Math Fun: Books for Kids

Puzzles, riddles, mysteries, graphic novels, and more — these books for kids are math-tastic and make a very good case that math can be fun!

This booklist includes a number of titles from Greg Tang, featured in our Meet the Author interview.

101 Things Everyone Should Know About Math

Illustrated by: Nathan Levy
Age Level: Middle Grade (9-14)

These math questions show you that math is everywhere ― and knowing how to tackle it is useful… and fun. With entertaining connections to popular culture, sports, hobbies, science and careers, the challenges are intriguing and insightful (plus you don't need a calculator or paper to solve them). Open this book and discover the fascinating world of math!Math is a critical part of our everyday lives; we use it dozens of times daily. and wish we understood it better. The second title in the 101 Things Everyone Should Know series, this book makes understanding math easy and fun!

Lunch Lady and the Mutant Mathletes

Age Level: 6-9

Can the Lunch Lady protect the Breakfast Bunch of Thompson Creek School from evil mutants posing as "mathletes" in a school math competition? Readers will find out in the latest installment of kids and their offbeat superhero done in signature black/white illustration in graphic format.

Math Fables

By: Greg Tang
Illustrated by: Heather Cahoon
Age Level: 6-9

Short stories told in rhyme require close attention to words and illustration to help figure out the way to group the animals. Readers will learn that even though things appear different, the numbers still add up!

Math Fables Too

By: Greg Tang
Illustrated by: Tara Morley
Age Level: 6-9

The foundation for addition and an introduction to animals are both provided in a provided in these entertaining rhyming stories. Lively computer-generated illustrations move it right along.

Math-terpieces

By: Greg Tang
Illustrated by: Greg Paprocki
Age Level: Middle Grade (9-14)

A dozen famous paintings are used to launch problem solving by grouping. Poems focus on items in the image and pose a problem to solve. Answers as well as an art explanation are provided at the end.

One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve with Math!

Age Level: Middle Grade (9-14)
Language: Korean, Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

These mysteries have a clever twist ― you have to be a super sleuth, tapping into your math wisdom and critical thinking skills to solve them. Each story, presented in both English and Spanish, takes just one minute to read and challenges your knowledge in a variety of math disciplines. These brainteasers keep you engaged and eager to learn more.

Panda Math: Learning about Subtraction from Hua Mei & Mei Sheng

Photo of panda family
Age Level: 6-9

Meet Hua Mei, a baby panda born at the San Diego Zoo. Hua Mei’s growth is chronicled using basic addition and subtraction while life with her parents at the zoo is presented on opposing pages. Clear photographs and straightforward text provide a fascinating portrait of these engaging animals while introducing math functions.

The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos

Illustrated by: LeUyen Pham
Age Level: 6-9

Paul Erdos grew up in Hungary and was always an unusual child. He enjoyed numbers, was inept at everyday activities (like tying his shoes), and hated rules but grew up to be a famous mathematician. Witty illustrations and a fluid narrative (which imbeds mathematical language), and fascinating author and illustrator notes introduce this mathematically gifted man.