Math Potatoes: Mind-stretching Brain Food

by Greg Tang, Harry Briggs (Illustrator)

Readers who have graduated from THE GRAPES OF MATH will find new, more advanced math challenges. Greg Tang is back with his bestselling approach to addition and problem solving. By solving challenges that encourage kids to "group" numbers rather than memorize formulas, even the most reluctant math learners are inspired to see math in a whole new way! Math Potatoes is full of Tang and Briggs' trademark humor, wit, and extraordinary creativity. Tang has proven over and over that math can be fun, and this new addition to his acclaimed series of mind-stretching math riddles is sure to be another hit.

Genres: Mathematics, Poetry, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Childrens, School, Education

40 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2005

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for older grades. I loved the word play and poetic feel of this book. This book incorporates math problems into every day life. I love how each page is creative and playful. The back of this book also includes math problems and activities that you can use from the book. I would love to use this book in an older grade setting. I would also like to use this book to encourage students to create their own quirky math problems.

[Rebekah Nice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fun rhyming adventure through clever and well illustrated math problems. Most of the simple word problems deal with addition and subtraction of one or two digit numbers. However, as the book goes on the problems get steadily more complex. By the end, we are looking at simple multiplication problems. The difficulty level of this book would be best suited for first graders or maybe advanced kindergartners.

I could see this being used in small group activities or for a large group warm up. This would be a good time to talk about mental math strategies and basic number sense. There are plenty of opportunities to connect this book to the life sciences as several of the word problems have to do with animals and plants students might be familiar with. I would definitely recommend this to other teachers and I can't wait to put a copy in my classroom.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tang states in the introductory note that he's trying to encourage good grouping/"friendly" numbers and use of the "best" operation for the situation (don't use addition if you can do it faster with multiplication, etc.).

It's good for students to think about efficient strategies, but here the poetry gives away what it thinks the "best" strategy is. That leaves little room for reader creativity. It also presents a strategy without saying why it's more efficient than other strategies. Giving away the strategy this way relieves the headache before the headache has occurred.

If you use the book without reading the part of the poem that pushes a particular strategy, it would be cool for kids to see how the number of ways they can do problems grows as they learn more math.

[Stephanie Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book teaches children to add creatively rather than count in order to find out how many objects are on each page. I think the skill of looking for patterns to speed count is nicely taught, though it doesn't really coach kids to choose strategies for themselves - it just hints at the particular one they're supposed to use with a riddle. Illustrations and word choice are geared to a young audience, but the riddles are not - so the preschool crowd might enjoy the book but they're just going to count the objects anyway. Older kids (2nd grade and up, probably) will get the riddles.

Greg Tang has several books all built around the same concept, including Math for All Seasons, Math Appeal, and Math-terpieces. So far the Grapes of Math is my favorite.

[Kylie Kavulic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great read for students to see that there are multiple ways to solve math problems. Some solutions are more efficient than others such as the one Greg Tang suggests, grouping. He presents the math concepts in a playful way and teach concepts intuitively. The book includes puzzles/riddles that provides fun while showing it in an easier way to complete the tasks. This book can make it easier for children to do math the "easier" way where they can begin to actually enjoy math again!

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the illustrations in this book would be good for number talks where different people presented on different ways to get the answer.

The problem with reading it is that the rhymes describe a single "best" way to group the objects to get an answer.

[Hailey Licata · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be a fun mental math book to read a problem at the beginning of each class day. Answers are even in the back of the book! It is math examples from scenarios students may find realistic.

[Jane]

Poem problems - answer key in back

[Beth Swahn]

This book uses poetry to give children math problems which they can solve using the pictures.

[Andrea Bragdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to use in the classroom during a short week or to change things up! I've used this book with my third graders. They think it's fun and forget that they are doing math!

[Lucca · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a funny book about math strategies for elementary students.

[hillary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uses real life concepts such as card games to teach quantity and add totals. Good color and large print. The book is a good tool to teach students how to add in multiple ways.

[Vo Khon · Rating 3 out of 5]

MULTIPLY - REGROUP
Using poem to ask.
Have to regroup things to multiply faster than addition.

[Lneme2651ung.Edu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a math book that presents math challenges in rhyme. This book could be used as a math read aloud. I love that the problems and illustrations are presented in real-world situations and the answers are not always obvious. They require strategic thinking. This book focuses on the skills of using smart sums, like 5 and 10, to count quicker, and regrouping in smarter ways not always obvious ways.

[Lillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about math....except learning it in a fun way. I read this out loud with Isabel.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Greg Tang and illustrator Harry Briggs have teamed up again to create another book of creative and fun math problems framed by whimsical, rhyming poems. This book has some tougher challenges, with more complicated math problems. But we were up to the challenge, simply solving just a few puzzles at a time. The illustrations are bright and colorful and the format of the book is the same as their other collaborations, so it is easy for us to jump right in. I have borrowed several of these books this summer and I have a few more on hold. This is part of my meager attempt to keep our girls' math brains active during the break from school.

[Stephanie Field · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every page contains a different math poem and illustration asking the reader to add or subtract to find out how many of each object there is. Also the book includes place values and hints at multiplication. It is a great book to utilize when introducing basic counting or math because the book uses objects, such as potatoes, or other types of food to allow the reader to count and be engaged with the book. Every page engages the reader in a new problem. This provides a variety of scenarios for the student to relate their math learning too.

[Gordon Pennington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Math Potatoes is a book that groups various objects and has students count them. This book, while for children, is actually quite humorous. This makes students who detest math much more open to the concept, which is the entire point of the book. This book is a great learning tool in the classroom.

[Kathryn Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how he relates the problems to real life. He talks about texas hold'em and how many cards are used, and even how to play the game. Great rhyming through out the story. I also love how in the back it tells you how to answer all the problems step by step. Great way to teach math! This book is perfect for any grade. It is very instructional.

[Lbrown107 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was so funny and uses real life scenarios to get the point across! I would really recommend this book to third grade students who like math because it has the answers to addition and subtraction problems and problem solving strategies are listed in the back of the book if needed. I also love any math book that rhymes!

[Frank Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most important aspect I noticed from this book was the emphasis on the importance of problem solving. I also like how the book displayed strategies such as smart sums for addition. There was also a lot of creatvivity such as rhymes and riddles inpoems. The examples in the book can be related and applied to real life. Overall, a solid book.

[Molly Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book closely relates to Math Appeal. They are written by the same author, this is just a book of different riddles still practicing the same math, and reading concepts. The only difference is that it contains different riddles, and they incorporate adding and subtracting in the pictures by including dics, dominos, and a deck of cards. (see math appeal for concepts)

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would use this book for upper grade level students to teach multiplication. It shows different strategies of how to group the numbers to solve the multiplication problem (4x15=15+15+15+15=60). I can use this book to explain "4 groups of 15" for my multiplication math lesson.

[Cheryl Kays · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that uses riddles and poems to introduce math problems and srategies to students that can be used to scaffold their knowledge to become better math students. This book is full of creative ways to help students understand Math and story problems.

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The same as Grapes of Math (see that review), but I think this one is a bit more complicated and works best after Grapes of Math (but I may be wrong).

[Cece · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book that teaches different math strategies.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book to introduce topics in mathematics. You can use the problems for lessons too. Have students find ways to solve the problems on their own and then have a lively discussion.

[Brittany White · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is great for reinforcing different math skills.I would have this book in my classroom at a math station so that the students will be able to explore it.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different way to look at math concepts. Could be beneficial to some learners to see different approaches and explanations.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun rhymes and problem solving math information