Teddy Bear Addition: 5 (McGrath Math) Picture Book by Barbara Barbieri McGrath

This short, easy-to-swallow picture book is a solid introduction to addition. Readers learn the basics through a combination of a rhyming narrative and teddy bears with speech bubbles that explain in simple, clear language the math concepts being illustrated. While the rhyming is cute and makes the book an enjoyable read-aloud, it could be a bit distracting for children who are using this book to really learn about addition; it could have been removed entirely, leaving more space for the teddies, who are doing the actual teaching. The use of primary colors and backgrounds comprised of clutter-free white space make this book both straightforward and visually stimulating. As well as learning how to add, readers will also begin developing a math vocabulary, with words like “equation,” “addend,” and “sum” easily explained by simply reading the instructions. Those who struggle with reading could still gain quite a bit from looking at the pictures. Nihoff’s illustrations rely upon color-coding and a large font that distinguishes each numeral from the others-–a helpful detail for those with dyslexia and other reading disorders. For libraries with math sections that need an update, this book is a great option.