More or Less

At his school fair, Eddie runs a booth where he guesses how old each visitor is. He has not been wrong yet, but a wrong guess means he gets dunked. Can he keep his streak going and stay dry? His strategy depends on comparing whole numbers and knowing what is more and what is less, the core math skills this story teaches.

Written for children in first through third grade, the book shows how comparing numbers works in everyday situations. The humorous pictures by illustrator David T. Wenzel keep young readers engaged, while parents and teachers get concrete examples of the math in action. The book also includes activities that adults can do with children to carry the lessons into daily life.

More or Less is a Level 2 title in Stuart J. Murphy's MathStart series, which teaches math through stories and visual models. The series has won awards and includes 63 books across three levels of 21 books each. Each story revolves around a practical use of its math concept, and charts and other visual aids help children understand how the math works. Level 1 covers pre-K through kindergarten, Level 2 covers grades 1 through 3, and Level 3 covers grades 2 through 4. The concepts match state and national standards, and the topics build on one another across the levels, offering a foundation for later math learning. The series also aims to strengthen reading skills alongside math.