Poetry Book Review - Mathematickles

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Franco, Betsy. 2003. Mathematickles! Ill. by Steven Salerno. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. ISBN 0689843577

REVIEW
This collection of poems and math riddles combines common math operations, playful words, and some figurative language to add some creativity to mathematics and logic. Each “mathematickle” is about a season and makes the reader think about how each one makes sense. Many of the poems use simple operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to show how different objects or feelings relate to one another. Other poems are written in graph from or on a grid. Some geometric verse incorporates the concrete poetry form, using rays, shapes, and angles within their words. Fractions and equations are not left out of this collection of riddles either. There are even a few science connections that can be made!

Although Franco’s poems and riddles may take some extra effort to completely comprehend, students will enjoy the language connection to the mathematical world. Salerno’s vibrant and colorful illustrations will also add an element of fun, as well as help young readers understand the meaning behind the verses. Educators will be able to find many curricular connections in this collection, particularly those that will help them to make mathematical thinking patterns more concrete to students that do not work well with numbers. This will also allow their students to think of math in a different way, using fractions to find “lightning = 2/3 triangle + 2/3 triangle + 2/3 triangle,” and more. These riddles also demonstrate a fabulous use of figurative language and play-on words that can be used for teaching language arts. This unique poetic form will attract elementary readers of all grades, as it gives them the opportunity to enjoy the language of poetry while learning a little math! This collection would certainly enhance any poetry collection serving elementary readers.

SELECTION #1
pumpkin – seeds + face = jack-o’-lantern

SELECTION #2
rocks x waves = sand

SELECTION #3
hexagons x frozen lace= snow flurry

*All selections by Betsy Franco

AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “an enchanting collection of poems in an unusual format.”
Starred review in PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “This book's jazzy, wholly original approach elevates basic mathematical concepts plus wordplay to the level of inspiration.”
BOOK LIST: “Using this colorful book as a springboard, language arts teachers can challenge their students to write their own mathematickles.”

CONNECTIONS
*After reading this book (or just a few selections that relate to the current content being covered) have the students write their own mathematickles.” Start a class book or bulletin board of the students’ poems/riddles that they can contribute to throughout the year.
* Use this poetry form in other curricular areas besides math. Support the science curriculum by writing riddle equations about science concepts. Students can write their own, too.