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Math = Trouble! #1
7 x 9 = Trouble!
Wilson Williams worries about passing his times-table tests
Wilson has a hard time with math, especially with Mrs. Porter’s timed multiplication tests. If only he were as quick as Laura Vicks, the smartest kid in third grade, or as quick as his brother, Kipper – a kindergartner. Wilson’s mother and father try to help, but Wilson doesn’t appreciate having to do practice tests on a play date. Fortunately, his friend Josh Hernandez is a comfort, as is Squiggles, the class hamster. Wilson is sure that with his own little animal squeaking and cuddling beside him, he could learn anything. But his mom doesn’t like pets. So Wilson bravely struggles on, hoping that one day in the not-too-distant future he’ll pass all his times-table tests. Then, surprisingly, Kipper comes to the rescue.
With sensitivity and gentle humor, Claudia Mills examines a common childhood fear and a common family experience. G. Brian Karas provides tender, funny pictures. 7 x 9 = Trouble! is a 2003 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
Wilson has a hard time with math, especially with Mrs. Porter’s timed multiplication tests. If only he were as quick as Laura Vicks, the smartest kid in third grade, or as quick as his brother, Kipper – a kindergartner. Wilson’s mother and father try to help, but Wilson doesn’t appreciate having to do practice tests on a play date. Fortunately, his friend Josh Hernandez is a comfort, as is Squiggles, the class hamster. Wilson is sure that with his own little animal squeaking and cuddling beside him, he could learn anything. But his mom doesn’t like pets. So Wilson bravely struggles on, hoping that one day in the not-too-distant future he’ll pass all his times-table tests. Then, surprisingly, Kipper comes to the rescue.
With sensitivity and gentle humor, Claudia Mills examines a common childhood fear and a common family experience. G. Brian Karas provides tender, funny pictures. 7 x 9 = Trouble! is a 2003 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
9 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Claudia Mills
84 books135 followersClaudia Mills is the author of Nixie Ness, Cooking Star, 7 x 9 = Trouble!, Zero Tolerance, Write This Down, and many other books for children. She was born in New York City in 1954. She received her bachelor's degree from Wellesley College, her master's degree from Princeton University, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton University. She also received an M.L.S. degree from the University of Maryland, with a concentration in children's literature. She had a second career as a professor of philosophy at the Colorado at Boulder, until leaving that career in 2014 to write full time. She now teaches in the graduate program in children's literature at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. All of her books have been written between 5 and 7 in the morning while drinking Swiss Miss hot chocolate.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/claudi...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/claudi...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
September 7, 2020
This will be my first read aloud for the year. Not too complicated or deep but sends messages about practicing things that don’t come easily, and that we don’t all learn at the same pace. Friendship and siblings are also talking points. The math/literature connection is perfect.
March 26, 2009
Writing for the primary grade crowd takes a special gift and Claudia Mills has it. Your heart will break for Wilson who struggles with learning his times tables but whose younger brother appears to be a math whiz. Throw in a class hamster and you have the perfect book for the newly confident independent reader (and the 54-year-old reader, too!). I won't spoil the book for you, but the last line of the book has to be one of the top ten perfect last lines.
May 3, 2010
This book I have to say was really good. It can be good for kids who are trying to learn multiplacation, or kids who just love to read. This book has well written chapters, and very good words for the kids to understand. It wil probrably take about four to five days to read this book, but its really worth the time. And to the author, "keep writing these types of books! :)
September 15, 2011
This book would be a great book to use when talking about motivation. This book is also a great book to use when talking about practice makes perfect. The children will learn that if they practice and learn helpful information they can achieve any goal. This is also a great book to predict what will happen next in the story.
June 23, 2008
I loved the interplay between the two brothers, the humor, and the inner dialogue of the main character. The juxtaposition of the focus of school and the focus of the main character on the class pet hamster was also very entertaining and true to life.
