{"id":21267,"date":"2013-07-29T14:24:41","date_gmt":"2013-07-29T18:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=21267"},"modified":"2013-07-29T14:24:41","modified_gmt":"2013-07-29T18:24:41","slug":"review-of-thats-a-possibility-by-bruce-goldstone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=21267","title":{"rendered":"Review of That’s a Possibility! by Bruce Goldstone"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>That\u2019s a Possibility<\/p>\n

A Book About What Might Happen<\/em><\/p>\n

By Bruce Goldstone<\/p>\n

Henry Holt and Company, New York, 2013. 32 pages.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

A book about probability for kids! Hooray! What\u2019s more, I find it tremendously impressive, because Bruce Goldstone keeps things far, far simpler than I could possibly<\/em> have done if I were trying to write such a book.<\/p>\n

Back in my college-math-teaching days, I often taught Introduction to Statistics. That\u2019s probably<\/em> why it never would have occurred to me that it\u2019s possible to write a book explaining probability without even using fractions. In fact, the only place where he comes close at all is in the explanation about flipping a coin: \u201cSo the odds<\/strong> that the coin will land heads up is 1 out of 2 possibilites. (You can also say 50%, because 50 out of 100 is the same as 1 out of 2.)\u201d<\/p>\n

He manages to explain every fundamental concept with pictures. The pictures are vibrant, colorful, and interesting \u2013 and they so beautifully get across the concepts.<\/p>\n

He begins by talking about possibilities. For example, there\u2019s a picture of a kid holding 7 animal-shaped helium balloons. He asks, \u201cIf one of these balloons POPS, will it be the monkey? That\u2019s a possibility!\u201d<\/p>\n

Then he goes on to talk about when things are impossible<\/em>. And then what it means to be certain<\/em>. Then the concepts of \u201clikely,\u201d \u201cprobable,\u201d and \u201cimprobable.\u201d Those are easily showed with pictures. He uses colorful pictures of flowers, parrots, and gumball machines.<\/p>\n

And he goes on beyond the concept of \u201cequally likely outcomes\u201d (which he doesn\u2019t mention, but didn\u2019t I tell you I don\u2019t know how to keep it as simple as he does.) There\u2019s even a page that says, \u201cYour imagination can help you think of possibilities, too.\u201d It shows a girl jumping into a swimming pool, and asks, \u201cWhat will probably<\/strong> happen when this jumper hits the water?\u201d<\/p>\n

Then it goes on to odds and flipping a coin. He explains \u201cindependent outcomes\u201d without using those words \u2013 the idea that no matter what has already happened, your odds of getting tails on the next toss will always be 1 out of 2.<\/p>\n

Then he looks at colorful spinners and a simple game that uses them. Then he looks at the classics of probability theory: playing cards and dice. Instead of listing all the possibilities of a 2-dice roll, he puts pictures of all the possible rolls in a chart, using one white and one black die. Kids can see at a glance that it\u2019s more likely to roll a 7 than any other number.<\/p>\n

Then he takes on Combinations and Permutations, again keeping it beautifully simple. Squidgy the Bear has 10 shirts and 10 pairs of pants. We see a picture of all 100 combinations before the author asks us what are the chances he\u2019ll wear one particular outfit.<\/p>\n

And the culmination (about permutations), before the notes at the end, is especially fun. Rabbit, Ribbit (a frog), and Robot run in a race. What are the possible results? They\u2019re all pictured for you. I especially like the final questions:<\/p>\n

Can you say all the possibilities together without getting your tongue twisted? That\u2019s a possibility<\/strong>, but is it probable<\/strong>?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The notes at the end explain some activities kids can do at home, and then define some terms (like permutations) he didn\u2019t use earlier. This is only very slightly more complex than what went before.<\/p>\n

So, what makes me rave about this book? He keeps it so simple! The design is magnificent, and the pictures are beautiful and colorful \u2013 and helpful at the same time. But having taught probability to college students, let me tell you, his ability to explain the concepts at an elementary-school level is nothing short of genius. Magnificent!<\/p>\n

brucegoldstone.com<\/a>
\nmackids.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>This review is posted today in honor of Nonfiction Monday<\/a>, hosted this week at Sally’s Bookshelf<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Nonfiction\/that’s_a_possibility.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. 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.<\/p>\n

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