Math-Terpieces: The Art of Problem-Solving

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Math wizard Greg Tang presents an artfully awesome method for learning addition in this colorful picture book illustrated by Greg Paprocki.

From Impressionism to Pop Art, Tang combines classic pieces of fine art with arithmetic to teach kids that grouping objects together means adding faster and easier. In "April Showers," Renoir's painting The Umbrellas provides the visual eye-candy -- along with Paprocki's groups of umbrellas in Renoir's style -- as the author challenges kids to "group UMBRELLAS to make 9, FIVE clever ways would be quite fine." Similarly, "Square Deal" features Piet Mondrian and tells readers that "7's made from SQUARES are great, the different groupings number EIGHT," while Jackson Pollock's Number 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist) shows children that "you may find beauty of a different kind" as "9's are made with all these SPATTERS, finding SEVEN is what matters!" As usual, Tang also provides an introductory note about the purpose of book along with an answer key in back.

Another Tang math book that brings pizzazz to problems, Math-terpieces will have kids and parents adding like masters! This art/math lesson is bright and simple to absorb, exposing readers to new ways of seeing and thinking. It will certainly help make those homework assignments a breeze. Matt Warner

ANNOTATION

The author of "The Grapes of Math" challenges kids to solve mathematical problems creatively while introducing art history in his latest math book.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Math and art history? Of course! Best-selling author Greg Tang knows that kids need to develop a variety of skills in order to think creatively when it comes to problem-solving. In Math-terpieces, Tang's visually oriented problems -- inspired by the artwork of twelve great masters, including Cézanne, Degas, Picasso, and Warhol -- give children fascinating ways to practice adding. Kids will be stimulated to solve math problems in entirely new ways, and all readers will take away a new understanding and appreciation of the ways we look at art.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Greg Tang presents the fifth book in the series begun with The Grapes of Math, Math-terpieces, illus. by Greg Paprocki. Under a reproduction of a well-known painting, a rhyming text gives information about the artist and poses a mathematical challenge to group objects in various ways; for example, "April Showers" features a Renoir painting titled The Umbrellas, and asks readers to group different numbers of umbrellas to make nine. An inventive way. Kids can bone up on their addition skills while getting an introduction to art history. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Michael Chabin

This is far and away the best of Greg Tang's marvelous series of math-oriented puzzle books. Here is the idea: How many ways can you make 7 by adding any combination of the numbers, 2, 3, 4, and 5? That's a pleasant enough puzzle for older kids. It is engrossing for younger ones, and the mental muscles it exercises are critical to developing early math skills. But the best part is this: Tang has placed the puzzles in the context of works of art. Here is an example under Degas' Ballet Rehearsal on Stage (1874): "A ballerina strikes a pose/ another rests her weary toes./ Edgar Degas liked to portray/ the varied scenes of the ballet/ Can you make 7 with these SHOES?/ Three clever ways earn rave reviews!" On the opposite page are ballet slippers in groups of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The illustrations are great, the puzzles interesting, the math engaging, and the artists included range from Degas to Picasso to Mondrian. 2003, Scholastic, Ages 4 to 8.

School Library Journal

Gr 1-5-Seminal works of 12 well-known artists are ingeniously paired with mathematical problems written in rhyme. These verbal challenges combine with visual clues from the illustrations to transform simple addition concepts into quick-witted fun. Solutions along with notes on the artwork are included. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews