My sister, a Kindergarten teacher, suggested mathematics as a potential Talking Story theme. She wanted more books to get kids excited about math. We have a selection of books this month which encouraged mathematical thinking in creative and unconventional ways! From a man who engineers a backyard playground for squirrels to star baseball players who are also math wizzes, this issue is full of mathematical surprises!
|
|
Featured Author:
Solving for M
|
When I was in fifth grade, I was a milk-seller. Chocolate 6¢. Regular 5¢. Skim 4¢. This was a coveted class job. I don’t remember the exact hiring process, but I do remember two reasons I was chosen:
- I was good at math. (The pricing structure made for some tricky change-making.)
- They needed a girl. (The other milk-sellers were all boys.)
I also remember the subtle subtext — a “math girl” can be hard to find.
In Solving For M, fifth-grader Mika doesn’t consider herself a math girl. “I’m more of an art person,” she says. That is, until she meets Mr. Vann who has his students keep a journal… in MATH! Within his carefully orchestrated classroom chaos, Mr. Vann provides multiple ways to be “a math person.” Math means drawing, building, writing, running, roleplaying, debating, cooking… and perhaps most importantly, Math means explaining your thinking.
An astute young reader once asked me — in a book full of strong girls — why wasn’t Mr. Vann … Ms. Vann? Huh. The truth is, it never occurred to me. In my imagination, Mr. Vann was always a man, probably because most of my own math teachers were men. But I trust that Mika and her friends will encounter multiple math role models in their world, and that they will grow up to be those role models for others. As Mika’s new-found math friend Dee Dee’s t-shirt says: This is what a scientist looks like.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to observe a kindergarten class. The teacher placed seven colorful bears in a line and posed the question: If you count the bears starting at one end of the line, will you get the same number if you start at the other end? One girl raised her hand.
“Not always,” she said confidently.
Now, seven bears equals seven bears, whether you count them left, right, or sideways. But this wise educator didn’t respond with correction or clarification. “Please explain your thinking,” she said.
“Sometimes,” the student explained, “people count wrong.”
Jennifer Swender was a classroom teacher for many years before turning to writing full-time. Her debut middle-grade novel, Solving for M, was the winner of the 2020 Mathical Book Prize for Grades 3-5, awarded to books that “inspire children of all ages to see math in the world around them.” When she’s not writing, Jennifer is likely developing curriculum materials for students and teachers, knitting, reading, or traveling. She lives with her family in Western Massachusetts. |
|
Featured Illustrator:
Mark Hoffman
Piggy Bank Saves the Day
|
|
One Teen Talks About Three Books
by Isabelle Knight
|
Those Darn Squirrels by Adam Rubin is such a hilarious picture book! Combining colorful, gorgeous illustrations by Daniel Salmieri, this picture book tells the tale of Old Man Fookwire, who wants to build birdfeeders so that the wild birds he loves so much will stay through the winter instead of flying away. Except the squirrels have plans to outsmart Old Man Fookwire and get their paws on the tasty seeds. I don’t typically read picture books, but this was such a unique read that I think will appeal to readers from ages 3 to 6. My favorite line from this book: “Those darn squirrels!” (What else was I supposed to pick as a favorite line?)
Piggy Bank Saves the Day by Kimberly Wilson is a fun picture book! It has colorful, expressive illustrations from Mark Hoffman that reflect Piggy’s character and the story. A piggy bank has the goal of saving up enough money to buy a sled. The only problem is that Piggy is terribly impatient, which gets him into all sorts of conundrums. The story ends with Piggy learning to be more patient, and I liked how Wilson’s writing style (along with the illustrations!) expressed everything that was happening in the story. Overall, a great read for ages 3 to 6 that includes an interesting section on the history of piggy banks in the back.
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl is a beautiful, moving middle-grade novel by Stacy McAnulty. The story follows 12-year-old Lucy Callahan who was struck by lightning, which gave her genius-level math skills. She's been homeschooled ever since and is now ready for college. But she has one more test to pass. Middle school. Her grandma insists: Go to middle school for 1 year, make 1 friend, join 1 activity, and read 1 book (that's not a math textbook). This is such a beautiful middle-grade book with very strong themes of friendship woven all throughout the narrative. I related so strongly to Lucy all throughout the story, and some parts of the story made me cry. Overall, this is a truly beautiful story perfect for ages 8 to 12 (and even adults!) and for anyone who ever feels different or struggles to fit in.
 Isabelle Knight is a homeschooled eighth grader and the middle-grade author of the Enchantria series. She lives in China with an eclectic collection of notebooks and loves to read and write middle-grade fantasy. Her favorite book is Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. Check out her blog! |
|
EXTEND and CONNECT
by Rebecca
|
Just like the books featured in this issue, let math come to life by writing your own math story. Choose a number theme of interest to you, for instance, a recipe, statistics from your favorite sport, distances travelled between destinations, or temperature fluxuations. Create characters and settings to tell the numbers' stories. Maybe your story has a puzzle for the reader to solve!
Image: www.mathcoachscorner.com
|
|
We love to hear from our readers!
You can contact us through the newsletter or individually at the following social media platforms.
We're also both available for school visits.
Rebecca W Wheeler
Carol Baldwin
|
|
Does a Teen Reviewer
Live in Your House or
Attend Your School?
|
We're always looking for teen or tween reviewers. If you know someone who might be interested in reading and writing a short synopsis of three books, please email us.
|
|
To Jennifer Swender for being our author expert and a copy of Solving For M.
To Mark Hoffman and Page Street Publishing for the image from Piggy Saves the Day.
To Stacy McAnulty for giving away Millionaires for the Month and The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl.
To Nancy Sutin for proofreading.
To Isabelle Knight for our teen review.
|
|
If you're having trouble emailing us, try using CHROME browser.
|
|
Please share our books with your local and school libraries.
|
|
|
|
Did you know there is a TALKING STORY Facebook Group? We would love for you to participate and find out what other writers, educators, and librarians are saying.
|
|
|
and we'll enter your name to win one of the four books below.
US addresses only.
Enter by
(Or better yet, enter now!)
BONUS!
If you forward Talking Story to a friend or share the newsletter now, we will give you an extra chance to win a book. Please let Carol know you shared the newsletter! |
|
I'm thrilled to share the awards that Half-Truths has received!
|
|
BOOKS FOR YOUNGER READERS
By Julie Dillimuth
****
BOOKS FOR MIDDLE GRADES and OLDER READERS
|
|
PLEASE SHARE
TALKING STORY
|
If you share TALKING STORY either on social media or via email, we will enter your name in our giveaway. Please complete this google form by Feb. 3, 2026 at 5pm, indicate your book preference and we will add your name to the hat!
|
|
Looking for additional books? Jennifer Swender suggested visiting Mathical Books.
|
|
Congratulations to our October book winners.
|
Tonnye Fletcher won POWWOW TREASURE.
Cammie Bates won POWWOW DAY.
Jenny Mattern won LOON COVE.
|
|
|
