By Barbara Barbieri McGrath
Charlesbridge Press, $7.95, 32 pages

Imagine using gummy bears to learn math! What a fun way to reinforce skills that children will use for the rest of their lives. Barbara Barbieri McGrath, author of many best-selling math concept books, presents a unique way to teach beginning math skills in her new book Teddy Bear Math. Written in rhyming verse that new learners will enjoy, the book introduces estimation, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, graphing, and ordinal numbers. Math is made easy using delicious and colorful teddy bears (gummy bears). Tim Nihoff’s illustrations help demonstrate how to use the teddy bears when graphing. Even little ones who aren’t ready for more substantial math can group together colors and do the activities with adult guidance. More advanced readers can follow the text by themselves and independently go through the lessons. Try using different manipulatives (other kinds of candy, coins, pebbles, or small toys). The last page of the book provides a concise review of what is covered in the book. Teachers and parents will benefit from this entertaining teaching tool. When children are done with the lesson, they can enjoy a gummy bear snack!

Reviewed by Kathryn Franklin

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