The Kitchen Pantry Scientist
Math for Kids
Fun Math Games and Activities Inspired by Awesome Mathematicians, Past and Present
by Rebecca Rapoport and Allanna Chung
Quarto Publishing, 2022. 128 pages.
Review written January 8, 2022, from a library book
Starred Review
2023 Mathical Book Prize Honor Book, Ages 8-10
Oh, this book is wonderful!
A lot of general books about math for kids have the same old stuff you’ve heard before, presented in a fairly random order.
This book is organized around twenty-two biographies of distinguished mathematicians, and then has a hands-on game or activity (some using templates found at the back of the book or on the accompanying website). The activities are very cool! I think I am going to print out the templates for the hexaflexagons. Some of the other activities include making a car with square wheels, a mancala game, a binary bracelet, and an alien city.
The activities are illustrated with clear photographs and have step-by-step instructions. The biographies take up one page, with a full-page illustration of the mathematician and symbols around them representing their work.
I loved that I hadn’t heard of a majority of the mathematicians presented, even though I’ve read a lot of books like this. I also loved that most were women and/or people of color. Because there are a lot of white men in math, and it was exciting to me to hear about others. And everyone chosen had done important work.
A really wonderful book about math that will make the reader want to explore and make and do.
Find this review on Sonderbooks at: www.sonderbooks.com/Childrens_Nonfiction/math_for_kids.html
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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.
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