This book goes through all the different commonly used math symbols as well. In this book the author makes connections with the math symbols and real world examples for children to make connections with. They go through shapes, lines, operations, and units of measurement. ( )

~Opinion
This is a book that I find that is not good to sit down and read all in one sitting, unless you are older than a 7th grader, because most of it might confuse you. As a child is introduced to a term in this book, the teacher/parent can help them better understand MATH using this book.

~Within the book:
The book is divided into 3 chapters, with each chapter increasing in difficulty:
1) Number Bunch
2) Special Sum-Things
3) Shape Shifters
4) Data Gang
The beginning of the chapter introduces the characters with their names being MATH terms. So in Chapter 1, it includes the characters: Zero, Infinity, Minus Numbers, Fraction, Decimal Fraction, and Units. In chapter 2: Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide, & x (variable).
The back of the book has a glossary, which can be useful for the reader look up specific MATH terms. It also includes a big poster where you can hang up that children/students can look at the characters in the book and reflect on who they are.

~Does the book contain layers of meaning and enable natural connections to math?
Yes. Every single page has one (or more) of these fun facts about each term... the history, how it's used in the real world, symbol name, or plain facts.
In the 2nd chapter, at the bottom, there is "head puzzle" where a riddle/example is giving that makes the readers think. It also gives the answer.
(One thing I wish this book did was put the answer either upside down OR in the back of the book. Not just give the answer right away).
Along with this, the main text goes on with what the term is, why it's important, and how it is used in math class/real world.

~discovery? wonder? Or reader's curiosity?
(Page 10-Minus Numbers) "You can't take nine cookies from a jar that has only five cookies in it, can you?"
This quote makes the readers think and pictures it. Is this legitimately possible? It goes on saying this is where minus/negative numbers come in. How else can we use these special Numbers? TO TELL TEMPERATURE, OF COURSE!
This book makes you want to draw out the shapes/lines/numbers and test it out. At some points, it makes you scratch you head & think.

~Is it humorous or conversational tone?
It has some humorous lines/puns, but the overall tone I did not find it humorous.
"Shh! Don't tell the others. I'm not a number. " -Infinity
"People often think I'm gloomy. Ok, I admit it, I'm the exact opposite of Add, that bubbly ball of smirking positivity." -Subtract

The voice is aimed towards the reader... so the terms/characters are talking to you (the reader)! ( )

This book would be a great resource for all grade levels. The author personifies each math aspect, and creates clever phrases that a student can remember easily. Each page is accompanied by memorable pictures that students of all ages would enjoy. ( )

Similar to the other Basher Basics math books, this one is an introductory guide to the fundamentals of mathematics. The book would be appropriate for elementary students (3rd-5th grades). Although the book is part of a series, I would like to know who Dan Green is. There is no information on the author to be found.

There is an attached pull-out poster that summarize the entire book. The book is colorful and vibrant. Each math topic or function is illustrated and anthropomorphized. The top of the page include bulleted main points, followed by explanations and an example. The bottom of the page would have a Puzzle problem. On the opposite page would the animated drawing of the character. The language is humorous. However, I think the overuse of word play makes the language a bit difficult for me to focus on the math. A much needed index and glossary are provided at the end of the book. The index is accessible, but the glossary is overcrowded. The glossary would be more user friendly if there is spacing between entries.

The book is organized by content, ordered from simple math number theory concepts and number operations to higher math. The topics seem to follow the path of what an American student would learn from K-12 years. The table of content divides the book into major topics, with no subheadings. It does not explicitly state that the topics as Chapter headings until I flip through the book. However, each chapter is given a particular color scheme, such as teal blue for chapter 2. Small color tabs also make locating chapters easier. ( )

A very desirable book for those math lovers out there. It is about the numbers like infinity, zero, the negatives which are the ones that can confuse and cause students taking math to become mind-boggled. It has so many interesting historical facts about math also. This question also has the potential of giving students of math a break from the traditional math. A perfect book to have handy for those struggling in math as the foundation of math. ( )