Last to Finish, A Story About the Smartest Boy in Math Class: A Positive Math Story and Growth Mindset Book for Kids with Math Anxiety

The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses

by Barbara Esham, Mike Gordon (Illustrator)

This positive math story for kids is perfect for anyone who has ever struggled with learning by memorization. Readers of all ages will discover that struggles don't always mean you're bad at something, but that maybe you just learn differently from others. If you're looking for books about anxiety in kids or embracing a growth mindset in math, then Last to Finish, A Story About the Smartest Boy in Math Class will be the perfect addition to your home or school library. Max is convinced he will never succeed at memorizing his multiplication facts. When it's time for a test, one by one, Max's classmates turn in their finished papers before the timer rings. Not Max. As soon as the teacher starts the timer, his heart begins to pound, his hands begin to sweat, and his brain freezes! He is always the last to finish...and sometimes the other kids tease him about it. Is Max the worst math student ever? The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses Free Association Where My Mind Goes During Science Class Stacey Coolidge Fancy-Smancy Cursive Handwriting Mrs. Gorski I Think I Have the Wiggle Fidgets If You're So Smart, How Come You Can't Spell Mississippi Last to Finish, A Story About the Smartest Boy in Math Class Keep Your Eye on the Prize Positive, humorous stories, demonstrate varying forms of learning, creativity, and intelligence. Introduces readers to a specific learning style or learning difference while offering realistic examples of triumph over difficulty. The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses series is meant to demonstrate various forms of learning, creativity, and intelligence. Each book introduces a realistic example of triumph over difficulty in a positive, humorous way that readers of all ages will enjoy! "Children and teachers alike will celebrate the message, conveyed poignantly in Last to Finish, that 'mathematics is much more than memorizing math facts and taking timed tests'...Esham richly captures the dilemma when one such youngster encounters difficulties with memorizing math facts but, in fact, is a deep thinker of mathematics just the same. The reader will discover that the solution is both true and simple." ―Dr. Susan Baum, The College of New Rochelle Professor Emeritus, Gifted Education Praise for the "This is a wonderful book series. Each story shows children that success is about effort and determination, that problems need not derail them, and that adults can understand their worries and struggles. My research demonstrates that these lessons are essential for children." ―Dr. Carol S. Dweck

Genres: Picture Books, Mathematics, Childrens, 2nd Grade, Fiction, Education, School

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 4, 2008

Reviews

[Shaimaa شيماء]

القصة بتحكي عن ولد صغير ابوه مهندس 😊😊😊 كان شايف طبعا إنه لازم يكون شاطر في الرياضيات..

الولد كان كويس بس كانت مشكلته إنه بطيء وكان بيتوتر في الامتحانات وعقله بيقفل فبيسلم الامتحان متأخر وناقص مع إنه في البيت بيحل المسائل عادي.

المشكلة كمان إنه كان بيتعرض للتنمر من زمايله، وجاله استدعاء ولي أمر عشان يشوفوا مشكلته إيه مع الرياضيات، المفروض هو في ثالثة ابتدائي فطبعا حياته كانت جحيم..

المهم الكاتبة اختارت حل خيالي شوية إنه ضيع كراسة بتاعته فشافها واحد جارهم واكتشف إنه عبقري في الرياضيات وكان بيذاكر في وقت فراغه جبر اولى اعدادي من كتاب أخوه..فضمه لفريق عباقرة الرياضيات!!!!

يعني بدل ما تشوف حل مع المدرسين والأب، خلت الولد طلع عبقري بس مشكلته إنه بطيء، طيب دي حاجة ممكن تحصل بنسبة واحد في المليون وآه هي فكرة إنه مش عشان بطيء فهو غبي، بس طيب لو مكنش ظهرت عبقريته الفذة دي وكان طفل عادي بس بطيء شوية، كان هيفضل يعاني برضه بسبب حاجة ممكن تتعالج بطريقة أفضل من كده...

[John Jeng · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing is good; the message is good; the art is good. However, I’m calling BS on the plot. How can a kid who can’t even regurgitate his times tables under the timer be good at algebra? It’s preposterous. And he gets considered for the math team? Mathletes have to answer math questions under time constraints. Max would be a terrible addition!

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book about a boy who can't learn by being timed and memorizing, but he's actually a genius in math. He thinks he's a dunce in math. When they discover his intelligence, they realize he needs to learn in a different way.

