Equations to Admission: Best Math Books for Ivy League-Bound Students
Embarking on an Ivy League education is a dream for many students, where a robust foundation in mathematics is crucial. Selecting the right books to enhance a child’s mathematical thinking can pose a challenge for parents. The book selection, spanning from pre-K to middle school, featured in this article not only contributes to knowledge but also subtly enriches a child’s understanding and self-learning skills. These books act as guides, nurturing a child’s passion for learning and sparking the intrinsic motivation essential for Ivy League success. Intrigued by the math treasures captivating parents? Explore the following age-appropriate gems.
Prek-G2 Math Books
Where’s The Pair? by Britta Teckentrup
Can you spot the Siamese cats? Where are the fish with matching fins? This fabulous follow-up to stand-out title The Odd One Out features rhyming riddles accompanied by patterned artwork, within which the answer lies. The book features vibrant and intricately designed pages where children can uncover hidden pairs of animals.
Left, Right, Emma! by Stuart J. Murphy
In this children’s book, Stuart J. Murphy skillfully weaves a captivating narrative around Emma, guiding young readers through the concepts of left and right. As Emma embarks on her daily adventures, vivid illustrations and a relatable storyline make learning these fundamental directions both enjoyable and accessible.
Sorting at the Market by Tracey Steffora
Through vibrant illustrations and a charming narrative, this children’s book takes young readers on a delightful journey through a bustling market. As the characters explore various fruits and vegetables, the concept of sorting comes to life.
Pattern Fish by Trudy Harris
Young readers can follow the journey of fish as they form patterns in their underwater habitat. Trudy Harris skillfully weaves an educational narrative into the story, making the exploration of patterns both enjoyable and accessible for young minds.
Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen
In this delightful children’s book, a group of animal friends sets sail on a little boat, prompting the question: who is responsible for sinking it? Through Allen’s engaging storytelling and charming illustrations, young readers unravel the mystery while learning about weight distribution.
G3-G5 Math Books
Actual Size by Steve Jenkins
How big is a crocodile? What about a tiger or the world’s largest spider? Can you imagine a tongue that is two feet long or an eye that’s bigger than your head? Sometimes facts and figures don’t tell the whole story. Sometimes you need to see things for yourself—at their actual size.
Gregory and the Magic Line by Dawn Piggot
In this enchanting children’s story, Gregory discovers an extraordinary line that holds magical powers. As he traces its path through various landscapes, readers are immersed in a tale of wonder and imagination. Follow Gregory and draw squiggles, zigzags, squares, circles, and triangles that turn into houses, suns, pyramids, and wonderful animals and people with funny faces.
A Remainder of One by Elinor J Pinczes
Join a squadron of ten marching bugs as they encounter the challenge of forming equal lines. Pinczes’ clever narrative and vibrant illustrations weave a tale of strategic thinking and collaboration.
Math Curse by Jon Scieszka
“Math Curse” is an engaging and light-hearted picture book that can be enjoyed in a single reading session. Each page provides a wealth of opportunities for diving into various math concepts such as problem-solving, averages, percentages, volume calculations, sequencing, permutations, and more. For children who may not usually enjoy math, this book could make the subject more approachable and less daunting.
Middle School Math Books
All of the Above by Shelley Pearsall
Based on a true story, All of the Above is the delightful and suspenseful story of four inner-city students and their quest to build the world’s largest tetrahedron. Weaving together the different personal stories of the kids, their teacher, and the community that surrounds them, award-winning author Shelley Pearsall has written a vividly engaging story about math, life, and good-tasting barbecue. Filled with unexpected humor, poignant characters, and quiet brilliance, All of the Above is a surprising gem.
Everything You Need to Ace Math in One Big Fat Notebook by Ouida Newton
Everything You Need to Ace Math provides a comprehensive guide for students facing various mathematical challenges, covering fractions, decimals, ratios, geometry, statistics, probability, expressions, equations, and the coordinate plane and functions.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The Phantom Tollbooth is abundant in creativity and character progression, not to mention its integration of mathematical concepts. It effortlessly incorporates aspects like ratio, proportion, averages, measurement, estimation, geometry and more into the narrative.
The Elephant in the Classroom by Jo Boaler
Jo Boaler tracks the advancement of students from different schools into their adulthood, outlining the existing crisis in mathematics education and suggesting methods to inspire students about the subject. She provides tangible solutions including classroom methodologies, strategies for students, guidance for parents, and ways in which parents can collaborate with teachers.
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