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Max's Math
Max and his two brothers hop into a car and go looking for problems they can solve. They cruise down highway number 4 on their way to Shapeville, but they see an abandoned number along the way. Is it a 6? Is it a 9? And what's it doing on the side of the road? Once the trio reach Shapeville, there's another problem: a flood washed away all of the squares. Max and his brothers show the town that putting together two triangles will bring their shapes back together, and then they follow the residents on a trip to Count Town, where they put the missing number back in its place in the countdown to a rocket's blastoff.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2015
About the author
Kate Banks
91 books50 followersKate Banks has written many books for children, among them Max’s Words, And If the Moon Could Talk, winner of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, and The Night Worker, winner of the Charlotte Zolotow Award. She grew up in Maine, where she and her two sisters and brother spent a lot of time outdoors, and where Banks developed an early love of reading. “I especially liked picture books,” she says, “and the way in which words and illustrations could create a whole new world in which sometimes real and other times magical and unexpected things could happen.” Banks attended Wellesley College and received her masters in history at Columbia University. She lived in Rome for eight years but now lives in the South of France with her husband and two sons, Peter Anton and Maximilian.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/katebanks
http://us.macmillan.com/author/katebanks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
January 20, 2015
Four Stars: A fun adventure that features shapes and numbers, perfect for young readers.
Max has an active imagination. He decides to build a car, but he finds he only has two wheels. Luckily, he locates two more in the basement to complete his car. Once finished, Max thinks it would be fun to head out and search for problems. Even though his two brothers question why he would want to search for problems, they go along with him. The three soon find themselves visiting two towns: Shapeville and Count Town, but both towns have a problem. Can Max help set things right?
What I Liked:
*I loved the bright, colorful illustrations in this one that incorporate numbers and shapes. It is fun to go through and pick out the different shapes and numbers that make up the items. I especially loved the mayor of Count Town who is entirely made up from numbers. This book is a terrific way to help young readers familiarize themselves with shapes and numbers.
*This book has several problems that Max must solve. Some involve counting and addition, while others are about using shapes in different ways. For instance,
*Shapeville is suddenly missing all their squares, so Max shows the townsfolk how to make shapes from other shapes: two triangles make a square. I loved that the book taught in a fun way.
And The Not So Much:
*My one quibble is that I am not certain as to why Max's car that he built is white, no color, just an outline. Is it because it was all in his imagination? The car in comparison to the rest of the illustrations looks out of place.
Max's Math is a fun and engaging read that introduces young readers to shapes, numbers, addition and problem solving. The bright illustrations are packed full of numbers and shapes terrific for engaging younger readers. I highly recommend this book for young children who are learning counting, numbers and shapes.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Max has an active imagination. He decides to build a car, but he finds he only has two wheels. Luckily, he locates two more in the basement to complete his car. Once finished, Max thinks it would be fun to head out and search for problems. Even though his two brothers question why he would want to search for problems, they go along with him. The three soon find themselves visiting two towns: Shapeville and Count Town, but both towns have a problem. Can Max help set things right?
What I Liked:
*I loved the bright, colorful illustrations in this one that incorporate numbers and shapes. It is fun to go through and pick out the different shapes and numbers that make up the items. I especially loved the mayor of Count Town who is entirely made up from numbers. This book is a terrific way to help young readers familiarize themselves with shapes and numbers.
*This book has several problems that Max must solve. Some involve counting and addition, while others are about using shapes in different ways. For instance,
*Shapeville is suddenly missing all their squares, so Max shows the townsfolk how to make shapes from other shapes: two triangles make a square. I loved that the book taught in a fun way.
And The Not So Much:
*My one quibble is that I am not certain as to why Max's car that he built is white, no color, just an outline. Is it because it was all in his imagination? The car in comparison to the rest of the illustrations looks out of place.
Max's Math is a fun and engaging read that introduces young readers to shapes, numbers, addition and problem solving. The bright illustrations are packed full of numbers and shapes terrific for engaging younger readers. I highly recommend this book for young children who are learning counting, numbers and shapes.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
August 24, 2015
This book was a struggle for both of us
May 4, 2021
Title (italicize): Max's Math
Author: Katie Banks
Illustrator :Boris Kulikov.
