TeachingBooks
Math Curse

Book Resume

for Math Curse by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

Professional book information and credentials for Math Curse.

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  • Publisher's Weekly:
  • Ages 7 and up
  • TeachingBooks:*
  • Grades PK-6
  • Word Count:
  • 1,524
  • Lexile Level:
  • 560L
  • ATOS Reading Level:
  • 3.7
  • Genre:
  • Picture Book
  • Year Published:
  • 1995

The following 8 subject headings were determined by the U.S. Library of Congress and the Book Industry Study Group (BISAC) to reveal themes from the content of this book (Math Curse).

The following unabridged reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers. Reviews may be used for educational purposes consistent with the fair use doctrine in your jurisdiction, and may not be reproduced or repurposed without permission from the rights holders.

Note: This section may include reviews for related titles (e.g., same author, series, or related edition).

From Publisher's Weekly

Starred review from October 2, 1995
Whew! This latest whimsical work from Scieszka and Smith (The True Story of the Three Little Pigs; The Stinky Cheese Man) is bound to stretch out the old thinking cap. The day after her teacher announces, "You know, you can think of almost everything as a math problem," the narrator is afflicted with a ``math curse'' that affects how she views every facet of her day (``Everything seems to be a problem''). A minimum of the questions she asks herself are entirely logical ("How many quarts are in a gallon?''); some are far-fetched extrapolations (if an M&M is about one centimeter long and the Mississippi River is about 4000 kilometers long, how many M&Ms would it take to measure the length of this river?); and a happily hefty number are sheer nonsense: "I undo 8 buttons plus 2 shoelaces. I subtract 2 shoes. I multiply times 2 socks and divide by 3 pillows to get 5 sheep, remainder 1, which is all I need to count before I fall asleep." Like the text, Smith's wonderfully wacky collage-like art will give readers ample food for thought-even if it's part junk food. Here's a morsel: "Does tunafish + tunafish = fournafish?" Kids will want seconds-count on it. Ages 7-up.

From AudioFile Magazine

The Math Curse is a curse every child can identify with--one through which life becomes one big math problem--getting dressed, going to school, eating lunch--you name it. Nancy Wu creates an appealing and inquisitive portrayal of the unnamed female protagonist and voices other characters skillfully as well. Wu's narration also complements the humor in the writing, further captivating the listener. The musical accompaniment is effective, and engaging sound effects enhance the story. Overall, music and narration come together to give life to the protagonist as she copes with letting numbers know who's boss. "The Math Curse" song accompanies the narration. J.K.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Math Curse was recognized by committees of professional librarians and educators for the following book awards and distinctions.

Math Curse was selected by educational and library professionals to be included on the following state/provincial reading lists.

United States Lists (3)

California

  • California Reads Teacher Recommended Books 2018-2019, Grades PreK-12

Indiana

Texas

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This Book Resume for Math Curse is compiled from TeachingBooks, a library of professional resources about children's and young adult books. This page may be shared for educational purposes and must include copyright information. Reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers.

*Grade levels are determined by certified librarians utilizing editorial reviews and additional materials. Relevant age ranges vary depending on the learner, the setting, and the intended purpose of a book.

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