Count on Me

Gr 1-4--A young girl understands that everyone has a passion. Her father's is art, her mother's science, her brother's music. Her passion is math. She sees math wherever she goes--on the playground, at the lake, in her toys, and in solving real-life problems. The girl keeps a journal of math concepts that fascinate her and this journal helps explain the concepts highlighted in the story, such as fractals, basic polygons, concentric circles, types of curves, solid figures, types of trajectories, and kinds of sets. Each journal page gives a definition for the featured concept along with illustrations. This picture book for elementary age students is a great tool for teachers to use to kick off the school year, acknowledging that everyone is good at something and that the diversity of interests and abilities is what makes the world interesting and beautiful. The book is also useful for introducing the concept of a math journal or even as an introduction or tip sheet for any of the aforementioned concepts. The illustrations are simple and succinct, with clean lines making it easy to recognize the math concepts that are being represented. The colors are subtle and applied in a manner that lends the book a fresh, clean feel. VERDICT A picture book that celebrates different ways of looking at the world and a useful tool for any classroom or personal library collection.--Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE

Committed to pinpointing her passion, a brown-skinned girl observes her painter father, entomologist mother, and budding musician brother pursue theirs. At school, she delves into the many possibilities at hand--performance, cookery, and sports--but nothing sticks. At last, she admits to a love of math, which she takes deep pleasure in seeing everywhere: "There are geometric shapes on the playground. And when we go to the lake, I skip stones to see the concentric circles form in the water." Muted watercolor illustrations by Tanco perfectly accompany the dreamy lilt of the text as the child finds "the perfect curve" of the slide and launches a paper airplane. The occasional appearance of complex equations may feel baffling to readers within the stated age range, but the volume reminds readers that "there are infinite ways to see the world." Back matter includes an illustrated notebook explaining highlighted mathematical concepts. A beautifully rendered love letter to math. Ages 3-7. (June)

Featured in School Library Journal's list of top 2019 Math Picture Books

"This delightful picture book makes readers, young and old, reflect on the beauty of the world through fresh eyes . . . a great addition to any school or public library." —Resource Links