How High Can a Dinosaur Count?: And Other Math Mysteries

The silliness of math problems is the starting point for a book that is lovely to look at and puzzling in the best sense of the world. As we have come to expect Valorie Fisher makes a world we can walk around in --- a world where Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear would feel right at home. Educational without ever being stuffy. Kids gobble it up. Why aren't there more math books like this?

I bought this because my children love Fisher's other books, especially, "Ellsworth's Extraordinary Electric Ears, ...", which they had at their school. "How High Can a Dinosaur Count?", is the best yet. The math is playful, but practical enough that the kids can use it. The reader has to add up her nickels and dimes to answer the question, "Can Heloise buy a hat?" Or do some subtraction to determine, "How many daisies does Daphne eat for dinner?" All of the answers, plus 60 additional "Math Mysteries" are in the back of the book. As always, Fisher's illustrations are captivating. She creates a world that you'll want to visit. They are classic, yet quirky and wonderfully colorful, with surprising depth (how does she do this?). But be warned, Madame Millie's Millinery has inspired my wife to paint our chest of drawers!

As the lapel of the book jacket reads, "How much fun can math be? Open this book and find out!" Author Valorie Fisher combines the 'love of the magic of numbers' with fifteen stories and math problems to solve. The stars of 'How High Can A Dinosaur Count?' include Heloise, Lulu from the Tutti-Frutti Zoo, Felix, Flo, and Fifi, and their flapjacks. All math exercises are placed within a brief scenario, with the author's superb artwork reflected in vivid, deep colors. A few 'math problems' are depicted as such -- "Prunella pines for the pink polka-dotted purse in the window of Hattie's Handbags. Each of the purses she is holding contains 25 cents. Does Prunella have enough to purchase the pink polka-dotted purse?" In the meantime, Dinosaur Dexter waits for his train, "... He begins to notice numbers and has soon spotted very odd number from 1 to 20. Can you find them, too?" Fisher's book can be enjoyed by all ages -- 5 to 99. More formulas to solve are at book end, and if you get stuck for the answer, a secret... never fear, the answers can be found at the back of the book. Other recommendations by Valorie Fisher: 'Nonsense!''Ellsworth's Extraordinary Ears: And Other Amazing Alphabet Anecdotes''My Big Brother' 'My Big Sister'