Genre:Math
Theme(s):adventure and inventive
Opening line/sentence :Max had a problem
Brief Book Summary: Max loves to solve problems. Max and his two brother went on an adventure to help solve problems. Most of the problems involve math. Throughout the adventure they solve simple math problems
Response to Two Professional Reviews: From Kirkus reviews, they expressed their opinions on how great this story is to introduce numbers to children. loving the way they incorporate imaginetive and inventive fun. In a good reads review, a reader expressed their love of the book and how perfect it is to teach young children about numbers
Tell Me Framework (4 sentences in your own words):
Like(s): The use of numbers throughout the book.
Dislike(s): pictures are very wild, but suiteful towards the text of the book
Patterns(s): 2+2=4
Puzzle(s): Can they drive a car???
Consideration of Instructional Application : Great way to introduce number, math and shapes to children. Expressing that adding numbers together equal a bigger number. Perfect for a circle time, before an instruction is given.
Author: Katie Banks
Illustrator :Boris Kulikov.
Genre:Math
Theme(s):adventure and inventive
Opening line/sentence :Max had a problem
Brief Book Summary: Max loves to solve problems. Max and his two brother went on an adventure to help solve problems. Most of the problems involve math. Throughout the adventure they solve simple math problems
Response to Two Professional Reviews: From Kirkus reviews, they expressed their opinions on how great this story is to introduce numbers to children. loving the way they incorporate imaginetive and inventive fun. In a good reads review, a reader expressed their love of the book and how perfect it is to teach young children about numbers
Tell Me Framework (4 sentences in your own words):
Like(s): The use of numbers throughout the book.
Dislike(s): pictures are very wild, but suiteful towards the text of the book
Patterns(s): 2+2=4
Puzzle(s): Can they drive a car???
Consideration of Instructional Application : Great way to introduce number, math and shapes to children. Expressing that adding numbers together equal a bigger number. Perfect for a circle time, before an instruction is given.
October 12, 2017
Summary
Max's Math goes through the adventures that Max and his brothers go through while looking for problems to solve. They save the day by using their geometry and arithmetic skills. It's use of numbers and shapes puts a fun and interesting twist on mathematics and is guaranteed to get your students excited about math.
Activity:
While reading there are basic math problems, have your students solve them before moving on. Ask them how many items they passed by while being pulled on a kite, and then go over the importance of numbers and counting. To incorporate geometry, have your students experiment with different shapes to make new shapes and items such as; their favorite animal, a self portrait, a cake, etc.)
Banks, K., & Kulikov, B. (2015). Max's Math. New York, NY: Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers.
Max's Math goes through the adventures that Max and his brothers go through while looking for problems to solve. They save the day by using their geometry and arithmetic skills. It's use of numbers and shapes puts a fun and interesting twist on mathematics and is guaranteed to get your students excited about math.
Activity:
While reading there are basic math problems, have your students solve them before moving on. Ask them how many items they passed by while being pulled on a kite, and then go over the importance of numbers and counting. To incorporate geometry, have your students experiment with different shapes to make new shapes and items such as; their favorite animal, a self portrait, a cake, etc.)
Banks, K., & Kulikov, B. (2015). Max's Math. New York, NY: Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers.
July 22, 2023
Why go look for problems, math problems?
Because you love numbers, that's why.
Counting is part of the fun. Geometry, too.
Every adventure is so cleverly conceived, and seems like such fun.
In the company of main characters Karl, Ben, and Max... I could sort through socks all summer and have a great time. Garn, if I had read this picture book when I was at picture book ages, I might have become a Math Major!
Strongly recommended, this fun adventure. Especially if you'd like your child to excel at STEM, subjects. Heck, to excel at life!
FIVE STARS once again to author Kate Banks and artist Boris Kulikov: Originality, beauty, and heart!
Because you love numbers, that's why.
Counting is part of the fun. Geometry, too.
Every adventure is so cleverly conceived, and seems like such fun.
