Brown Paper School book: Math for Smarty Pants [Paperback]

Marilyn Burns (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 1982 | Series: Brown Paper School

Text, illustrations, and suggested activities offer a common-sense approach to mathematic fundamentals for those who are slightly terrified of numbers.

Editorial Reviews

From Scientific American

Fundamental math concepts are conveyed through entertaining puzzles, tricks and word problems. For the numbers-averse, this book proves that numbers are only a part of math; for the math whiz, it offers plenty of challenges. Part of the learning-is-fun Brown Paper School series.

About the Author

Marilyn Burns is one of today's most highly respected mathematics educators and is the founder of Math Solutions. She received the Louise Hay Award for Contributions to Mathematics Education, and in collaboration with Scholastic, she developed "Do the Math" TM, a program for elementary students.

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (April 30, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316117390
• ISBN-13: 978-0316117395
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.4 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marilyn Burns is a renowned math specialist and has been teaching for more than thirty years. She is the creator of Math Solutions and the author of numerous books and articles.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Change the life of a "Smarty Pants" you know November 10, 1997

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I received this book as a gift when I was in Grade Three, and fairly bored with school. Just like any child, I was put off by the suggestion I should be reading a 'math book'.

The cartoons got me. Plenty of illustrations and a fun topic kept me through Chapter One. From that time onwards, I have been a Math Smarty Pants. In fact, I wound up a student of a mathematical science at the university level. In large part, I blame this book.

The best reason to buy this book for a child you know: whether they are ahead of the pack, or struggling to stay afloat in mathematics, this book will stimulate interest in mathematics, leading to better grades. It can't help but do so.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful! August 22, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I was given this book when I was young, after having read "The I Hate Mathematics Book." I loved them both. Like the previous reviewer, I'm pursuing math at the collegiate level and I have no doubt that this book played a large part. It is filled with examples of math made fun, but don't get the idea that the topics are trivial - the book introduces some very deep concepts in an entertaining and thought-provoking way. I look through the book even today and marvel at the great variety of topics that aroused my interest so many years ago. Buy it for a kid you know, before they get bored with repetitive arithmetic exercises and other pitfalls of elementary school math!

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource April 15, 2002

By Math Lover

Format:Hardcover

This book has gotten more kids fired up about math than anything I've seen. The engaging format shows kids that math is more than arithmetic - it's fun, it's cool, it's a blast! Even kids who are afraid of math will be hooked! I use it with 3rd and 4th graders who regularly ask their parents to buy it for them. They actually ask for a math book - go figure!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book ROCKS! August 17, 2005

A Kid's Review

Format:Paperback

I don't care what anyone else says. This book is great. I'm 10 and I didn't think it was too hard or anything. I think younger kids might be confused, but I LOVE it!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Content BUT May 23, 2006

By Grandma TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

This book contains a number of engaging math and logic problems, something that we do a lot of. Unfortunately, the print is small, the pages are quite crowded and answers are often extremely hard to find, all of which really limits the book's usefulness both in our math program and as a "just for fun" book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun for my "smarty pants" June 30, 2006

By coleen-in-tx

Format:Paperback

My 10-year-old son is definately a math "smarty pants" and when this book arrived I just left it sitting around to see if he would "discover" it and and boy did he! It's full of fun math games and activities and he dove into it for hours; not bad for a lazy summer day activity. I highly recommend it for your "smarty pants" or even your not-so-smarty-pants if he or she is willing to play in the realm of numbers.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Math Smarty Pants myself December 4, 2001

By Catherine Hood

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

(...) We have a copy of this book at home, and I've purchased this book to give to some of my children's friends and some home-schooling parents I know. I think giving this book to any math phobe, whatever their age, is a great idea. I also highly recommend the "I Hate Math Book", also by Marilyn Burns.

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book, bad reading level rating June 10, 2002

By oravla

Format:Paperback

The book is great but it should be rated for 12+ instead of 9-12. The book goes into abstract concepts very hard to understand for a 10 year old. I bought it for my daughter which is the best of her class in math and she was very frustrated with the book. To really appreciate the book you need a very good grasping and confidence with the basic operations, fractions, powers and geometry, that means well beyond the years where your kid is learning those topics.