Learn to enjoy counting with ‘Double Play, Monkeying Around with Addition’

“DOUBLE PLAY, MONKEYING AROUND WITH ADDITION,” by Betsy Franco, illustrated by Doug Cushman, Tricycle Press, July 12, 2011, $15.99 (ages 4 and up)

For parents, fun math books for children are a treasure to find.  “Double Play, Monkeying Around with Addition” is one such book.

Employing rhyme for story-telling, this book moves progressively through simple math problems almost without the reader noticing what has happened. Colorful and clear illustrations, complete with fun-loving animals that appeal to the youngest readers, keep the story bouncing along to its mathematical conclusion.

Children will enjoy counting along with the monkeys and identifying all the other animals that play along the way. (This reviewer’s children especially enjoyed exploring the page of monkey-drawn monsters near the end of the book.)

Overall “Double Play, Monkeying Around with Addition” would make a welcome addition to both the classroom and home learning library.

***This guest review is by Jamie Wood, a mother of three who enjoys brainwashing her children to read as many books as they can in one day. She does this by sitting on the couch and telling them she can’t talk now because she’s reading a book. So far all has gone well, and they are happily enjoying reading time together.