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A READING LIST FOR MATHEMATICS

The Youngest Mathematicians (preschool through late elementary)

Pappas Penrose, a cat with a knack for math, takes children on an adventurous tour of mathematical concepts from fractals to infinity

The Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat: The Mathematical Cat by Theoni

Amanda Bean's Amazing Dream by Marilyn Burns

Known as Bean Counter, young Amanda Bean happily counts "anything and everything" by ones, twos, fives, and tens. Although her teacher tells her that multiplication is important, Amanda remains unconvinced until a strange dream...

The Best of Times: Math Strategies that Multiply by Greg Tang

Giving kids tools rather than rules and more memorization, pays off once again, using rhymes and commonsense tricks to walk through the multiplication tables from zero to 10 (multiplication)

A Cloak for the Dreamer by Aileen Friedman

A tailor's three sons make cloaks for the Archduke. One uses only rectangles; the second, squares and triangles; but the third son makes his of circles the shape of the globe. While beautiful, it's filled with open spaces...

Fractals, Googols and Other Mathematical Tales by Theoni Pappas

Explore mathematical concepts including real numbers, exponents, dimensions, tangrams, and geometry in both serious and humorous ways

G Is for Googol: A Math Alphabet Book by David Schwartz

Entries include abacus, binary, cubit, diamond ("There are no diamonds in math. We put diamond in this book so you would know it doesn't belong here"), equilateral, exponent, Fibonacci, googol, y-axis, and zillion

The Grapes of Math: Mind Stretching Math Riddles by Greg Tang

If children can open their minds to new ways of perceiving math, anything is possible! Greg Tang shows readers creative ways to use patterns and combinations of numbers to solve math puzzles quickly and effectively (addition to multiplication)

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The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns

An introduction to shapes and polygons, a bored triangle is turned into a quadrilateral after a visit to the shape-shifter. Delighted with his new career opportunities he decides the more angles the better, until an accident teaches him a lesson

If You Made a Million by David Schwartz

Entertaining introduction to money, a little and a lot, with the theme that "enjoying your work is more important than money," and "making money means making choices"

The King's Chessboard by David Birch

When the wise man refuses to accept a reward for his service to the king, the king insists and so the wise man asks for a payment of rice for each square of the king's chessboard--the amount to be doubled each day...

Math Appeal by Greg Tang

Problems - how squares on a kite can be added quickly or peas in a pod grouped - with hints for their solutions (patterns and addition)

The Math Curse by Jon Scieszka

Did you ever have one of those days where everything is a math problem? You have 10 things to do, and 30 minutes till the bus leaves. Is there enough time? You have 3 shirts and 2 pairs of pants. How many outfits can you make?

Math for All Seasons by Greg Tang

With a few simple tricks, math can become fun! Encourages kids to think through problems, rather than relying on memorization and formulas (patterns and addition)

On Beyond a Million: An Amazing Math Journey by David Schwartz

Professor X and his dog, Y, introduce counting by powers of 10 - leaping quickly from 1, 10, and 100 on to exponentially greater numbers such as millions, quindecillions, and googols. Sidebars include real-world examples of large numbers, and the conclusion clears up misconceptions about infinity

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Sir Cumference and the First Round Table: A Math Adventure by Cindy

Neuschwander Assisted by his knight, Sir Cumference, and using ideas offered by his wife and son, King Arthur finds the perfect shape for his table

Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi: A Math Adventure by Cindy Neuschwander

A young boy gives his father the wrong potion to cure a bellyache, and must solve the riddle of the ratio of a circle's circumference to it's diameter to get the dosage to cure him

Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland by Cindy Neuschwander

Sir Cumference's son, Radius, is in a quest to earn his knighthood by rescuing a king. The circular medallion (a protractor) given to Radius by his father and his mother, Lady Di of Ameter, aid him in examining every angle along the way...

Sir Cumference and the Sword in the Cone by Cindy Neuschwander

Sir Cumference, Radius, and Sir Vertex search for Edgecalibur, the sword that King Arthur has hidden in a geometric solid...

Sideways Arithmetic from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

A collection of wacky, mind-boggling math puzzles and brain teasers challenges young readers...

More Sideways Arithmetic from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

A sequel to the original collection of brain twisters and math puzzles includes "How much is PEPPERS + PIG LIPS?" and "If Jenny's shirt has sparkles on it, will Todd have egg in his hair?"

