Mathemagic

Childcraft - The How and Why Library 1991-1995 #13

by Childcraft International

This is a book about the magic of math. It is filled with puzzles, tricks, games, surprises, stories, poems, and facts that show the magic hidden in numbers and shapes!

Genres: Nonfiction, Childrens, Reference, Mathematics

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

“Character training, discipline guidance, and habit formation are processes in your child’s development that cause you serious concern. You want your child to develop habits and traits of character that are admirable and worthwhile—habits and traits that will ensure happiness and success in life.”

These are words of introduction from the inaugural 1934 Parent Guide Supplement to Childcraft, a 15-volume annual series launched as a home instructional and educational resource for parents. Childcraft remained a mainstay within American households over 7 decades, sold door-to-door, direct to parents.

Childcraft was succeeded by Discovery and Discovery Science. Discovery and Discovery Science are multivolume print and digital reference resources for elementary readers.

The iconic Childcraft brand remains in the public domain as an Annual Update to owners of an original Childcraft set and is displayed each year at the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder’s meeting.

Reviews

[Kelly]

It was because of this book that I learned:
• what a Möbius strip is
• how to count to ten in Japanese, Italian, and Russian
• that I should read The Phantom Tollbooth
• basic numerology
• what a googol is

I still have the copy from my family library - its cover is besmirched with ballpoint scribbles, because I intended to send it as a letter to a cousin once.

[Lekeshua]

Took us over a year to finish but we enjoyed the journey. Math should be introduced to everyone this way. It has brought me a new perspective, love, and respect for math. I feel like my littles were inspired too.

[David]

I was seven when this book came in the mail, and I promptly devoured it. I daresay it set a certain path in my life. This is a greatest hits sort of collection of mathematical curiosities in easily digested, colorful nuggets. In it, I first encountered The Phantom Tollbooth (a nice excerpt featuring Milo, the Dodecahedron, and subtraction stew!) and Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions, geometric series, the Platonic solids, permutations, powers of 10 (googol!), and so on. Many concepts I didn't formally learn until a decade later. I don't know how many polyhedra I created out of paper and glue using the patterns in the back. I must have shared those designs with dozens of classmates and math teachers in elementary school.

[Dominique Liongson]

More fun than my arithmetic lessons in school. Teachers can help add WOW from mathematics into matheMAGIC! If teachers enjoy and borrow this approach, students will enjoy the fun and keep zoning in for more input, than zoning out by becoming physically present and mentally absent.

[Sally]

This is a great way to learn alot of different maths history, concepts and ideas. We read this as part of our home school this term and it has been a great addition to our learning.

[Christine]

This book is still one of my favorites. I love all the games and stories in it. This book makes math fun. Even though it's an older book, there is still a lot between its covers for a younger person to learn.

[Elizabeth]

I loved this book so much as a kid! It had everything that made math fun. I still remember a lot of the things I learned from the book... and now, as a physicist-in-training and math lover, I really appreciate getting that introduction to math as a child.

[Sally]

This volume of the Childcraft set engendered a love of math in me. Flatland, moibus strips, all kinds of fun. Every kid should love math!

[Shaheed Sayed]

This is the book that inspired my love of mathematics. I read it as a child and since then mathematics has been my life.

[Ans Rizwan]

this is a generational masterpiece. I used to fucking hate math and this book made me fall in love with it. Truly life-changing.

[Cassi]

A classic from my childhood! Informative and engaging!