TouchPress and Stewart offer eight challenging dives into mathematical theory and practice for readers not intimidated by complex formulas and brain-bending concepts.
Floating balloons on the opening screen lead to concise explorations of select topics in areas ranging from “Primes” to “Polygons,” “Infinity” to “Music.” In “Nature,” for instance, Stewart focuses on the discovery of the oddly similar but not identical “golden” and Fibonacci numbers and their occurrences in phenomena from sunflowers to spiral galaxies. Likewise, in “Infinity,” he covers set theory and other efforts to make sense of that concept’s bewildering paradoxes. Throughout, readers can tap highlighted names and special terms throughout to see definitions or biographical sketches. They can also search (with near-certain success) for their own birthdays in the first million digits of pi, create a message Enigma Machine–style in “Secret Codes” and experiment with harmonic intervals in “Music,” among other clever interactive demonstrations. The author swims easily through the sometimes-turbid sea of numbers, and the clean graphics, sharp photos and well-designed features that accompany his lucid explanations will help draw readers along in his wake. This may tempt even children who tremble at the sight of a square root to take the plunge. (Requires iOS 7.1 and above.) (iPad informational app. 14 & up)
Pub Date: March 27, 2014
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: TouchPress
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2014
The poster boy for relentless mischief-makers everywhere, first encountered in No, David! (1998), gives his weary mother a rest by going to school. Naturally, he’s tardy, and that’s but the first in a long string of offenses—“Sit down, David! Keep your hands to yourself! PAY ATTENTION!”—that culminates in an afterschool stint. Children will, of course, recognize every line of the text and every one of David’s moves, and although he doesn’t exhibit the larger- than-life quality that made him a tall-tale anti-hero in his first appearance, his round-headed, gap-toothed enthusiasm is still endearing. For all his disruptive behavior, he shows not a trace of malice, and it’ll be easy for readers to want to encourage his further exploits. (Picture book. 5-7)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-590-48087-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1999
Big brother Duane is off in boot camp, and Justin is left trying to hold the parental units together. Fat, acne-ridden, and missing his best friend Ben, who’s in the throes of his first boy-girl relationship with Cass, Justin’s world is dreary. It gets worse when he realizes that all of his mother’s suspicions about his father are probably true, and that Dad may not return from his latest business trip. Surprisingly ultra-cool Jemmie, who is also missing her best friend, Cass, actually recognizes his existence and her grandmother invites Justin to use their piano in the afternoons when Jemmie’s at cross-country practice. The “big nothing” place, where Justin retreats in time of trouble, is a rhythmic world and soon begins to include melody and provide Justin with a place to express himself. Practice and discipline accompany this gradual exploration of his talent. The impending war in Iraq gives this story a definite place in time, and its distinct characters make it satisfying and surprisingly realistic. Misfit finds fit. (Fiction. YA)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2004
ISBN: 1-56145-326-9
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2004
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