Spaghetti and Meatballs for All: A Mathematical Story by Marilyn Burns

When Mrs. Comfort's guests rearrange all of her carefully placed tables and chairs, dinnertime at the family reunion becomes a complete mess, in a playful introduction to the concepts of area and perimeter

Tiger Math: Learning to Graph from a Baby Tiger by Ann Whitehead Nagda

T. J., a Siberian tiger cub, is born at the Denver Zoo. Ten weeks later, the death of his mother puts his survival in question. Follow the little tiger through the difficult months ahead. The text is paired with different types of graphs (picture, circle, bar, and line) that display information such as the numbers and

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types of tigers in the wild, T. J.'s food consumption, and his weight compared with that of his father at the same age As They Grow in Mathematics

Afterwards: Folk and Fairy Tales With Mathematical Ever Afters by Peggy Kaye
...

The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics by Norman Juster
The story of a straight line that falls in love with a dot

From Zero to Infinity: What Makes Numbers Interesting by Constance Reid

A classic of popular mathematical literature (since 1955) that combines the mathematics and the history of number theory with descriptions of the mystique that has, on occasion, surrounded the numbers even among great mathematicians

How Math Works by Carol Vonderman

Fascinating explanations, activities, profiles of history's most noted mathematical thinkers, and experiments introduce young readers to the world of mathematics

It's Alive: It's Math Like You've Never Known It Before...and May Never Know It Again by Asa Kleiman and David Washington It's Alive and Kicking ... Math the Way It Ought to Be--Tough, Fun, and a Little Weird by Asa Kleiman and David Washington

A two-book set of weird, crazy, and bizarre math problems guaranteed to challenge, stimulate, and gross-out math students everywhere. In addition to making math highly motivational, this set of books focuses on teaching students to translate real life problems and questions into mathematical equations. All of the problems are based on known facts...

The Joy of Mathematics by Theoni Pappas More Joy of Mathematics: Exploring Mathematics All Around You by Theoni Pappas

Part of the joy of mathematics is that it is everywhere in soap bubbles, electricity, da Vinci's masterpieces, even in an ocean wave. Written by the well-known mathematics teacher consultant, this two volume collection of over 500 clearly illustrated mathematical ideas, concepts, puzzles, and games shows where they turn up in the "real" world

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Mathematics Calendar 2006 by Theoni Pappas

A problem a day, all year long! Plus facts, curiosities, and challenging problems...

Math for Kids & Other People Too! by Theoni Pappas

Help kids discover what mathematics is all about - not dreary, repetitive computations, but concepts brought to life by stories, puzzles, and challenges. With a section dedicated to puzzles, games, and tricks

Make Shapes Series No. 1 by Gerald Jenkins

19 mathematical models for children to cut out of the book, glue, and decorate Make Shapes Series No. 2 by Gerald Jenkins Make Shapes Series No. 3 by Gerald Jenkins More mathematical models for children...

Math Wizardry for Kids by Margaret Kenda, Phyllis S. Williams

Over 200 math puzzles, games and designs for kids, also available as a kit with a protractor, various triangles, a ruler, compass, and other essential tools

Mathematics: From the Birth of Numbers by Jan Gullberg

If a family is to have only one mathematics book on the reference shelf, then this is the one...

The Man Who Counted: A Collection of Mathematical Adventures by Malba Tahan

The Arabian adventures of a man with remarkable mathematical skills, which he uses to settle conflict and give wise advice

Between Arithmetic and Higher Math

1000 Play Thinks: Puzzles, Paradoxes, Illusions & Games by Ivan Moscovich

Visual challenges, riddles, and puzzles to help push thinking into these new frontiers, some original; others are adaptations of classic challenges. Bold, bright, colorful, and genuinely inviting, they are arranged by mathematical or scientific category, and ranked by a degree of difficulty from 1 to 10...

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The Cartoon Guide to Statistics by Larry Gonick

A signpost directing you toward "Statistical Literacy," "Enlightenment," and "Diploma"; within, you'll find lucid explanations of probability, distributions, error functions, hypothesis testing, and other basic tools of statistics

Challenge Math For the Elementary and Middle School Student by Edward Zaccaro

"Math is often taught as all scales and no music. This book contains the music!" I couldn't have said it better myself - tons of fun problems...