April 23, 2012
This is a great chapter book to integrate math and literature for multiplication. It makes the struggle with multiplication funny and I think the students will be able to relate and appreciate this book.
July 5, 2019
This is a very pleasant book about an important topic. The author's angle on it highlights the perseverence necessary for a math-challenged boy to meet the traditional third grade benchmark of mastering the multiplication facts.
As a former math specialist, however, I have some caveats for both parents and teachers who might read this novel. Wilson's path would have been much easier had his instructor followed better practices in learning the math facts:
1) Conceptual understanding of the multiplication operation
2) Targeted fact strategies for deriving the facts
3) Frequent short practice sessions to build fluency and mastery
While classroom lessons may have been devoted to the concept of multiplication (combining equal groups), they were not depicted in the book. The only strategies that were conveyed were actually shared by other students or Wilson's parents. And timed tests are NOT practice sessions.
Wilson's initial progress through the multiplication tests was impeded by administering them in numerical order: multiplication by the factors of 0, 1, 2, 3, etc. As Wilson observed, the threes ARE difficult because there is no pattern to the products when multiplying by three. Best practice is to start with easier factors, such as 2, 5, 10, and actually 9 (because there is a very easy pattern to the multiples of nine--so that, actually, 7 x 9 does NOT equal Trouble!).
Approaching the facts by mastering the easiest first builds confidence and cuts the task down to size. Good teachers emphasize the importance of the commutative property, so that if you know seven fives is thirty-five, then five sevens is also thirty-five.
And finally, I see no real benefit to forcing students to memorize the multiplication facts for factors 11 and 12. These are easily computed if needed, which they seldom are.
As a former math specialist, however, I have some caveats for both parents and teachers who might read this novel. Wilson's path would have been much easier had his instructor followed better practices in learning the math facts:
1) Conceptual understanding of the multiplication operation
2) Targeted fact strategies for deriving the facts
3) Frequent short practice sessions to build fluency and mastery
While classroom lessons may have been devoted to the concept of multiplication (combining equal groups), they were not depicted in the book. The only strategies that were conveyed were actually shared by other students or Wilson's parents. And timed tests are NOT practice sessions.
Wilson's initial progress through the multiplication tests was impeded by administering them in numerical order: multiplication by the factors of 0, 1, 2, 3, etc. As Wilson observed, the threes ARE difficult because there is no pattern to the products when multiplying by three. Best practice is to start with easier factors, such as 2, 5, 10, and actually 9 (because there is a very easy pattern to the multiples of nine--so that, actually, 7 x 9 does NOT equal Trouble!).
Approaching the facts by mastering the easiest first builds confidence and cuts the task down to size. Good teachers emphasize the importance of the commutative property, so that if you know seven fives is thirty-five, then five sevens is also thirty-five.
And finally, I see no real benefit to forcing students to memorize the multiplication facts for factors 11 and 12. These are easily computed if needed, which they seldom are.
September 9, 2018
The name of this book should have been called 7 x 9 “Double Trouble” because it took Wilson twice as long as everybody else to learn his times tables. This was an easy book to read, but I actually did like it because it had some parts that made me laugh out loud! Like how Wilson’s, little brother had two stuffed animals named Peck-Peck and Snappy and they could do their times table faster than Wilson.
I can relate because in Chapter 1, Wilson had erased an answer and it didn’t look like it had been erased all the way, so Ms. Porter marked it wrong. The same thing happened to me in my Spanish class. In Chapter 3 Wilson said he wished he could take his multiplication test first thing in the morning so, he wouldn’t forget them at 2 pm when it was test time. That would be easy for me and my friends too.
Wilson is slow at remembering his times tables. Chapter 8, Wilson gets to his 12’s but he has a hard time remembering them. His parents have tried to help him too, his little brother and his best friend. I like Wilson because he works hard to pass his test and he was nervous a lot and he felt some pressure.
What I learned from this book is that it doesn’t matter how old you are, school can be hard some time when you have a tough class and you feel like you are not going to get a good grade. You have to get help sometimes.
