Excerpt from a longer article:

Synergy: Celebrating Mathematics

MATHEMATICS is the science of numbers and their use. From counting, arranging, and measuring objects to describing shapes, math is connected with everything we do. Branches of mathematics include arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and calculus.

To understand a concept, it’s useful to read a cluster of books related to a theme. Explore these recently published books for young people:

STORYTELLING MATH is a book series from Charlesbridge featuring children of color applying math to the world around them. Readers are encouraged to become mathematical thinkers. Let’s explore several new books in the series.

WHO JUMPS MORE?, OUR FAVORITE APPLES, WHERE ARE THE EGGS?, and A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE FOR BIRDS written and illustrated by Grace Lin are four recently published books in the Storytelling Math series. Whether searching for eggs or building a bird house, each story celebrates math in the daily lives of children.

LIA & LUIS books are written by Ana Crespo and Giovana Medeiros. In PUZZLED!, the twins who use geometry and sorting skills to decipher a puzzle sent by their grandmother. In WHO HAS MORE?, an argument about favorite snacks has the twins applying measurement, counting, and estimation skills. Like some other books in the STORYTELLING MATH series, this title is available in Spanish, English, and bilingual editions.

TOO-SMALL TYSON written by JaNay Brown and illustrated by Anastasia Magloire Williams tells the story of a missing pet gerbil. Along the way, children learn about proportional thinking.

To learn more about the series, visit the website for author interviews and lots of extras. Go to https://www.charlesbridge.com/pages/storytellingmath.

ARCs courtesy of Charlesbridge, an imprint of Penguin Random House. ( )

Leah and Louis are sent a gift of a puzzle and this puzzle will help them solve the mystery. This is a storytelling math picture book so it does get into how to actually put a puzzle together, such as looking for straight edges and matching colors, etc. The illustrations are lovely and the story while a bit much for who it’s intended, it does work. I think what makes this book stand out among the series is that it mixes in Portuguese words, and in the back tells you what the dialect of Brazilian Portuguese they’re speaking, which happens to be San Paulo. There’s also a glossary in the back for those that don’t know this language. Overall, this is a strong entry into the series. ( )