Fantasia Mathematica: Being a Set of Stories, Together With a Group of Oddments and Diversions, All Drawn from the Universe of Mathematics by Clifton Fadiman
This anthology of mathematically oriented short stories and poems should delight a new generation of readers...

Fractals, Googols and Other Mathematical Tales by Theoni Pappas

Explores real numbers, exponents, dimensions, the golden rectangle in both serious and humorous ways. Penrose the cat, the parable of pi, the number line that fell apart, Leonhard the magic turtle and many others offer an amusing and entertaining way to explore mathematical ideas...

Life by the Numbers by Keith Devlin

Most of us think mathematics is about numbers and counting. That's just the basics, though, and Keith Devlin's companion book to the PBS series "Life by the Numbers" gives examples of the versatility of math as a tool for understanding just about everything. Original VHS series sometimes available used, and sometimes even the 7-volume DVD set... 1: Seeing Is Believing 2: Numbers Game 3: Patterns Nature 4: Chance-Lifetime 5: Shape of World 6: A New Age 7: Making A Difference

The Number Devil: A Mathematical Adventure by Hans Magnus Enzensberger

In 12 dreams, a 12-year-old boy who hates math discovers the amazing world of numbers: infinite numbers, prime numbers, Fibonacci numbers, numbers that magically appear in triangles, and numbers that expand without end...

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The Planiverse: computer contact with a two-dimensional world by A.K. Dewdney

Imagine you live in a two-dimensional world. Practically speaking, you're going to need your eyes on the side of your head. Imagine you have a house in your 2D world. How can you construct a door that a 2D person can open up? If you have a front and rear door, and friends open both at once, will the roof of your house collapse? Dewdney explores cool 2D inventions and solutions, with simple diagrams. A great problem-solving eye-opener... Ready for Algebra, Geometry, and more

A Gebra Named Al: A Novel by Wendy Isdell

Julie hates algebra--until she meets a gebra named Al, and the Periodic horses journey through the Land of Mathematics, where the Orders of Operations are real places and fruits that look like Bohr models grow on chemistrees... Also available, a teachers guide Using a Gebra Named Al in the Classroom

The Easy Way series) an algebra text in the form of a fantasy novel, with the story's characters solving problems by using algebra. Also... Trigonometry the Easy Way by Douglas Downing Calculus the Easy Way by Douglas Downing

Algebra the Easy Way by Douglas Downing (look for this author, he's excellent in

The Book of Numbers by John Horton Conway and Richard K. Guy

A fascinating review of numbers: from Egyptian fractions to surreal numbers; prime numbers, Fibonacci numbers, Catalan numbers, Fermat numbers; from numbers so large they cannot be imagined (and barely be named) to ruler-andcompass

Calculus by and for Young People-Worksheets by Donald Cohen

This is a book of problems to work on and think about. Archimedes, Newton, Euler, my students and I have worked on them also -- they are important...

In Code: A Mathematical Journey by Sarah Flannery

British best-seller by and about the 16-year-old who stunned the world by inventing a way of making public-key encryption much more efficient; an

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engaging, almost playful, book in which the reader is encouraged to spend lots of time working out mathematical puzzles

Elementary Algebra by Harold R. Jacobs

A terrific way to learn algebra! (text book, and good!)

e: The Story of a Number by Eli Maor

The interest earned on a bank account, the arrangement of seeds in a sunflower, and the shape of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis are all intimately connected with the mysterious number e. In this informal and engaging history...

Everything and More: A Compact History of Infinity by David Foster Wallace

Is infinity a valid mathematical property or a meaningless abstraction? The nineteenth-century mathematical genius Georg Cantor's answer to this question not only surprised him but also shook the very foundations upon which math had been built. Cantor's counterintuitive discovery of a progression of larger and larger infinities created controversy in his time, but it also helped lead to the development of set theory, analytic philosophy, and even computer technology...

Visit a completely flat world of two physical dimensions where all the inhabitants are geometric shapes, who think the planar world of length and width that they know is all there is. But one inhabitant discovers the existence of a third physical dimension... Sphereland: A Fantasy About Curved Spaces and an Expanding Universe by Dionys Burger The sequel, sort of...