In the company of main characters Karl, Ben, and Max... I could sort through socks all summer and have a great time. Garn, if I had read this picture book when I was at picture book ages, I might have become a Math Major!
Strongly recommended, this fun adventure. Especially if you'd like your child to excel at STEM, subjects. Heck, to excel at life!
FIVE STARS once again to author Kate Banks and artist Boris Kulikov: Originality, beauty, and heart!
December 28, 2017
Miss 3 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
It was okay. Miss 3 likes the page where they count the different types of vehicles on the road. There's some counting, numbers, shapes, and addition.
It was okay. Miss 3 likes the page where they count the different types of vehicles on the road. There's some counting, numbers, shapes, and addition.
July 27, 2020
Max's Math is a brilliant book that plays with words and numbers as Max travels with friends looking for problems! My first graders will love listening and talking about this after reading it to them! From addition to creating objects with shapes, just about every first grade math standard is covered in this book!
March 8, 2017
Read for Storytime, March 8th
Theme: Math Stories
Max and his brothers build a car and go looking for problems. Why? Because they are fun! they find plenty of problems in Shapeville and Count Town, where they are able to help find the town square and launch a rocket.
Theme: Math Stories
Max and his brothers build a car and go looking for problems. Why? Because they are fun! they find plenty of problems in Shapeville and Count Town, where they are able to help find the town square and launch a rocket.
October 30, 2017
This book may appeal to kids who like math, and kids who like to see how math problems pop up in real life.
The main character, Max, goes looking for math problems. He encounters shape (geometry) problems, simple arithmetic problems and counting problems.
The main character, Max, goes looking for math problems. He encounters shape (geometry) problems, simple arithmetic problems and counting problems.
June 5, 2018
The highlight was when the town had no more squares and so the kids showed them how to build squares out of triangles. It would be fun to play with that and see how/when that worked (with what kinds of triangles, etc.)
December 10, 2023
There’s nothing offensive about this story, I just found it to be uninteresting. I understood its goal and appreciated the effort it took to discuss different educational concepts, but my child and I weren’t interested in the story and the illustrations were just okay.
April 19, 2018
Fun book of problem solving with reading and numbers. This book gives simple math word problems for children to figure out while reading. Great for ages 5 and over.
April 28, 2018
Good parent read to introduce math concepts, but a little long for that as well.
November 16, 2018
Math and shape problems.
August 20, 2019
Cute and fun!
September 21, 2020
We liked the number aspect. I liked that the siblings all got along, many times books have siblings arguing.
March 25, 2022
Fun, creative. Love the illustrations. The story is random...but somehow the book pulls it off.
January 13, 2024
Not nearly as good as Max's Words. Not funny, not playful, written as if with "And then..." time after time. But at least in this one the brothers aren't bullies. I'll skip the others in the series.
March 24, 2024
Banks Vault #13
Max #4
Unexpectedly Max returned and well he has gone from words to numbers in this average yarn about counting.
Max #4
Unexpectedly Max returned and well he has gone from words to numbers in this average yarn about counting.
December 12, 2024
My daughter was glued to this book while we read it!
March 13, 2025
Max and his brothers, Ben and Karl, take a road trip in search of problems, and they find plenty in Shapeville and Count Town.
March 11, 2026
definitely her worst lol
May 9, 2015
My person reaction was i loved the real life aspect of math. I struggled with the reason behind why we need to use math, this is the perfect book that shows real life math problems as the book goes to Shapesville and Count Town.
This would be a great read aloud book to make a curricular connection about math in the real world. Focusing on numbers and shapes. A as class we could count the missing squares in the town and start problem solving for Max's problems.
This would also be a great independent reader who is a beginning reader with an interest in shapes and numbers, as well as counting. It would be for a beginning reader because it has simple addition and simple problems of finding the missing squares.
The first image of all the shapes that make Shapesville really announces that shapes can be anywhere in the world. A focus on how numbers are in real life and the usefulness of knowing addition.
This would be a great read aloud book to make a curricular connection about math in the real world. Focusing on numbers and shapes. A as class we could count the missing squares in the town and start problem solving for Max's problems.
