Leaping Lizards

Before a show can begin, the lizards have to get there. In Leaping Lizards, they trickle in slowly, arriving in clusters of five and ten, and readers are left wondering whether all fifty will make it on time. The story is designed to teach counting by fives and tens to children from pre-K through kindergarten, and JoAnn Adinolfi's humorous illustrations give young readers plenty to enjoy as the numbers mount.

Adults and teachers will find the book useful as well. The story and pictures make comparisons easy to follow and show how math works through concrete examples. The book also includes activities that adults can do with children to carry the math into everyday life.

Leaping Lizards belongs to Stuart J. Murphy's MathStart series, an award-winning set of 63 books that teaches mathematics through stories and visual models. The books are divided into three levels of 21 titles each: Level 1 for pre-K through kindergarten, Level 2 for grades 1 to 3, and Level 3 for grades 2 to 4. Each story centers on a practical use of its math concept. The artwork comes from a range of illustrators, and charts and other visual aids help children see how the math works. The concepts follow state and national standards, and topics build across grades so skills connect from one level to the next. Fun activities are included to reinforce the lessons, and the series also supports reading skills alongside math.