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin Abbott Abbott

Geometry, Relativity, and the Fourth Dimension by Rudolf V. B. Rucker

Fourth dimension and concepts of relativity, as the Flatland characters continue their adventures... The Fourth Dimension: A Guided Tour of the Higher Universes by Rudolf Rucker Pulls together study and conjecture about higher dimensions (everything from Abbot's Flatland to Einstein's relativity theory), and explains it using easy to understand analogies and imprecise cartoons...

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Geometry: Seeing, Doing, Understanding by Harold R. Jacobs


A great way to learn geometry! (text book, and good!)

Godel Escher Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter

a Pulitzer prize-winning treatise on genius, explores the workings of brilliant people's brains with the help of historical examples and brainteaser puzzles

The Golden Ratio: The Story of Phi, the World's Most Astonishing Number by Mario
Livio Theoretical astrophysicist Livio gives pi's overlooked cousin phi its due with this lively account, the first on the subject written for the layperson...

Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences by John Allen Paulos

Sprinkling his discussion of numbers and probabilities with quirky stories and anecdotes, Paulos ranges freely over many aspects of modern life, from contested elections to sports stats, from stock scams and newspaper psychics to diet and medical claims, sex discrimination, insurance, lotteries, and drug testing. Readers of Innumeracy will be rewarded with scores of astonishing facts...

The Last Universe by William Sleator

After a brief introduction to the uncertainty of quantum mechanics, the paradox of Schrodinger's cat, and the possibility of infinite universes, Sleator launches into a story inspired by these ideas. Fourteen-year-old Susan feels burdened by her parents' expectation that she will provide help and companionship for her older brother, Gary, an invalid who is wheelchair-bound and becoming progressively weaker. Exploring their large garden, they discover that entering the often-invisible maze at its center will enable them to travel to other times and even different versions of the present reality

A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper by John Allen Paulos

Reveals the hidden mathematical angles in countless media stories. Real life perspective on the statistics we rely on and how they can mislead is for anyone interested in gaining a more accurate view of their world. Humorous and knowledgeable...

Prof. E. McSquared's Original, Fantastic & Highly Edifying Calculus Primer: Expanded Intergalactic Version by Johnson Swann
A comic book of Calculus... it's fun!

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The Sand-Reckoner by Gillian Bradshaw

Armed with just a few antique facts, Bradshaw ably recreates the extraordinary life of Archimedes, the great mathematician and engineer who built sophisticated weapons during the first Punic War...

Richard Feynman A series of anecdotes shouldn't by rights add up to an autobiography, but that's just one of the many pieces of received wisdom that Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman (1918-88) cheerfully ignores in his engagingly eccentric book, a bestseller ever since its initial publication in 1985...

Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!: Adventures of a Curious Character by Dr.

Real World Algebra: Understanding the Power of Mathematics by Edward Zaccaro The Ten Things All Future Mathematicians and Scientists Must Know (But are Rarely Taught) by Edward Zaccaro

Mathematicians and scientists have been closely tied to many famous disasters. This book presents the ten things our future mathematicians and scientists must know to prevent these kinds of tragedies from occurring...

Bharati Krisna Tirthaji and V.S. Agarwala The ancient Indian method and its secret techniques are examined and shown to be capable of solving various problems of mathematics...

Vedic Mathematics or Sixteen Simple Mathematical Formulae from the Vedas by Sri

What Do You Care What Other People Think? by Dr. Richard Feynman
Anecdotal, unpretentious, and lively, its mathematics!

Why Do Buses Come in Threes? by Rob Eastaway and Jeremy Wyndham

successfully navigate statistics, codes, coincidences, and many other parts of our lives, peeling away the surface to show what's really going on to make things so weird and wonderful...

The World's 20 Greatest Unsolved Problems by John R. Vacca

Current debates in astronomy and cosmology, physics and astrophysics, biology and paleontology, neuroscience, geology, chemistry, and energy

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For All Ages!

Powers of Ten by Philip & Phylis Morrison

Starting with a view of a billion light-years, the book moves inward, with each page being 1/10th the scale of the previous one. In 25 steps, you're looking at a picnic by the shores of Lake Michigan, then plunging into a human hand, down through the cells inside it, the DNA inside the cells... THANKS to http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/mathematics.htm

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