I can relate because in Chapter 1, Wilson had erased an answer and it didn’t look like it had been erased all the way, so Ms. Porter marked it wrong. The same thing happened to me in my Spanish class. In Chapter 3 Wilson said he wished he could take his multiplication test first thing in the morning so, he wouldn’t forget them at 2 pm when it was test time. That would be easy for me and my friends too.
Wilson is slow at remembering his times tables. Chapter 8, Wilson gets to his 12’s but he has a hard time remembering them. His parents have tried to help him too, his little brother and his best friend. I like Wilson because he works hard to pass his test and he was nervous a lot and he felt some pressure.
What I learned from this book is that it doesn’t matter how old you are, school can be hard some time when you have a tough class and you feel like you are not going to get a good grade. You have to get help sometimes.
March 8, 2021
My Review: I happened to stumble across this book at the library while searching for books for Middle Grade March. I decided it would be a fun book to read with Munchkin since he is currently learning his times tables. He opted not to listen to it but I still listened. This would be a great book for a kid with might be intimidated by the times tables or be struggling a bit. It was a great confidence booster, the way the difficulty was handled by various characters, no one teased, no one yelled, just supported and gave tips and helped the best they could. This was such a great book and I hope many young readers discover it.
May 19, 2024
I loved this book! This is about a boy named Wilson who is trying to pass his multiplication timed tests. He is the slowest one in his class and hes super insecure about it. He's almost at the deadline and he hasn't passed a ton of his tests so he's worried he'll be the only one who doesn't get an ice cream cone. He studies at home and deals with his little kindergartner brother who is naturally gifted at math. He's really annoyed with him but is never super mean and he really shows up as a brother later in the book. I loved the emphasis on working hard, finding studying strategies that work for you, and family bonds. So good!
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December 1, 20201. Bank Street Book of the Year
2. 2-5 Grade
3. Wilson struggles with timed math tests and is discouraged by the fact that other kids don’t struggle like him. He doesn’t enjoy constantly having to practice and feels like there’s no hope until his brother helps him.
4. A good book that reveals the reality many students face, feelings of inadequacy in a classroom, and makes them feel less alone by addressing it. This shows students they shouldn’t be afraid to reach out, and that with the right amount of help.
5. This book can be used to teach students about the importance of perseverance.
2. 2-5 Grade
3. Wilson struggles with timed math tests and is discouraged by the fact that other kids don’t struggle like him. He doesn’t enjoy constantly having to practice and feels like there’s no hope until his brother helps him.
4. A good book that reveals the reality many students face, feelings of inadequacy in a classroom, and makes them feel less alone by addressing it. This shows students they shouldn’t be afraid to reach out, and that with the right amount of help.
5. This book can be used to teach students about the importance of perseverance.
August 12, 2021
Excellent choice for 3rd grade. Features wholesome and supportive parents and teachers. I love the main character, Wilson's, 3rd grade challenges. "Wilson's mother bought cookies she didn't like so she wouldn't eat them and gain weight. The trouble was that the cookies she didn't like, nobody else liked, either." So funny, and hard to put down. The sequel "Fractions" is on a 4th grade level.
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May 13, 2020The last chapter book for my class before we dive into middle grade next week. This is my instructor Claudia's book and despite not likely math myself, this was very well written and had good pacing for the subject matter. Wilson is very realistic and I remember having a hard time with my times tables as a kid as well.
October 29, 2021
Contemporary, for ages 7-10. The reader did a fine job. This was short and such a nice story. I didn't know that trick to remembering the 9s times tables, either, so now I'm smarter! The children are nice to each other (but not perfect). I was rooting for Wilson, and kids will really enjoy the ending.
May 13, 2017
Children's chapter book about a third-grade boy struggling to memorize his times tables. He also lobbies his parents to allow him to get a pet of his own, and he helps look after his little brother. Likable protagonist. Exemplifies perseverance and practice to reach a goal.
