Counting in Dog Years and Other Sassy Math Poems

Gr 1-3--A tinge of science fiction colors the everyday life of children in this collection. In these school-themed sections, readers pop into the absurd stories that fill their math word problems with an amusing twist between their verses. The poems cover topics from algebra and geometry to interconnected ideas, such as tessellations and base systems, in a way that builds on familiar concepts while exploring new ideas. There are clever usages of meter and stress that pair very nicely with the counting aesthetic throughout. Filling the space between sections and poems are pops of steampunk and robotic creations that hold everything together. One of the best features of this text is the inclusion of the number robots, as they allow readers space to breathe and think after poems via illustrative breaks; they also weave themselves into the narratives present in some of the poems. This collection is cognizant of the audience's experiences, so there is relatability alongside the witty imagery. VERDICT School librarians looking for STEAM titles that pair silliness with educational topics in the style of Douglas Florian will love this fun, math-themed poetry collection that joins English language arts and mathematics as a dynamic duo.--Lisa Bosarge

Franco explores the joy of everyday mathematics in 20 rhyming poems sorted into four sections, and including topics such as a "Stinky Scale" rating malodorous scents, the "geometric math-terpiece" that is honeycomb, and numerical palindromes. A child's voice resonates clearly in "Total Time in School," which wails, "That's three months of summer/ but nine months of school!/ It must have been grown-ups/ who made up/ that rule!" "Calling Up Friends to Play" integrates a gentle logic puzzle, and "Math Makes Me Feel Safe" exudes a warm positivity not often attached to the subject matter. Tey's gouache illustrations portray a riot of whimsy in muted tones, depicting children and adults of varied skin tones amid imaginative scenes, including a child floating alongside a straw and paper umbrella in an iced drink. Ages 8-12. (Oct.)