Written by Kate Banks, Illustrated by Boris Kulikov
This is a fun adventure book about numbers and math. Most math books are either counting books, or explaining one specific math concept or another. This is a different type of book. Max and his brothers go searching for problems to find fun. They cruise past some vehicles (which the reader could add up) on their way to either Shapeville or Count Town. On the way they find a number. It could be either a 6 or a 9. They decide to bring it along and solve the mystery. On their journey they find that a storm has ruined Shapeville. They piece together shapes to make other shapes. There is more counting, dot-to-dot connecting, directions such as left and right, sorting, and other mathematical concepts. The characters find out that a rocket will be launched at Count Town and hurry over for the countdown.
The author and illustrator have worked on other books about Max. There is Max’s Dragon, Max’s Words, and Max’s Castle. After having read this book it makes me eager to read the rest in the series. The illustrations are very unusual. They have really interesting changes in perspectives and size. Highway 4 is in the shape of a “4,” and a cow is larger than a building or truck. The mayor is bigger than 7 buildings and the townspeople are too big for the doorways, but it works in this book. Max and his brothers have shape to them but most of the other characters are flatter looking.
This would be a great book to share with a math class. It uses many mathematical properties and ideas and lets them all be in an adventure. This is a big step up from counting books. Nicely done.
Review by Cheryl Baker, Teacher, Mill Creek Elementary
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades K-3
Author Website: http://www.katebanksbooks.com/
Illustrator Website: http://www.boriskulikov.com/
Max’s Math
Written by Kate Banks, Illustrated by Boris Kulikov
Frances Foster Books / Farrar Straus Giroux
40 pages
Release Date: March 10, 2015