September 6, 2020
I think multiplication is really easy, mostly because I'm a fourth-grader, but having someone 1-year-old younger than me having problems cause me to speak to the book. But the book was really interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2019
Great book about perseverance Perfect for 3rd 4th grade.
October 29, 2019
I would highly recommend this story to any young reader. A lot of fun, and I was glad it all worked out so well for Wilson at the end.
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January 8, 2020Great 3rd grade read aloud book
January 19, 2020
Really good book about a kid who is trying to learn multiplication.
January 17, 2021
Good 3rd grade book to teach motivation. The math teacher in my didn't love the focus on math facts drill tests but kids won't have issue with it.
December 5, 2013
The novel 7x9= Trouble! is a delightful book that students must read. The audience for this book is for second and third graders. The author is Claudia Mill and the illustrator is G. Brian Karas. The book is a great book for early readers to get hook on reading.
The story is about a young third grader named Wilson Williams. Wilson hates multiplications, he wants nothing to do with them, yet he has three weeks to learn his multiplications from the threes to the twelve. The only thing that is worth the effort of coming to school is the class pet hamster, Squiggles. After the teacher sent a letter to his parents, Wilson has to study everyday his multiplications. Soon Wilson discovers that his kindergartner brother knows how to multiply. Everyone seems to know how to multiply before him. Although he says he does not wants the teacher’s cone, that it is probably not a real good, it is just a façade. He wants to have his ice cream as well as pet hamster as cool as squiggles.
I really enjoyed how the author capture the essence of children. Most children bicker and fight like Peck-peck and Snappy, especially if the younger brother outsmarts the older brother. The language the author writes is easy enough for early readers to transition into chapter books without being a burdensome book to read.
The illustrations are done with color pencils but the illustrations are just black and white. The book does not have a lot of pictures just some here and there which is training kids to use their imagination, and for them to build their own characters. The media used for the illustrations is cartoon art.
I think that this book would be a great read aloud for a classroom, the story line is funny and entertaining and will also allow for great follow up conversations for students to elaborate.
I rate the book four stars, and will highly recommend this book to younger children.
Book commercial:
Have you ever been behind in school? Or have you felt that no matter what or how much you tried, it is still not enough? That is the story of Wilson Williams, he is a third grader that has three weeks to learn his multiplications. One by one he sees how his classmates pass their time tables while he gets left behind. It seems that he is never going to get his ice cream cone that the teacher hands out to those who have passed their multiplications. To make matters worse, his younger brother, Kipper is learning to multiply. “With Wilson’s luck, Kipper would tear through the times tables in his special math group and get his cone before the end of kindergarten. Kipper would be merrily dripping his cone all over Snappy and Peck-Peck, while Wilson’s cone was getting buried in ice in the school freezer” (66-67). Would Wilson learn his multiplications in time for his cone, or would it be too late? Read to discover the answer to these questions, and the many exciting adventures that Wilson encounters as he is learning his multiplications.
The story is about a young third grader named Wilson Williams. Wilson hates multiplications, he wants nothing to do with them, yet he has three weeks to learn his multiplications from the threes to the twelve. The only thing that is worth the effort of coming to school is the class pet hamster, Squiggles. After the teacher sent a letter to his parents, Wilson has to study everyday his multiplications. Soon Wilson discovers that his kindergartner brother knows how to multiply. Everyone seems to know how to multiply before him. Although he says he does not wants the teacher’s cone, that it is probably not a real good, it is just a façade. He wants to have his ice cream as well as pet hamster as cool as squiggles.
I really enjoyed how the author capture the essence of children. Most children bicker and fight like Peck-peck and Snappy, especially if the younger brother outsmarts the older brother. The language the author writes is easy enough for early readers to transition into chapter books without being a burdensome book to read.
The illustrations are done with color pencils but the illustrations are just black and white. The book does not have a lot of pictures just some here and there which is training kids to use their imagination, and for them to build their own characters. The media used for the illustrations is cartoon art.