[Emme Koutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max has a challenging time in class when it comes to being timed for their multiplication tables. One of the kids in his class teases him all day because he is always the last to finish. Later on at home Maxes mom gets an email that they have to go to a meeting with two of Maxes teachers about math. Max is very worried about what is going to happen, but it turns out going very well. Mr. Singleton found Maxes math folder and saw that he is very good at Algebra 1 and wants to put Max in an accelerated math course. Max was very relieved and was proud of himself that he isn't so bad at math after all. I thought that this was a very good book to help children see that everyone has something that they are good at. This book has great illustrations that portray the characters emotions perfectly. Throughout the book you can clearly see how frustrated Max is but at the end just by looking at the pictures you can see how much better Max is feeling. I gave this book five stars because I believe it has a great message for kids. I'm sure a lot of children can relate to this because even in my own life there have been things that I am not good at, but that doesn't mean I'm bad at everything.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are two things to take away from this delightful read. One, you may be good at something, but have trouble with taking tests or being timed; and two, never make fun of anyone who is having difficulty because you never know when it could be you in that place.
Max is struggling with memorizing math facts and taking timed tests. He is always LAST! Trust me that is no fun! He feels that he is disappointing his parents who are very good at math. Why does his mind freeze when he hears that TICK, TICK TICK?
Well, it turns out it is all in the way his mind works. He sees relationships between numbers, not just numbers and he is actually quite advanced in math he just doesn't know it. The teacher and principal spot it and Max will be put in a separate class that will work with his talents.
The back of the book has some interesting math resources. theadventuresofeverydaygeniuses.org from WordPress.com

[Jamie Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a great lesson for some children. I know a lot of people who are very smart but are not good at taking tests. This was a good thing to write a book on. I was expecting a little bit more from this book. I feel like there was an abrupt ending and the lesson of the book was hidden away. I feel like a little more to this book would have been more exciting. Did Max join the math team, did he go to the algebra class, did he ever learn his multiplication facts? I liked the message and how not everyone learns the same way.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of 3rd grader Max Leonhard at Perryville Elementary, who understood his math problems until it was time to take a test and his teacher used a timer. If he took his time he could finish, but the timer made him freeze up. During a parent teacher conference, something amazing was discussed about Max and his math skills.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great way of showing how other people's minds work. It shows how someone can be so smart in one thing but struggle in another. I had the same problem as Max when I was younger but I love math and I am good at it but I just struggle in one area. A great mirror and window book!

[Adelaide Pereira · Rating 5 out of 5]

O tema deste livro, A atenção, é um tema complexo, estudado por diversos profissionais, que constitue um grande obstáculo à aprendizagem de muitas crianças.

Recomendo a leitura deste livro a professores, pais e crianças.

[Tova · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was great until they put him on a math team...which means he has to solve problems quickly, not just grok the concepts.

[Karen Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series is great.

[Susan Whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many children with dyslexia/dyscalculia/dyscalculia struggle with memorizing math tables, a semantic memory task. These students often do much better with understanding mathematical concepts.

[Julianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect motivator and sweet story. lots of good resources in the back.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always emphasize to my class that the first one finished isn’t necessary the smartest nor is the last one the dumbest. This book fits in with that message.

[Benjamin Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an uplifting story, but it is also a very specific situation that I'm not sure is applicable to all that many people. As a general rule, test anxiety does not automatically mean genius. Yes this book shows that people can have different strengths and be smart in different ways, but I would be selective about which kids I shared this with and give a fair amount of context to make sure the child doesn't come away either intimidated or with a sheen of false hope--both of which seem more likely than appropriately encouraged.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last to Finish: A Story About the Smartest Boy in Math Class by Barbara Esham

From the back of the book: "One by one, Max's classmates turn in their finished papers before the timer rings. Not Max, as soon as the teacher starts the time, "it" happens! His heart begins to pound. Once his heart begins to pound, his hands begin to sweat and his brain freezes! Math must not be his thing."

What I liked about this book: This is another excellent book for students who learn differently or even just any student who is anxious about learning, especially learning math or taking tests. This story is a good reminder that not every child learns the same way. As parents and educators it is important to help students find the right path to learning. This story also reminds us that students are often smarter than they realize. Any student who has gotten butterflies in their stomach over a test or felt the frustration of being last one to finish, will identify with this book. (I'm quite a bit older than Max and yet I knew just how he felt when the teacher brought out the timer.)

What I didn't like about the book: I liked it all. I highly recommend it for all elementary classroom libraries. I've already added it to the wish list for the Endeavour library.

Recommended for ages 6 and up.

