Believe it or not, math doesn't have to be a torture device teachers use to punish their students. In fact, with a few simple tricks, math can become--dare we say it?--fun! Greg Tang, creator of the popular The Grapes of Math, bestows his considerable wisdom on a slightly younger audience (ages 5 to 8) with Math for All Seasons. This collection of rhyming math puzzles encourages kids to think through problems, rather than relying on memorization and formulas. Each of illustrator Harry Briggs's computer-generated, color-saturated spreads features seasonal treasures such as clusters of tulips or spikes of icicles. Readers study the verse and picture, strategizing and looking for patterns in order to add up the objects without counting one by one. Soon, their eyes and minds will open to consider many ways of problem solving, not just the obvious ones. Solutions and explanations are provided in the back of the book. (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter


From Publishers Weekly
Move over, worksheets and pencils! The team behind The Grapes of Math once again proves that posing number problems through verse and vivid pictures is a powerful path to math learning. With titles like "Raining Cats and Frogs" and "Amazing Grain," the poems span the seasons, encouraging readers to look for patterns and symmetry in the playful illustrations. Each poem poses a "how many" question about the accompanying picture of seasonal items, from acorns and hatching chicks to dandelions and icicles. Several creatively convey facts about their timely topics, as in "Not-So-Dandy Lions": "These lions are a stubborn breed-- / There's never just a single weed./ The trouble starts when they get loose,/ They catch a breeze and reproduce!" the simple verse then hints at effective strategies to make counting faster and easier. With 10 dandelions pictured on the opposing page, Tang poses the question "How many plants are still in bloom?" then suggests: "Count by fives the plants you see,/ Then subtract the seedy three!" Briggs sprinkles his computer-generated artwork with fun-loving graphics throughout. Summer-themed poems show a pigeon wearing swim goggles diving into a bird bath and a lemonade-drinking butterfly. Any time of year is a good time to delve into these pictorial puzzles. Ages 7-10. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
Grades 1-3--Another calculated success from the creators of Grapes of Math (Scholastic, 2001). Each spread features a crisp, bright illustration with a rhymed couplet that poses a counting task and gives a suggested strategy. The 16 riddles take readers through the seasons beginning with tulips and hatching chicks in springtime and ending with snowflakes and gift boxes in winter. This ambitious work encourages creative problem solving in several ways. Youngsters learn to pair or group items to make adding easier, subtract to add (such as two 5s are 10 minus 2 equals 8), and to look for patterns and symmetries that provide further shortcuts to addition. Since most children are inclined to count items one by one, Tang's book will present them with a new tactic: recognizing visual groupings (twos, threes, and fives) to make adding faster and more accurate, and provide them with some training in it. Another plus is that the strategies learned early in the book are used more than once, thereby reinforcing the skills. Solutions are illustrated and explained at the back of the book. Though only one is offered for each scenario, it is possible that readers might find alternate, yet equally valid groupings. Math's appealing computer artwork, poetry, holiday and seasonal themes, and challenges add up to a winning combination.Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public SchoolsCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Ages 6-8. From flashing fireworks and blowing leaves to multiple scoops of ice cream, a bright, clear, computer-generated illustration sets the scene in each double-page spread, and a playful rhyme asks a counting question about the picture ("Can you count up all the scoops?" "Just how many leaves are there?"). With each riddle, there's also a clue to the math ("Try counting in groups of two"), and the answers at the back not only give the correct number but also show how to get the answer faster than by counting one by one. As they look at the pictures with an adult, children will enjoy learning the quick tricks of arithmetic, especially multiplication ("if it's symmetrical, count one and double it") and discovering the sets and patterns, vertical, horizontal, and diagonal, in the world around them. This is math, not by rote but in the things children do. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
Your challenge is to find the sumWithout counting one by oneWhy not count? It's much too slow --Adding is the way to go!Make clever groups before you start --Then add them in a way that's smart!MATH FOR ALL SEASONS will challenge every kid -- and every parent -- to open their minds and solve problems in new and unexpected ways. By looking for patterns, symmetries, and familiar number combinations within eye-catching pictures, math will become easier, quicker, and more fun than anyone could have imagined!

