Spooky Math

Though the monsters, ghosts, and witches pictured in these counting lessons are on the corny side, the simple rhyming text describing their numerical concerns are likely to amuse beginning readers. A vampire and a witch named Belinda appear as friendly humans in costume, while Elsie the Even, Onslow the Odd, and a ghost are smiling animation-style creatures. Their assorted household goods include everyday items, such as socks, sneakers, pumpkins, and dirty dishes, as well as the requisite animal life: toads, snakes, spiders, bugs, lots of mice, and a few crocodiles. Readers are invited to answer various questions related to math or counting (for instance, “Which group has fewer, and which group has more? The mice resting on the pillow, or the rats dancing on the floor?”). The interactive counting scheme provides solid practice in arithmetic and reading, and the goofy theme and details add just a bit of silly fun.