Math Curse facts for kids
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| Authors | Jon Scieszka Lane Smith |
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| Translator | Jake Scott |
| Cover artist | Lane Smith |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Mathematics |
| Genre | Children's books Picture books |
| Publisher | Viking Press |
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Publication date
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1995 |
| Pages | 32 |
| ISBN | 978-0-670-86194-1 |
| OCLC | 32589625 |
| [E] 20 | |
| LC Class | PZ7.S41267 Mat 1995 |
| Followed by | Science Verse |
Math Curse is a fun picture book for kids. It was written by Jon Scieszka and drawn by Lane Smith. The book came out in 1995 from Viking Press. It tells the story of a student who suddenly sees math everywhere!
Contents
What's the Story About?
The story starts when a math teacher says something simple. She tells her class that almost everything in life can be a math problem. The main character, a student, doesn't think much of it at first.
But the next morning, everything changes! The student wakes up and starts thinking about time like an algebra problem. Soon, everything around her turns into a math puzzle.
For example, a treat of cupcakes becomes a lesson in fractions. A trip to the store turns into a problem about money. The student feels like she is becoming a "math zombie." She even tries to figure out how many minutes of "math madness" will be in her life!
Finally, she collapses on her bed. She dreams she is stuck in a room made of a blackboard. The room is covered in math problems! She only has a piece of chalk.
To escape, she breaks the chalk in half. She realizes that "two halves make a whole." She uses this idea to find a way out. When she wakes up, her "math curse" is gone. She feels like she can solve any problem! But then, her science teacher says that everything in life can be a science experiment...
Math Challenges in the Book
Math Curse is filled with real math problems. Some questions are a bit silly, like "What does this inkblot look like?"
Readers can try to solve the problems as they read. The answers are hidden on the back cover of the book. It's a fun way to test your math skills!
From Book to Stage
Math Curse was also turned into a play! Heath Corson and Kathleen Collins adapted it for the stage in 1997.
The play was first shown in Chicago, Illinois. Later, it was performed in other places, including Santa Monica, California, in 2003. The play was very popular with audiences and school children.
Awards and Recognition
Math Curse received many awards. People really loved the book! Some of the awards it won include:
- Maine's Student Favorite Book Award
- The Texas Bluebonnet Award
- New Hampshire's The Great Stone Face Book Award
