 7-10)
Secret Coders #1: Get With the Program, by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes
Here’s a book that combines the trifecta of math, coding and graphic novels. 12-year-old Hopper is a little weirded out by her new school, Stately Academy. Not one to let a mystery pass, Hopper and her enemy-turned-new-best-friend Emi set out to solve the secrets behind the school. They quickly realize that the key to unlocking the mysteries lies in their own coding skills, skills which the author shares with the reader audience. As Hopper discovers more about her new academic home, both the villainous and the friendly, she’s left with even more questions, culminating in an ending that leaves the reader wishing for more (Ages 8-12).
What books are you planning to read with your pi(e)?
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