Math: A Book You Can Count On

Basher Basics

by Dan Green, Simon Basher

Basher Math, A Book You Can Count On created and illustrated by Simon

Meet Zero, a bubbly fellow who will dissolve you to nothing, and say hello to the all-action Units, who just love to measure. Get a load of greedy Multiply, a big guy who hoards numbers together, and stand amazed by mysterious Pi, who goes on and on and on . . . to Infinity!

Multiply your number know-how with Basher's unique one-stop guide to the building blocks of mathematics. Packed with top tips and memorable characters, this is an essential book for students ages 8 and up.

Genres: Mathematics, Nonfiction, Childrens, Science, Picture Books, Education

64 pages, Paperback

First published July 19, 2010

About the author

There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads' database.

Dan Green spent his first four years in Africa, until his family swapped the African sun for Welsh rain. He grew up an English-American hybrid in the heart of Wales and then went to Cambridge University to study geology. After college, he shipped out to Italy to chase a dream of rock 'n' roll stardom, wound up in Venezuela, where he became editor of the English language newspaper and survived a coup d'etat and most recently rode his motorbike across Europe to Morocco. Dan is the "voice of Basher" - the best-selling children's science series created by the graphic artist Basher (basherbooks.com/usa/home.html). He has also written humor books, comic strips for Horrible Histories and Horrible Science, and is the author of the Footprint Venezuela Handbook.

Visit his website and find out what he is up to:
www.dangreenbooks.com

Reviews

[Kellie Bae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Math: A Book you Can Count On is the latest in reference books for kids. The book gives an identity to math terms and concepts, by giving the math word human like (or superhero like) characteristics. The book is broken down in to four chapters: Number Bunch, Special Sum-Things, Shape shifters and Data Gang. Each page is set up in a similar format with a colorful picture that personifies the math word helping the reader to remember its purpose. The page also includes three points to remember about the word, more information about the math word told in the first person, and other interesting facts, definitions of related terms, or a head puzzle (math problem).
This book is a must see because it is packed with information. While the book defines basic math words like subtract, it’s not a primary text because higher level math application is included. The book would be a better fit in intermediate, middle school, or even high school math classes. I love the colorful pictures (with an Asian animation look) and the creative, first person paragraphs where the math term speaks for itself, sometimes insulting other math terms. For example, decimal says it would call the number “0.25”, but scruffy old fraction would call it ¼. Or circle defines itself as “a chubby-cheeked bundle of fun”. This book would be a useful tool to introduce and support math words in the classroom because it is not the traditional approach. The pictures may help students see the term to support their understanding of its meaning in a completely different way.
If this book strikes you, but math isn’t your thing check out others like Punctuation: The Write Stuff, Rocks and Minerals: A Gem of a Read, or Physics: Why Matter Matters. You’re sure to learn something new, while having fun doing it. I think Basher Books has found a creative way to support students (and teachers) in learning content vocabulary.

[William V · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a wonderfully refreshing and visually innovative approach to understanding fundamental mathematical concepts, making what can be daunting subjects incredibly accessible. The unique characterizations for different mathematical ideas are genuinely clever and help readers, particularly younger ones, grasp abstract principles with remarkable ease and engagement. However, while it excels as an introductory and mnemonic tool, its focus on visual personification means it primarily serves as a memorable primer rather than a deep dive into complex problem-solving or theoretical intricacies. Despite its simplified scope, it's an excellent resource for sparking initial interest and building a solid foundation in math through a fun and memorable format.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I already knew most of the math described in this book, but it filled in my gaps in knowledge and explained more about what I wanted to know. It should have been longer, but it was useful enough.

[Mary Conroy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book for upper elementary, but I would not recommend it for grades lower than second. Even though it is aimed at higher levels, this book is still really cute. Each math term is a character, and gives a little speech about what their function is. It is clear and simple, yet leaves nothing out. The book covers infinity, decimal fractions, pi, quadrilaterals, ratios, bar graphs, and so on. Not ideal for read-alouds, but good for centers and early finishers.

[Shelbi Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like "Punctuation-The Write Stuff", this book turns math concepts into characters who are easy to relate to.

I would use this book when teaching certain parts of mathematics. This will make multiplication, division, and pi easier to understand.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon Basher has brought the basics of many subjects to an audience of grades 4-7 into a deceptively simple format of small, cartoon-like illustrated, kid-friendly books. Great curriculum supplements. Many subjects available including grammar, punctuation, music, math, oceans, chemistry.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was cute, but sometimes became confusing. A picture book designed for people needing help with math.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen, age 9: I really liked it.