I think that this book would be a great read aloud for a classroom, the story line is funny and entertaining and will also allow for great follow up conversations for students to elaborate.
I rate the book four stars, and will highly recommend this book to younger children.
Book commercial:
Have you ever been behind in school? Or have you felt that no matter what or how much you tried, it is still not enough? That is the story of Wilson Williams, he is a third grader that has three weeks to learn his multiplications. One by one he sees how his classmates pass their time tables while he gets left behind. It seems that he is never going to get his ice cream cone that the teacher hands out to those who have passed their multiplications. To make matters worse, his younger brother, Kipper is learning to multiply. “With Wilson’s luck, Kipper would tear through the times tables in his special math group and get his cone before the end of kindergarten. Kipper would be merrily dripping his cone all over Snappy and Peck-Peck, while Wilson’s cone was getting buried in ice in the school freezer” (66-67). Would Wilson learn his multiplications in time for his cone, or would it be too late? Read to discover the answer to these questions, and the many exciting adventures that Wilson encounters as he is learning his multiplications.
June 12, 2014
Wilson Williams is in the third grade and struggling with his times tables. He has to pass his 12's times table test and he's only on his 3's! His teacher sends a letter home to his parents asking them to help him practice. So that means more times table practice tests at home, too. Not what Wilson wants to do. But he and his parents practice, his little brother even helps, and so does his class pet, Squiggles.
Wilson was a pretty likeable kid--I like that he's struggling with a school subject. I also like that he knows what he subjects he's good at (art!). So it's not that he's a bad student, he's actually a good student, but he's run up against something that gives him a hard time. And that's okay. This book makes it clear that it's okay. I also liked how supportive his friends and family were and that Wilson recognized that as well, from his best friend, to his little brother and his stuffed animals, to his classmates, to his parents.
I'd recommend this to my library patrons, but also when parents come in looking for help finding a book for their reluctant reader. I think that reading about Wilson's struggles could be helpful to some kids. Grades 2 and up.
Wilson was a pretty likeable kid--I like that he's struggling with a school subject. I also like that he knows what he subjects he's good at (art!). So it's not that he's a bad student, he's actually a good student, but he's run up against something that gives him a hard time. And that's okay. This book makes it clear that it's okay. I also liked how supportive his friends and family were and that Wilson recognized that as well, from his best friend, to his little brother and his stuffed animals, to his classmates, to his parents.
I'd recommend this to my library patrons, but also when parents come in looking for help finding a book for their reluctant reader. I think that reading about Wilson's struggles could be helpful to some kids. Grades 2 and up.
July 24, 2012
Themes: dealing with struggle in school, math, humor
Wilson has a hard time with math, especially with Mrs. Porter's timed multiplication tests. If only he were as quick as Laura Vicks, the smartest kid in third grade, or as quick as his brother, Kipper -- a kindergartner. Wilson's mother and father try to help, but Wilson doesn't appreciate having to do practice tests on a play date. Fortunately, his friend Josh Hernandez is a comfort, as is Squiggles, the class hamster. Wilson is sure that with his own little animal squeaking and cuddling beside him, he could learn anything. But his mom doesn't like pets. So Wilson bravely struggles on, hoping that one day in the not-too-distant future he'll pass all his times-table tests. Then, surprisingly, Kipper comes to the rescue.
Uses in the classroom: Funny read aloud, good for encouraging students who may have a mental block on math or a fear of math
March 28, 2017
This is another interesting book featuring Wilson and his struggles with math. We read Fractions = Trouble! first, and had we known this book existed, we would've read this one first.
It is a good story for third graders, because they can relate to the characters in the story and the joys and frustrations of mastering the times tables.
It's age-appropriate and I think they can empathize with Wilson's experiences. The illustrations are sparse and completely in black and white, but they complement the story nicely.
Our oldest read this book and then I read it after she did; we had fun discussing the plot and she was very happy that she had completed her times tables, too.