This would also be a great independent reader who is a beginning reader with an interest in shapes and numbers, as well as counting. It would be for a beginning reader because it has simple addition and simple problems of finding the missing squares.
The first image of all the shapes that make Shapesville really announces that shapes can be anywhere in the world. A focus on how numbers are in real life and the usefulness of knowing addition.
May 28, 2015
This is a very strange, but very imaginative story about a little boy who sees math everywhere and seeks to solve the math problems of the world. The narrative is short and filled with examples of math in different forms, from counting objects to creating new geometric shapes from others to connecting the dots to matching socks and finally to a rocket launch. Even the celebratory party with cake and ice cream at the end of the story depicts different shapes.
Overall, I have to admit that I just didn't connect with the story myself. The images were fun and surreal, but the story just didn't have the charm for me that The Phantom Tollbooth did (I know, this is a picture book, so it's probably unfair to compare the two.) Still, I love that it shows the practical applications of math in its different forms. We enjoyed reading this book together.
Overall, I have to admit that I just didn't connect with the story myself. The images were fun and surreal, but the story just didn't have the charm for me that The Phantom Tollbooth did (I know, this is a picture book, so it's probably unfair to compare the two.) Still, I love that it shows the practical applications of math in its different forms. We enjoyed reading this book together.
April 22, 2015
This book is nice because it incorporates math and numbers into a picture book, but doesn't go the traditional "counting to ten" route. However, I really didn't like it. I found the illustrations kind of creepy. I wouldn't be surprised if kids have nightmares about the people made out of shapes. Showing how you can use shapes to make other shapes was really cool (though oddly they make a kite that isn't actually kite-shaped), but just searching for numbers in the number town was much less exciting. Plus, it was never really shown what they DID with the numbers to make the rocket blast off.
I did really like the first view of shape town, as the pile of shapes was very Dali-esque.
I did really like the first view of shape town, as the pile of shapes was very Dali-esque.
May 12, 2015
Perfect for math lovers or perhaps to entice others to identify the practical uses of math, this picture book is filled with math problems. Max and his two siblings head to Shapeville and Count Town in search of problems. They find plenty of them, starting with their own mode of transportation, and figuring out how to make squares from triangles. Even when the boys return home, they are still busy, this time counting sheep as they try to fall asleep. Although I don't love this one as much as Max's Words--after all, I relate more to words than numbers--I found this one amusing, and I loved the imaginative illustrations filled with all sorts of shapes, sizes, and numbers.
November 17, 2015
There is nothing mundane and boring about this math book!
Max's math is full of adventure and possibility seeing numbers with a new perspective with their ability to come together and make things. Visit shapeland, constellations, rocket ships, Count Town and more with Max and celebrate the feast of numbers.
Simply delightful.
Excellent for introducing numbers and math concepts to a young mathematician or for helping the ones who find math dull love numbers and what they can do.
Max's math is full of adventure and possibility seeing numbers with a new perspective with their ability to come together and make things. Visit shapeland, constellations, rocket ships, Count Town and more with Max and celebrate the feast of numbers.
Simply delightful.
Excellent for introducing numbers and math concepts to a young mathematician or for helping the ones who find math dull love numbers and what they can do.
April 26, 2016
Max likes problems. A great mindset for kids to have. As the story progresses Max solves problems that deal with such topics as sorting and shapes not just number ones. The end of the day brings the end of the problem solving as max returns home. Illustrations are done by an award winning illustrator, Boris Kulikov. They are not my favorite but they are very popular with students. They also support the text through the use of shapes and numbers and patterns so I think they work for this text.
Read
March 15, 2015I wanted to like this book more than I did. It just came off as really really didactic. I thought some of the lines were good plays on words though. It might still be entertaining enough to use in a specific math reading, meaning I wouldn't just read it to a kid to read it, but if you were specifically teaching math.
September 28, 2015
This is a strange, but interesting book, that features a little boy who sees shapes and Math everywhere. It is a good reminder of how fun Math USED to be before Common Core sucked all the life out of it. :/
Beautiful illustrations in the book, though.
Beautiful illustrations in the book, though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews