10 Best Elementary Math Trade Books
Books Recommended by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Sep 5, 2008
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) recommends the best math literacy tradebooks for elementary school on a regular basis in their journals. These books are reviewed by a panel made up of elementary teachers and other members of the math education community.
Their review focuses on reading level, computational accuracy, connections with math standards, and grade level appropriateness. After reviewing the panel’s recommendations, the NCTM publishes recommended books in their monthly journals.
Literacy and Math Trade Books
Fraction Action
- by Loreen Leedy
- Holiday House Publishing (1996) and ISBN 978-0823412440
- A cast of animal characters are used to help introduce the concept of fractions.
How Big is a Foot?
- by Rolf Myller
- Yearling Publishing (1991) and ISBN 978-0440404958
- The King wants to give the Queen something special for her birthday. The Queen has everything, everything except a bed. The trouble is that no one in the Kingdom knows the answer to a very important question: How Big is a Bed?
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table
- by Cindy Neauschwander and Wayne Geehan
- Charlesbridge Publishing (1997) and ISBN 978-1570911521
- When King Arthur and his knights get together, the table they have is so long that everyone has to shout to be heard. A rectangular table is too long and a triangular table is too pointy, but somehow they must sit down and discuss the shape of the future.
Math Curse
- by Jon Sciecska and Lane Smith
- Viking Juvenile Publisher (1995) and ISBN 978-0670062997
- Did you ever wake up to one of those days where everything is a problem? You have 10 things to do, but only 30 minutes till the bus leaves. Is there enough time? An amusing book about dealing with numbers in everyday life.
The Grapes of Math
- by Greg Tang and Harry Briggs
- Scholastic Paperbacks (2001) and ISBN 978-0439598408
- How is it possible to count a complicated pattern of strawberry seeds or grapes on a vine or camel humps -- in a blink of an eye?
Anno’s Mysterious Multiplying Jar
- by Mitsumasa Anno
- Putnam Juvenile (1999) and ISBN 978-0698117532
- Superbly demonstrating the conception of factorials in mathematics.
A Remainder of One
- by Elinor J. Pinczes and Bonnie Mackain
- Houghton Mifflin (2002) and ISBN 978-0618250776
- Introduces a regiment of 25 beetles on parade. Their blue bug queen "likes things tidy," and when the bugs march two by two, she notices that one bug brings up the rear.
One Hundred Hungry Ants
- by Elinor J. Pinczes and Bonnie Mackain
- Houghton Mifflin (1999) and ISBN 978-0395971239
- A rhyming text describes the progress of one hundred ants marching toward a picnic. To travel faster, one ant suggests dividing into two lines of fifty, etc.
Spaghetti and Meatballs for All
- by Marilyn Burns
- Scholastic Paperbacks (2008) and ISBN 978-0545044455
- To seat 32 guests, eight square tables and the appropriate number of chairs are rented and arranged according to a plan devised by Mrs. Comfort. However, as the guests arrive, they rearrange the furniture so they can sit together.
Lemonade for Sale
- by Stuart J. Murphy and Tricia Tusa
- Harper Trophy Publishing (1997) and ISBN 978-0064467155
- Children decide to sell lemonade to make money to fix their clubhouse. For three days, they keep a bar graph to track their sales.
These books make a great addition to any elementary classroom for connecting math and literature. Students will enjoy these books as they develop a better understanding math through stories and images. All books are less than $18.00.
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