Elevator Magic (MathStart Subtracting) [Paperback]

Stuart J. Murphy (Author), G. Brian Karas (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: MathStart 2

When the elevator goes down, the subtraction starts and so does the magic. Ben sees crazy things everytime the door opens. Ride along as he subtracts his way down to the lobby, and decide for yourself if it’s elevator magic.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-2?The plays on words make this book about subtraction amusing as well as informative. Like other titles in the series, it uses a common daily activity to teach some math basics. A boy meets his mother on the 10th floor of a high rise. On the way down, Mom needs to do some errands. The first stop, two floors down, is to cash a check at the Farm Bank and Trust, which is (lo and behold!) filled with horses, barns, and hay fields. Farther down is the Hard Rock Candy Store, which is not only full of candy but also of the sounds and lights of a heavy metal band. Karas's zany illustrations support the main concept being taught, while picking up on the humor in the word play. The repeated image of the elevator controls, the child's monologue, and numerical equations that display his figuring further enhance the understanding of how subtraction works. The book concludes with several easy-to-apply activities to extend this presentation.?Stephani Hutchinson, Pioneer Elementary School, Sunnyside, WA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Amusing as well as informative." -- School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (August 16, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064467090
• ISBN-13: 978-0064467094
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 10 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,202 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #76 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Math

More About the Author

Stuart J. Murphy is a visual learning specialist. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, he has a strong background in design and art direction. He also has extensive experience in the world of educational publishing. Drawing on all these talents, Stuart J. Murphy brings a unique perspective to the MathStart series. In MathStart books, pictures do more than tell stories; they teach math. Stuart J. Murphy and his wife, Nancy, live in Evanston, Illinois.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another fine book from Mathstart, April 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Elevator Magic: Level 2: Subtracting (Mathstart: Level 2 (HarperCollins Hardcover)) (Hardcover)

My five-year-old found this introduction to subtraction entertaining. It has value for parents, as well, because it reminds them that the opportunities to play at math with children are everywhere, even in elevators.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!, October 20, 2007

By 

Jennifer R. Curtiss (Maitland, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elevator Magic (MathStart Subtracting) (Paperback)

My 7 year-old, home schooled son loves elevators so much that we made one from a refrigerator box! He loves mechanics of all kinds, but was having difficulty with simple math concepts like addition and subtraction. I bought this book thinking it may have an elevator in it, but was surprised to see that Murphy related subtraction concepts to the story. Needless to say, my son loves this book, and reads it over and over. This book gave me the idea to make an elevator panel out of poster board to use while teaching math. Now, math is fun to learn, as well as fun to teach.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for kids who like elevators, January 9, 2007

By 

April P. Levy (Arlington, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elevator Magic (MathStart Subtracting) (Paperback)

My four-year-old nephew is so into elevators that he asked for one for Christmas! Luckily, we found this book. The fact that it helps teach subtraction is a bonus. The main thing that our nephew likes about it is that it shows the elevator button panel on many pages (that's his favorite part of the elevator).