Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar [Paperback]

Masaichiro Anno (Author), Mitsumasa Anno (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1999 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

"Superbly demonstrating the conception of factorials in mathematics, the text and pictures combine to present a lesson in a palatable form as well as the pleasure of looking at pictures that only Mitsumasa Anno could invent." — Publishers Weekly "The book moves logically and elegantly from the concrete to the abstract. Once made clear, the concept is unforgettable, but the book entices the reader to return for further appreciation of the artistry with which it was designed." — The Horn Book "If you want a book that does a good selling job on the factorial concept, this one works." — School Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Japanese (translation) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 44 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers (March 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0698117530
• ISBN-13: 978-0698117532
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #35 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Math > Arithmetic

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome blend of math and art!, April 9, 2001

By 

Angela (Tamaqua, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar (Paperback)

This book is an amazing way to teach the math concept "factorial" to even very young children. Anno begins with a jar, which contains 1 island, which has 2 countries, each of which has 3 mountains. The story continues like this until 10 is reached. I love the way the pictures are arranged within borders on the page as many times as that of the number of objects being discussed. The explanation of 10! in the back of the book is also very helpful in the lesson being taught. Even if children do not understand the concept being taught, they will certainly appreciate the detailed colored drawings and imaginative story! Lots of praise to Masaichiro & Mitsumasa Anno for their creation.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely book on counting and factorials, January 3, 2005

By 

amazon3131 "amazon3131" (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar (Paperback)

This picture book is easy to read, and presents two math concepts: the first is counting to ten. The second is factorials: If there are three kingdoms in two countries on one island, then how many kingdoms are there altogether?

Imagining some of the silly scenes (there are how many cupboards in how many rooms?) is a delight.

This book -- or at least the last half of it -- is best for kids who have been introduced to at least basic multiplication facts, but younger kids will enjoy counting and looking at the pictures even if the rest of it is over their heads. It is, therefore, a great book to read to your middle/upper-elementary student while younger siblings are looking on.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Middle School Math, April 13, 2003

By 

Jennifer Segaloff (Sloatsburg, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar (Paperback)

I start my unit on counting principle with this book. I give the students a worksheet to keep track of how many islands, rooms etc. there are. The final question is how many jars are there. I usually have 3 or 4 students who catch on to the factorial concept and find the pattern. These are the ones telling me to read slower!!! It's exciting for students to see the math unfold in the second half of the book... after the story is over and they can begin counting little red dots (jars).