This is a great book about an important topic. The author's angle on it highlights the perseverance necessary for a math-challenged kid to meet the traditional third grade benchmark of mastering the multiplication facts. Wilson's initial progress through the multiplication tests was impeded by administering them in numerical order: multiplication by the factors of 0, 1, 2, 3, etc. As Wilson observed, the threes are difficult because there is no pattern to the products when multiplying by three. Eventually, Wilson learns his multiplication facts which reemphasizes the idea that if you try hard and keep working you'll achieve your goals. ( )

7x9=Trouble!
I don’t have any strong feelings toward this book because it portrays a struggle that many young mathematicians (and adults) go through: learning multiplication tables. One aspect of the book that I liked is the moral support the main character receives from his friend, Josh, and the class hamster, Squiggles. Through their support, Wilson, the main character is able to learn his multiplication tables. Another aspect of the book I appreciated is the portrayal of the common struggle between parents and children of owning a pet. Wilson’s mother does not want pets, which many families can relate to. ( )

I had mixed feelings about this book. I liked the book because of the plot. It flowed very well and it has a story that most children that age can relate to some way or another. The boy in the story is having trouble with his times tables and most children have had trouble in school with a certain class so they can relate to the story. The reason I didn’t like the book was because of the illustrations. The illustrations were very dull and I think it would make the book boring for children just learning to read chapter books. The big idea in this book is that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses but with hard work you can accomplish anything. ( )

A nice read-aloud for third-grade classes. Students who are themselves struggling with times-table memorization will be able to relate to Wilson. His slow but steady progress is realistic, and that nines trick is phenomenal... wish I'd known about that when I was learning to multiply! ( )

In Wilson Williams’s third grade class, if students pass all of their multiplication table tests through the 12’s, they will be rewarded with an ice cream cone. With three weeks left, Wilson has only passed his 3’s! It is of no help that his pesky little brother, Kipper, a math whiz even in kindergarten, distracts him when he tries to study at home. Will Wilson earn his cone in time? In this transitional chapter book, Wilson learns that even though people have innate strengths and weaknesses in different subjects, through hard work they can accomplish their goals. Not only will this chapter book help children between the ages of six and ten read more complicated material; it presents several multiplication problems with solutions and provides tricks for remembering some of them. Therefore, they will advance both their reading and math skills simultaneously. Throughout the book, there are sporadic black and white illustrations that look as though they were drawn in pencil. This book is recommended for children ages 6-10 who are looking to advance their reading skills and learn some multiplication facts at the same time. ( )