Just So Stories

Scribble Kids Books

June 2024
ISBN: 9781922585400

RRP: $24.99

I am no big fan of maths but there are some aspects that I just love, and one of those is connections, just like the ones made in this book, between numbers, shapes and geometry.

Although the suggested age group is 3-7, astute educators will recognise the potential with this beautifully presented book immediately. The gold ink throughout the vibrant and stylish illustrations gives this a truly magical feel, and kiddos will love the connections made, and easily springboard into further investigations.

I would envisage many productive and happy sessions with students fully engaged as they use all their sleuthing skills to find more of each number/shape/nature connections. Just how many flowers with 5 petal patterns can they find? Where else will they find circles as symbols, and in what cultures and belief systems will they find trios repeated? Slice open other seeded fruits to discover numerical patterns and check out cacti for common patterns.

This would so very easily lead to a really authentic and fascinating maths investigation. I can already think of dozens of activities that could accompany this, right up to end of primary.

With its lovely fold-out pages, it makes for a really exciting, surprise package not just as a ‘counting’ book but also a work of art that covers cultural and historical aspects, natural history and fun facts. Even if you can’t squeeze it into your teaching program (I’m sure you can!) it will make a super ad hoc read in that settling down 10 mins after break time etc. but be prepared for the ensuing conversations to go on longer!!

Highly recommended to share with Smalls from Prep upwards – and it would make a particularly handsome gift to a small person who appreciates beauty as well as ‘finding out’. Just check out the taster of gloriousness in the slideshow!