Ask Albert Einstein

Fifteen-year-old Annabel's despair over her math homework inspires her little sister to repay her kindness in teaching her things by getting help from someone else. In 1952 when the story takes place, Albert Einstein was alive and quite famous. The girl writes to Einstein, and he replies, "Do not worry about your problems with mathematics. I assure you, mine are much greater," (which is a real quote of his). Then he gives her a drawing of how to solve the problem. The story is based on Einstein's actual practice of answering school kids' homework questions. Annabel's problem and his solution are included. The endpapers are wonderful, filled with drawings of Einstein along with his most famous quotes. This story not only introduces a geometry problem (so that young students can see a little of what higher math can do), but it encourages students to not be intimidated and to ask people for help. The reading level isn't the most basic, but it also isn't too tough for younger primary students. This might make a good prize for someone who's just mastered their addition or multiplication facts, or a read-aloud to a math class, as well as just a recreational read.