FROM OUR EDITORS

Mathematically challenged? Never fear -- Greg Tang is here! The creator of the popular and award-winning The Grapes of Math, is back with another stellar collection of math riddles disguised as poems (or is it the other way around?). Kids are encouraged use some creative problem solving -- instead of simply adding items one by one, they learn to group them to make adding easier and to look for patterns that will lead to additional shortcuts. Bright computer-generated illustrations fill these pages. Each layout illustrates a season: For summer sunning, butterflies are shown drinking lemonade and flying about, as the text reads, "How many dots adorn their wings?/See what clever thinking brings/There is a mate for every one/Make groups of ten and you'll be done!" Best of all, solutions are illustrated and explained at the end of the book. A fabulous gift for reluctant learners and innovative teachers.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"Your challenge is to find the sum
Without counting one by one
Why not count? It's much too slow --
Adding is the way to go!
Make clever groups before you start --
Then add them in a way that's smart!"

Math for All Seasons will challenge every kid -- and every parent -- to open their minds and solve math problems in new and unexpected ways. By looking for patterns, symmetries, and familiar number combinations displayed within eye-catching pictures, math will become easier, quicker, and more fun than anyone could have imagined!

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Move over, worksheets and pencils! The team behind The Grapes of Math once again proves that posing number problems through verse and vivid pictures is a powerful path to math learning. With titles like "Raining Cats and Frogs" and "Amazing Grain," the poems span the seasons, encouraging readers to look for patterns and symmetry in the playful illustrations. Each poem poses a "how many" question about the accompanying picture of seasonal items, from acorns and hatching chicks to dandelions and icicles. Several creatively convey facts about their timely topics, as in "Not-So-Dandy Lions": "These lions are a stubborn breedD / There's never just a single weed./ The trouble starts when they get loose,/ They catch a breeze and reproduce!" the simple verse then hints at effective strategies to make counting faster and easier. With 10 dandelions pictured on the opposing page, Tang poses the question "How many plants are still in bloom?" then suggests: "Count by fives the plants you see,/ Then subtract the seedy three!" Briggs sprinkles his computer-generated artwork with fun-loving graphics throughout. Summer-themed poems show a pigeon wearing swim goggles diving into a bird bath and a lemonade-drinking butterfly. Any time of year is a good time to delve into these pictorial puzzles. Ages 7-10. (Mar.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature

Greg Tang is interested in helping young students learn creative problem solving strategies and in cultivating an interest in math. These are word problems, but presented with graphics that put a whole new spin on problem solving. Three basic techniques are presented¾one is grouping numbers to make adding easier; the second is subtracting to add; and the third is to see patterns and symmetries. All of this is accomplished with a poem and an illustration. It's raining cats and frogs. Each of the four umbrellas has a different number of dots on it. The task is to count all of the dots. The hint provided is to group them in sums of ten. There are sixteen problems, each a spread with a very colorful illustration. The large scale makes it easy to focus on the problem at hand. Icicles need to be counted, as well as party hats, chicks, leaves and acorns. This book is successful because the language, design and illustrations all support the mission. If that's not enough, there are answers at the back of the book. 2002, Scholastic Press, $16.95. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Kristin Harris AGES: 5 6 7 8

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3-Another calculated success from the creators of Grapes of Math (Scholastic, 2001). Each spread features a crisp, bright illustration with a rhymed couplet that poses a counting task and gives a suggested strategy. The 16 riddles take readers through the seasons beginning with tulips and hatching chicks in springtime and ending with snowflakes and gift boxes in winter. This ambitious work encourages creative problem solving in several ways. Youngsters learn to pair or group items to make adding easier, subtract to add (such as two 5s are 10 minus 2 equals 8), and to look for patterns and symmetries that provide further shortcuts to addition. Since most children are inclined to count items one by one, Tang's book will present them with a new tactic: recognizing visual groupings (twos, threes, and fives) to make adding faster and more accurate, and provide them with some training in it. Another plus is that the strategies learned early in the book are used more than once, thereby reinforcing the skills. Solutions are illustrated and explained at the back of the book. Though only one is offered for each scenario, it is possible that readers might find alternate, yet equally valid groupings. Math's appealing computer artwork, poetry, holiday and seasonal themes, and challenges add up to a winning combination.-Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews