Math Fair Blues

June 1, 2001
K-Gr 2-Two serviceable introductions to basic math concepts. In the first title, Carrie helps her grandmother with some knitting projects by taking measurements around the house. Her assignment is so much fun that she gets carried away, and after measuring her father's feet for new slippers, she continues to collect data about such unlikely things as her mother's laptop, her dog's paws, the TV set, and even Dad's bowling ball. Though there is little actual information or instruction, the tale may encourage readers to use a ruler or tape measure in a similar fashion. The bland text is enhanced by Allen's colorful illustrations. Children will particularly enjoy the comical pictures of Carrie's helpful little dog. In the second book, Seth and his band perform at their school math fair as the "2-D Rockers," donning T-shirts decorated with colorful geometric shapes. In the excitement of making their costumes, they forget to do a project for the fair, but their arty apparel saves the day. Smath's colorful cartoons are lively and appealing. After reading this title, youngsters will recognize circles, rectangles, and triangles, and may even be inspired to look for these shapes in objects around them. Both entries end with instructional charts that review and elaborate on the concepts introduced. The back covers suggest activities to support and extend the stories and math skills. Additional purchases.-Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

Copyright 2001 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.