Books About Math
It's Probably Penny
Title: It’s Probably Penny
Author: Loreen Leedy
Illustrator: Loreen Leedy
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2007
Reading level: Grade 4
Interest level: Grade 1-4
Summary: Lisa is in school learning about probability. Her teacher uses different colored jelly beans as an example to figure out which color has a higher, lower, or no chance of selecting it. For homework, she must make predictions about what will, might, and can't happen over the weekend. Her dog, Penny, helps Lisa visualize the situations needed for the assignment.
Picture book: Yes
Moral of the story/lesson/theme: Learning about probability and understanding what has a tiny, equal, and unequal chance of happening.
Topic: Mathematics
Is it a good read aloud book? Yes
Bear Counts
Title: Bear Counts
Author: Karma Wilson
Illustrator: Jane Chapman
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2015
Reading level: Grade 1-2
Interest level: PreK-1
Summary: Bear and Mouse spend the day together. Bear counts the various objects and animals around him in the forest and the pond. Bear counts up from 1 to 5.
Picture book: Yes
Moral of the story/lesson/theme: The lesson of the story is learning how to count from 1 to 5 by using different kinds of objects or animals.
Topic: Mathematics
Is it a good read aloud book? Yes
Brody Borrows Money
Title: Brody Borrows Money
Author: Lisa Bullard
Illustrator: Mike Byrne
Genre: Non-fiction
Copyright: 2014
Reading level: Grade 1
Interest level: K-2
Summary: Brody doesn't have enough money for a cool rock at the gift shop. He borrows some money from his friend Josh, but he can't pay it back. Now Brody's dad has to pay Josh back. Sometimes Brody's dad borrows money too, but he always pays back. He teaches Brody about when it's okay to borrow money and when it's not.
Picture book: Yes
Moral of the story/lesson/theme: The moral of the story is you need to know when you are able to borrow money and if you have enough money to pay people or even the bank back.
Topic: Mathematics
Is it a good read aloud book? Yes
The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos
Title: The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos
Author: Deborah Heiligman
Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Genre: Biography/Non-fiction
Copyright: 2003
Reading level: Grade 2-4
Interest level: K-3
Summary: Living in Budapest, a boy named Paul Erdos had problems to solve, but they didn’t involve math. Rules were a problem, and school was another. He went from a numbers-obsessed boy to a numbers-obsessed man who traveled around the world. Other mathematicians were honored to have him as a guest for the chance to talk math with him.
Picture book: Yes
Moral of the story/lesson/theme: Stay true to yourself, and continue to do the things you love in life. Never give up.
Topic: Mathematics
Is it a good read aloud book? Yes
Counting on Katherine
Title: Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13
Author: Helaine Becker
Illustrator: Dow Phumiruk
Genre: Biography/Historical non-fiction
Copyright: 2018
Reading level: Grade 3-5
Interest level: Grade 1-4
Summary: As a child, Katherine Johnson loved to count and was a gifted student. She was a curious girl and excited by calculations. The story of Katherine, an African-American mathematician who worked for NASA during the space race. She saved lives and made enormous contributions to history.
Picture book: Yes
Moral of the story/lesson/theme: Don’t give up on your dreams. Your dreams can come true if you work hard enough.
Topic: Mathematics
Is it a good read aloud? Yes
