- Original comics-style art draws students into the magic world of learning mathematics
- Fascinating information about the invention of number systems
- Lists of additional print and internet resources about learning mathematics
- Contents reflect state and provincial learning standards of mathematics
- Prepared with the expert guidance of Dr. Hala Ghousseini and Dr. Anita Wager, assistant professors of mathematics education in the department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Building Blocks of Math, About the Illustrator:
Sam Hiti is very tall, but of average height when sitting at his drafting table. He has been drawing comics full time independently since 2004. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife, two children, and his tiny dog.
Building Blocks of Math, About the Author:
Joseph Midthun was born in a small mining town in central Minnesota. He attended the Perpich Center for Arts Education and Columbia College in Chicago. He is currently editor-in-chief at La Luz Comics and lives in St. Paul.
“This series uses a comic-book format to appeal to the target audience. Cartoon narrators guide readers through different strategies to solve mathematical story problems involving fractions, multiplication, etc. There are some humorous, edgier moments; in Subtraction, for example, seven worms escape the fish hook only to be eaten by a bird (that responds with a “Burp”). The texts move quickly through the concepts, and thus will be most useful for students with established knowledge and/or a teacher nearby to answer questions. Each volume typically ends with a page of additional facts; resource lists; and a page that includes a “Note to Educators,” an index to the strategies introduced in the texts, and a list of “Educator Resources.” For teachers who want to challenge students to consider different methods of solving problems, these books are a must.”
School Library Journal
"This new set from World Book was designed in collaboration with a team of education experts led by Hala Ghousseini and Anita Wager, assistant professors of mathematics education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The concept is to provide a fun, interactive way for children to learn the basic skills and building blocks of mathematics through the use of comic-book style illustrations and story problems. Each of the six volumes addresses a different mathematical concept: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and numbers. Made up mostly of story problems, this work will help students conceptualize mathematical operations and learn new techniques for solving math problems found in real-life situations. The contents reflect state learning standards for mathematics, making these books useful for elementary and middle school libraries and classrooms. Each volume concludes with a list of additional resources (books and Websites), as well as a list of educator resources."
American Reference Books Annual
Using a graphic novel format, this six-volume set covers multiple ways to perform arithmetic operations. Well-designed to reinforce previously taught concepts. Grades 1-5.
– Library Media Connection Editor’s Choice