It is a good story for third graders, because they can relate to the characters in the story and the joys and frustrations of mastering the times tables.
It's age-appropriate and I think they can empathize with Wilson's experiences. The illustrations are sparse and completely in black and white, but they complement the story nicely.
Our oldest read this book and then I read it after she did; we had fun discussing the plot and she was very happy that she had completed her times tables, too.
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June 29, 2015Major problem is third grader can't figure out his times tables. Steps in the solution are help from family members and friends. Minor plot is missing class hamster, which has helped him concentrate on memorizing his tables. Older / little brother drama.
10 chapters, 8ish pages per chapter
Chapter 1: Problem: Wilson needs more practice on his multiplication tables.
Chapter 2: Baby brother better at multiplying.
Chapter 3: Completes one set of multiplication tables
Chapter 4: 2 more sets done, stuck on 7's
Chapter 5: Friend comes over. Wants to compete by doing the tests.
Chapter 6: Another friend helps him pass more
Chapter 7: More work
Chapter 8: Problem: Hamster is missing. Fails his 12's
Chapter 9: Passes but forgets to pick up brother
Chapter 10: Find hamster. All happy.
10 chapters, 8ish pages per chapter
Chapter 1: Problem: Wilson needs more practice on his multiplication tables.
Chapter 2: Baby brother better at multiplying.
Chapter 3: Completes one set of multiplication tables
Chapter 4: 2 more sets done, stuck on 7's
Chapter 5: Friend comes over. Wants to compete by doing the tests.
Chapter 6: Another friend helps him pass more
Chapter 7: More work
Chapter 8: Problem: Hamster is missing. Fails his 12's
Chapter 9: Passes but forgets to pick up brother
Chapter 10: Find hamster. All happy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2013
It is very interesting that I picked this book written by Claudia Mills because a child in my observation class was reading the same book too. I now know why the young girl was so intrigued with this book because I liked it too. Although she is in fourth grade and I am a junior in college, it was cute and relatable for all ages. The book is about a young boy named William who struggles with math, especially multiplication. Everyone in his life (peers, and family) tries to help but he cannot grasp the concept. Especially when it coms to taking tests. He finally receives help from an unlikely source. This book is good for third grade or fourth grade. I know how it is to not be good at math and struggle so i can relate to this book even though this book is more on the humorous side.
April 22, 2013
Wilson is a third grade boy who is having trouble learning his multiplication tables, but he sure does love his class pet, Squiggles. His teacher has promised everyone in the class an ice cream cone when they pass their 12s and Wilson is afraid that he might be the only one in his class not to get a cone. Not only that, but if he doesn't learn all his multiplication tables, how will he ever convince his parents that he deserves his very own pet to take care of. With the help of his parents, his friends, and even his little brother who is only in Kindergarten, Wilson soon gets up to his 12s. Will he pass or will his chances for an ice cream cone and a new pet be doomed? Quick, easy read, but enjoyable. Even fourth graders might enjoy this one.
July 27, 2011
Very good book for young readers. This book is about Wilson and his worries that he'll never pass all his multiplication times table tests. Wilson is in 3rd grade. When the children pass all the times tables they get a reward of an ice cream cone from the teacher. Wilson fears his ice cream cone will be buried in the freezer before he ever gets his times tables done. Wilson also has a little brother in kindergarten who can already do time tables. And Wilson really wants a cute and cuddly hamster like Squiggles at school. Does Wilson learn all his times tables and get his ice cream cone? Does he get a hamster? You'll have to read the book to find out.
October 4, 2011
Since scowering children books for good and bad reads, this is surely been my favorite. A story about a student who is struggling with the infamous "time tests" of third grade, this book puts you in the kid's shoes instantly. As a tool for teaching, this book is a wonder. There equations in the text, which sometimes stick in children's minds. Also, there are methods to teach times table that teachers can use inside the text. I thought the illustrations were fitting too, as they provide the needed relief for readers when reading through this kid's terror of time tests.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews