{"id":34556,"date":"2018-04-05T22:40:41","date_gmt":"2018-04-06T02:40:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=34556"},"modified":"2018-04-05T22:58:38","modified_gmt":"2018-04-06T02:58:38","slug":"review-of-which-one-doesnt-belong-by-christopher-danielson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=34556","title":{"rendered":"Review of Which One Doesn’t Belong, by Christopher Danielson"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Which One Doesn\u2019t Belong?<\/p>\n

A Shapes Book<\/em><\/p>\n

by Christopher Danielson<\/p>\n

Stenhouse Publishers, 2016. 36 pages.
\nStarred Review
\nMathical Award Winner<\/p>\n

I\u2019m reading and reviewing this book during my Newbery year even though it was written in 2016 and isn\u2019t eligible \u2013 because it makes my mathematical heart sing!<\/p>\n

The idea comes from the old Sesame Street song \u2013 \u201cOne of these things is not like the other\u201d \u2013 except on these pages, all four shapes can be the correct answer!<\/p>\n

The book starts with an example and explains why you might<\/em> have chosen any of the four shapes. (There\u2019s also an emphasis that there\u2019s not just one reason to choose any given shape.)<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the explanation that follows the first example:<\/p>\n

On every page of this book, you can choose any shape and say that it doesn\u2019t belong.<\/p>\n

The important thing is to have a reason why.<\/p>\n

How is your shape different from the others?<\/p>\n

What if you had picked a different shape?<\/p>\n

While the question is the same on every page, some pages are more challenging than others.<\/p>\n

You may need to put the book down to think and come back later.<\/p>\n

So when you\u2019re ready, turn the page and decide which one doesn\u2019t belong.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It\u2019s interesting to me that no answers are given \u2013 not even on the website. I didn\u2019t figure out a good answer for every shape \u2013 I guess I need to keep thinking!<\/p>\n

At the back of the book, the author says this:<\/p>\n

I made this book to spark conversations, thinking, and wonder.<\/p>\n

I hope you will see similarities and differences in unexpected places.<\/p>\n

I hope this is a book you will leave open, think about, and return to. I hope you will share it with others.<\/p>\n

I hope you will send me your own sets of shapes to challenge me to say which one doesn\u2019t belong.<\/p>\n

Find me at talkingmathwithyourkids.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sparking conversations! Encouraging critical thinking! Wow!<\/p>\n

As a former math teacher, one of my favorite things about this book is the way it teaches there is not only one right answer. And that there might be different reasons for any given answer.<\/p>\n

As far as I\u2019m concerned, the Mathical Book Prize was well-deserved. I\u2019m not sure when I\u2019ve been more excited about a math book for kids.<\/p>\n

On the website, a parent talks about discussing the book with a four-year-old \u2013 and yet the puzzles aren\u2019t boring for an adult with a master\u2019s in math. How often can you say that about a book?<\/p>\n

talkingmathwithyourkids.com<\/a>
\nstenhouse.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Nonfiction\/which_one_doesnt_belong.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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