Math for Smarty Pants (Brown Paper School Book) [Hardcover]

Marilyn Burns (Author), Martha Weston (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1982 | Series: Brown Paper School Book

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. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown & Co (Juv); 1st edition (April 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316117382
• ISBN-13: 978-0316117388
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,781,677 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 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

This review is from: Math for Smarty Pants (Brown Paper School Book) (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.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful!, August 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Brown Paper School book: Math for Smarty Pants (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!

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource, April 15, 2002

By 

Math Lover (Allentown, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Math for Smarty Pants (Brown Paper School Book) (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!