(4) K-3 Crayola Concepts series. These simple concept books serve as introductions to their topics as well as to nonfiction conventions. Crayon-bright pages pop with colorful graphics and photos that illustrate concepts in the texts; some volumes are more focused than others. Despite its obvious marketing for the Crayola brand, overall the series is an engaging foray into basic early-elementary subjects. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Crayola Concepts titles: The Crayola Counting Book, The Crayola Patterns Book, The Crayola Shapes Book, The Crayola Comparing Sizes Book, The Crayola Opposites Book, and The Crayola Sorting Book

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kurt Cyrus. This rhymed counting book explores numbers found in nature, from one (a mouth, nose, moon) to ten (toes and fingers), ending with a set too big to count (stars). Examples range from the familiar (birds, octopuses) to the hard to count (colors in a rainbow) to the less well known (stickleback fish). The digitally created illustrations evoke beauty and peace.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(4) K-3 Mouse Math series. Illustrated by Deborah Melmon. Mouse siblings Albert and Wanda play in the "People House playroom" and learn about sorting, attributes, and classification when it's time to put the toys away (Mess). Albert adds more and more toys to trade for Wanda's copy of the new Captain Slime book (Adds). The purposeful stories' soft, friendly illustrations welcome children to the early math lessons. "Fun activities" are appended. Review covers these Mouse Math titles: A Mousy Mess and Albert Adds Up!.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Rabbit Minna tries to come up with the perfect collection to celebrate the one hundredth day of school. With help from her family, she gathers ten sets of different things for a picture-perfect project. The quality of some of the mixed-media illustrations is poor, but the art does help readers visualize the math concepts covered in the accessible text.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) K-3 Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. Mr. Tiffin brings three pumpkins to school. To calculate how many seeds are in each, the students scoop out the seeds and begin counting by twos, fives, and tens. Charlie, the smallest student, figures out the littlest pumpkin actually has the most seeds. Fall-hued gouache, acrylic, and pencil illustrations add personality to this story of math, science, and self-discovery.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) PS Illustrated by Seung Ha Rew. When twelve ducklings hatch, Mama has trouble keeping track of them. So she divides them into groups: first six groups of two, then four groups of three, and so on. When a wolf attacks, the ducklings fight back as one big group. Cut-paper pictures give the characters dimension and illustrate the challenging math concepts more clearly than does the text.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) K-3 MathStart series. Illustrated by Bernice Lum. Three funny, well-written stories--about coyotes estimating the number of desert animals around them, a penguin saving up for an ice scooter, and kids sorting buttons for their firefighter costumes--explore and clearly explain, in an age-appropriate manner, the mathematical concepts of rounding, negative numbers, and patterns and sets. Each book features lively illustrations and closes with suggested activities. [Review covers these MathStart titles: Coyotes All Around, Less than Zero, and Three Little Firefighters.]

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Greg Paprocki & Greg Paprocki. Each of twelve reproductions of famous paintings faces a descriptive six-line rhyming verse featuring an addition problem. For example, readers are asked to examine groups of Degas-inspired ballet shoes and calculate how many ways they can combine them to make seven. (Solutions are provided at book's end.) Slight vagaries in the verse occasionally leave the math question unclear, but the concept is great. Glos.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Tomek Bogacki. In this book inspired by Venn diagrams, a girl thinks about the relationships among the "three humans, and two cats" in her family. She begins with similarities in appearance--"three with orange hair" (mother, child, one cat)--then moves on to other groups: "two who can read, and one who is learning." The curvilinear, faux-naive artwork conveys as much of the meaning and humor as the lighthearted narration.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2001

(3) PS MathStart series. Illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz. Turtle scrambles to find enough cups, spoons, bowls, and napkins for his lunch guests--none of whom are particularly eager to dig into their host's slimy, smelly seaweed soup. The picture-book introduction to the concept of matching sets includes simple, uncluttered illustrations, which draw readers' attention to the characters and their place settings. Follow-up activities are suggested.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) K-3 Let's Explore series. The books in this series introduce basic science concepts in easy-to-read texts and engaging color photos. Rather complex natural phenomena and mathematical ideas are approached using simple, comprehensible language that avoids terminology. These volumes are adequate entrées to the subjects. There are six other fall 2001 books in this series. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Let's Explore titles: Day and Night, Earth, Numbers and Counting, Seasons, Sorting and Sets, Water.]

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire

(4) PS Mortimer's Math series. Basic math concepts are competently, if somewhat flatly, introduced in the first five books. The sixth offering, Where Is Mortimer?, covers spatial prepositions including up/down and inside/outside. All feature color photos of a stiff-limbed teddy bear interacting with familiar household objects--counting socks, sorting toys, and making fruit patterns. Simple questions ("How many forks can you count?") encourage reader participation. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) PS Cloth collage with added materials like buttons, barrettes, and clothespins effectively illustrates this tale of a girl who finds a way to avoid having to choose from among her many collections for show-and-tell--she combines them into a sculpture. While the subject lacks drama, the text subtly includes counting and adding games, and the textured images will keep young collectors interested.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(3) K-3 MathStart series. Illustrated by Cat Bowman Smith. When Amy and Josh begin a rock collection, their friend Dave shows them ways to organize their rocks: by size, place of origin, color, the process that formed them, or hardness. Although the unsuspecting will think they are learning only about rocks, the topic of classification is thoroughly explored and is extended with activities for adults and children at the end of the story. Loose color cartoons keep the tone light.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) PS Captionless, colorful photographs of such things as seashells, food, animals, hats, pots and pans, and jelly beans are interesting to look at but aren't clear examples of the title concepts--lessening the impact of the book. The well-composed photos offer some occasions for general discussion, but it's difficult to glean teaching opportunities from this concept book.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) 4-6 Math for Fun series. Published spring 1998.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) PS Little Rabbit series. Illustrated by Alan Baker. Not just a counting book, this lively primer includes a variety of activities intended to teach early mathematical skills--pairing, sorting, matching, ordering, and more--making it suitable for both younger and older preschoolers. Softly detailed illustrations featuring winsome rabbits cavorting across the pages add a quiet charm.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne