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(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Phyllis Hornung Peacock.
Neglecting his chores, young Pythagoras helps tune his cousins' lyres and pipes by using a mathematical ratio that yields harmonious tones. With instruments perfectly tuned, the cousins play in unison, wowing their audience. Readers old enough to grasp the math content may not be drawn in by the story's contrivances. Bland illustrations show cartoony scenes of ancient Greece.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Phyllis Hornung.
Young Pythagoras of ancient Greece confronts several problems having to do with angles (e.g., some columns stand on crooked bases); ultimately, he derives his namesake theorem to solve them. As a protagonist, Pythagoras lacks charisma, and the synthetic-looking illustrations don't help the cause. But the notion of teaching math through narrative is worthwhile, and the lessons within the text are clearly articulated, hence painless.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Phyllis Hornung
&
Phyllis Hornung.
In Digitaria, the numbers like to play Addemup, but the digit Zero can't participate "because he had nothing to add." Imaginative cartoony images show Zero discovering his additive and multiplicative identities, and finally his worth as a place holder. This fictional story, featuring wizards, kings, and walking, talking numerals, obscures rather than clarifies the math concepts, but Zero is an engaging hero.