Announcing the Inaugural Mathical List
The selection panel featured mathematicians, teachers, librarians, early childhood experts, and others. Together they evaluated books of all kinds, from picture books and novels to narrative nonfiction, that foster an enjoyment of math — with an emphasis on literary quality; substantial and/or inspirational math content; and a clear, accurate, and inviting approach to mathematics.
The Mathical list is divided into five school-grade categories. Below are the 2015 winners and honorees. Read the press release here.
Pre K
Have You Seen My Dragon? By Steve Light (Candlewick Press)
Honorable mentions:
Over in the River by Marianne Berkes (Dawn Publications)
Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett (Disney / Disney-Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group)
K – 2
One Big Pair of Underwear by Laura Gehl (Simon & Schuster / Beach Lane Books)
Honorable mentions:
Bedtime Math 2: This Time It’s Personal by Laura Overdeck (Macmillan / Feiwel & Friends)
Zero the Hero by Joan Holub (Macmillan / Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
3 – 5
Really Big Numbers by Richard Evan Schwartz (American Mathematical Society)
Honorable mentions:
Numbed! By David Lubar (Lerner Publishing Group/Millbrook Press)
The Rookie Bookie by L. Jon Wertheim, Tobias Moskowitz (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
Edgar Allan Poe’s Pie by J. Patrick Lewis (HMH Books for Young Readers)
Blockhead by Joseph D’Agnese (Macmillan / Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
6 – 8
Really Big Numbers by Richard Evan Schwartz (American Mathematical Society)
Honorable mentions:
The Ice Castle by Pendred Noyce (Mighty Media)
Mathemagic by Lynda Colgan (Kids Can Press)
9 – 12
Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano (PYRG – Kathy Dawson Books)
Honorable mentions:
What is Relativity? By Jeffrey Bennett (Columbia University Press)
The Unknowns by Benedict Carey (Abrams)
For more information about the Mathical program, visit Mathicalbooks.org.
About the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI)
The Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI) is one of the world’s preeminent centers for collaborative research in mathematics. Since 1982, MSRI’s topic-focused programs have brought together emerging and leading minds in mathematics, in an environment that promotes creativity and the interchange of ideas. Over 1,500 mathematical scientists spend time at MSRI’s California headquarters each year. MSRI is known around the world for the quality and reach of its programs and its leadership in basic research, and also in mathematics education and in the public understanding of mathematics.
About the Children’s Book Council (CBC)
The Children’s Book Council (CBC) is the nonprofit trade association of children’s book publishers in North America, dedicated to supporting and informing the industry and fostering literacy.