AR level: Not listed on AR.

Mrs. Archer's rating: 5 of 5!

[Literameer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beim stöbern im Kindle-Shop kam ich zufällig auf das Buch "Letzter im Ziel – eine Geschichte über den intelligentesten Jungen in Mathematik" von Barbara Esham. Da ich mich für Dyskalkulie interessiere, hat mich "Letzter im Ziel" in Zusammenhang mit Mathematik interessiert und ich habe es mir runtergeladen. Um Dyskalkulie geht es in dieser Geschichte jedoch nicht. Die Autorin erzählt die Geschichte eines Jungen, welcher unter Zeitdruck nicht rechnen kann. Als seine Eltern dann zu einem Gespräch mit seiner Lehrerin gebeten werden, macht er sich große Sorgen darum, dass seine Eltern von seiner schlechten Leistung beim letzten Mathe-Test erfahren. Doch stattdessen kommt alles ganz anders, denn es stellt sich heraus, dass der Junge hochbegabt ist.

Der Schreibstil der Autorin ist zwar leicht zu lesen, dennoch finde ich die gewählte Sprache nicht sehr kindgerecht. Dies liegt vermutlich auch daran, dass der Schreibstil stellenweise recht abgehakt ist. Die Botschaft, welche die Autorin mit ihrer Geschichte vermitteln möchte kommt zwar an, und wird sicherlich auch von Kindern verstanden, aber mir hat einfach das gewisse Etwas gefehlt. Teilweise wirkt das Geschriebene auf mich etwas lieblos. Dies kann jedoch auch an der Übersetzung liegen.

Abgerundet wird die Geschichte mit schönen Bildern von Mike Gordon, welche den Text noch einmal unterstreichen und das Gelesene verdeutlichen.

[Becky Carleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow and steady wins the race, right? This is a great book to help kids who experience anxiety over timed math tests understand that they are not alone, and, in fact, they just might be kinda special. As the mom of a gifted kid who freaks out when the teacher whips out the timer, I recommend this book for kids and caregivers to read together to foster discussion about math anxiety. I like this quote from the back of the book: "Surprisingly, many of history's greatest mathematicians have been slow calculators. Kudos to Barb Esham for this wise and witty reminder of the difference between rote memorization and higher math reasoning. A perfect book for the child whose passion for exploring the magical world of mathematics is in danger of floundering upon the shoals of the 'mad math minute.'" - Drs. Brock and Fernette, authors of The Mislabled Child.

[Courtenay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peculiar misfit of a book about a third grade boy (this is a picture book!) who gets algebra concepts (not sure preschoolers will even know what that IS). While the idea of smart students showing their brilliance in unusual and precocious ways is a good one to capture in a story for younger kids, this seemed to be more an idea that should have been developed into a chapter book. I liked that the author shared taunts from classmates (that certainly happens) and concern from adults (though I wasn't enamored of the way Max's parents were portrayed), this felt like a much older voice and story line than a picture book. I like the message, it just seemed age inappropriate the way it was delivered.

[Audrey Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this series of books! Having taught school for 10 yrs I have met one or two children like this. The author nails the kids' emotions, thoughts and fears to a T! This is the second of the Genius books I have read and can't wait to read the rest!! I want my three kids to read them all. And I think that every school should have them and they should be read and taught to the children!

[Diana (Bever) Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is why I want to go back to school and study something along the lines of "Special Ed for Really Smart People." There are so many children who feel stupid or ostracized for not learning the same way as others, but they are truly geniuses! I love this book, and I can't wait for the rest of them to show up at our local library. I've bookmarked the website: www.MainstreamConnections.org.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the books in a strong series, all of which explore the many aspects of learning and how to help all children achieve success.

Be sure to check out the resources for parents and teachers given at the end of the book.

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story

It's a good story that I think would be great for intermediate learners. Though It was a bit different for me to see 'ai-je dit' instead of 'j'ai dit', but an overall fun easy read.

[Ale_meows · Rating 3 out of 5]

Timed multiplication facts

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this to the girls. Loved it, they loved it. They asked to have it on their Kindles.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses series.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a good lesson in this book about a boy who is seemingly struggling in his math class.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will be a book I will read to my class this year. Great message!

[Terry]

My daughter has wanted to read this book ever since we read Mrs. Gorski, I Think I Have the Wiggle Fidgets. She found some of the illustrations funny (like Max's thinking cap) and could relate to his fears about being timed for tests.

The entire Adventures of Everyday Geniuses series offers great ways open conversations with our kids.