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Product Description Help kids with their math skills plus their reading skills with the engaging and fun MathStart series! Animals on Board is perfect for teaching adding to first, second, and third graders. Ride along with trucker Jill and her dog as they add up the animals passing by on other trucks. But these are no ordinary animals, and they're bound for a surprise destination! Lively illustrations by R.W. Alley make adding truckloads of fun. Kids will love the story and the illustrations by R.W. Alley. Parents and educators will love how the story and pictures make understanding the math concepts a breeze—as well as the concrete examples of how math works. The book contains activities for adults to do with kids to extend math into their own lives. Math = Fun! MathStart is an award-winning series by Stuart J. Murphy that teaches math through stories and visual models. Young readers find the stories engaging and relatable, because each story revolves around practical applications of the math concept being presented and features lively art from top-notch illustrators. Charts and other visual representations help children understand how the math works and promote deeper comprehension. This unique combination of stories, illustrations, and visual models helps teachers and parents in the teaching of math and provides all children with the opportunity to succeed. The 63-book series is divided into three levels with 21 books in each. The math concepts taught in MathStart books conform to state and national standards. Level 1 is Pre-K–Kindergarten; Level 2 is Grades 1–3; Level 3 is Grades 2–4. The series follows math topics across grades so there is a foundational path to learning that runs through the levels. From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 2-This picture book tells a story and reinforces the concept of addition. The lively watercolor illustrations serve both missions well. While on the road, a female truck driver and a dog are passed by many other vehicles loaded with various animals. As their journey advances so do the math problems, going from the simple "3 + 2 = 5" to the final "9 + 0 = 9." However, there is no logical progression in the examples provided; why does "6 + 1 = 7" follow "3 + 2 = 5?" The text is told in rhyme, which adds to the sense of movement but it is rather singsong. All of the characters end up at a carousel (made from the drivers' freight) and the final illustrations capture their joy and excitement. The book ends with a two-page spread of suggested activities for kids and adults. The "Level 2" designation suggests that this is designed for ages 6 and up but the simplicity of the story and rhyme as well as the juvenile nature of the illustrations would be more appealing to a younger audience. Edith Ching, St. Albans School, Mt. St. Alban, Washington, DC Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. Review “I have used the MathStart series with students and even with my own children for a number of years now. Stuart Murphy has written books that develop mathematical concepts for all who read and listen to them. To find these books accompanied by activities for both home and school is a gift for all learners.” -- Jonathan Dueck Director, STEM Education Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Fresno, California "No matter what is happening in the world today, the MathStart series takes an abstract concept and makes it real and concrete to the teacher, students, and parents that are reading and using them. Kids, young and old, fall in love with math when they see how real life and effortless it becomes thanks to these books. Math is everywhere around us." -- Kimberly D. Mueller, Ed.D. First Grade Teacher Ashbrook School Lumberton, New Jersey "Each kid-engaging Math Start book is focused on a specific math concept, the vocabulary is age appropriate, and the story lines with delightful illustrations are easy for kids to follow. These books are a perfect springboard into a lesson or re