Marvelous Math: A Book of Poems

What does math help us do? And what would the world be like without it? Marvelous Math shows how math is part of our daily lives -- how it can help us build a house or find clothes that fit; how it makes us "feel safe" by providing a sense of order and control. The poems cover a broad range from specific math functions (multiplication, division, fractions, etc.) to general math topics (time, counting, measurement, etc.) to the pleasures and problems children face in math. All are accessible and imaginative, and Karen Barbour's flamboyant, energetic artwork overflows with fanciful, child-pleasing details (she includes dinosaurs, circus acts, animals, animate numbers, and people who are too big for their houses, too small for their hats, etc.). The poetry and art together demonstrate that math is both natural and fun.