A Modern Multiplication PrimerCameron + Company
(pub. 8.6.2019)
80 pages
and illustrator:
Merrilee Liddiard
C haracters: School Children & The Times Tables
O verview:
"Inspired by a Victorian math primer, Terrible Times Tables is a modern take on learning one’s multiplication tables, from numbers 2 to 10, featuring elementary school themes of homeroom, field trips, cafeteria food, holidays, and recitals. Featuring a reluctant narrator and a few unwitting critters, learning math has never been so much fun or amusing.
Merrilee Liddiard
C haracters: School Children & The Times Tables
O verview:
"Inspired by a Victorian math primer, Terrible Times Tables is a modern take on learning one’s multiplication tables, from numbers 2 to 10, featuring elementary school themes of homeroom, field trips, cafeteria food, holidays, and recitals. Featuring a reluctant narrator and a few unwitting critters, learning math has never been so much fun or amusing.
"LUNCHTIME
5 x 1 is 5
A roach - and it's alive.
[illus. of girl carrying lunch tray with big bug]
5 x 2 is 10
Mystery meat again.
5 x 3 is 15
My nose has grown a bean.
[illus of boy with bean stuck in nose]
5 x 4 is 20
Don't worry kids, there's plenty.
[illus of lunch lady]
5 x 5 is 25
Never look her in the eye."
And something more: Terrible Times Tables falls outside of my usual focus on picture book biographies. But I couldn't resist the fun, humor and creativity of this book (plus the publisher, the wonderful Cameron + Company, also published the picture book I wrote, Boats on the Bay). I asked the author to share something autobiographical about writing this book. Michelle Markel kindly shared her inspiration and the connection to her research for a biography of Randolph Caldecott:
"True confession: I’m not a huge fan of math, so books about it rarely capture my attention. However, several years ago, while researching 19th century children’s literature for a bio of Randolph Caldecott, I came across a Victorian blockbuster called Marmaduke Multiply’s Merry Method of Making Minor Mathematicians. It consisted of illustrated couplets for each “multiplication fact” - all random, sometimes grim or snarky, i.e. “6 x 8 is 48/Dear Aunt, your dress is out of date.”). I loved the mixture of art, poetry, math, and occasional gloominess. Lights started flashing! I wanted to use those ingredients for my own version of Marmaduke. I hope kids have as much fun reading Terrible Times Tables as I had writing it!"
