What does math help us do? And what would the world be like without it? Marvelous Math shows how math is part of our daily lives -- how it can help us build a house or find clothes that fit; how it makes us "feel safe" by providing a sense of order and control. The poems cover a broad range from specific math functions (multiplication, division, fractions, etc.) to general math topics (time, counting, measurement, etc.) to the pleasures and problems children face in math. All are accessible and imaginative, and Karen Barbour's flamboyant, energetic artwork overflows with fanciful, child-pleasing details (she includes dinosaurs, circus acts, animals, animate numbers, and people who are too big for their houses, too small for their hats, etc.). The poetry and art together demonstrate that math is both natural and fun.

There are 31 pages in this book. This book was published 1997 by Simon & Schuster .

Karen Barbour has created illustrations for the New York Times and other magazines and newspapers. She has also written and illustrated several children's books, including Mr. Williams , which School Library Journal praised in a starred review: "The beauty of this book comes from the synergy of the spare narrative and rich artwork. The contrast makes each one more compelling; together they are powerful. [An] exquisite piece of oral history. " Karen lives in Inverness, CA. See more of her work at karenbarbour. com. Lee Bennett Hopkins' name is synonymous with poetry. He has published nearly 100 books of poetry and edited countless celebrated poetry collections.