It's always exciting to find an engaging and interactive children's book about maths, and That's Mathematics, published by Mama Makes Books, is one of the best I've seen for a long time. It's based on the lyrics to That's Mathematics, a song by American musician Tom Lehrer, which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VZbWJIndlQ.
Counting sheep...when you're trying to sleep,
Counting sheep...when you're trying to sleep,
Being fair...when there's something to share,
Being neat...when you're folding a sheet,
That's mathematics!
Each page of the book is linked to a line from the song and is made up of three sections: a short piece of mathematical information about the relevant song lyric, an Explore This challenge and a Try This game or task. Having attempted a couple of the tasks with the pupils in my class, it's clear that they're designed to generate lots of mathematical discussion. Author Chris Smith has pitched the text perfectly for Key Stage Two children, although the book could also be enjoyed by younger children with parental support. Elina Braslina, the illustrator, has contributed some fantastic artwork which really supports the text and helps explain many of the concepts being introduced.
At the back of the book are the answers to the various challenges. There's also a useful section for parents, which provides suggestions about how to get the most from the book, and a glossary explaining the mathematical terms used.
It's the kind of book that children will love reading and talking about with a partner. It could also be used with a whole class, perhaps when introducing new mathematical concepts or looking for a new way to explain an idea. It's fun, it's accessible and it makes children think, the perfect combination for non-fiction texts. Highly recommended.
