Sorting Through Spring. (Math in Nature 2). Lizann Flatt. Illustrated by Ashley Barron. Toronto, ON: Owlkids Books, 2013. 32 pp., hc. & ePdf, $14.95 (hc.), $9.95 (ePdf). ISBN 978-1-926973-59-3 (hc.), ISBN 978-1-926973-69-2 (ePDF). Subject Headings: Mathematics-Juvenile literature. Nature-Juvenile literature. Spring-Juvenile literature. Preschool-grade 2 / Ages 4-7. Review by Natalie Schembri. **** /4

excerpt:

Do you think that math matters to the animals and plants? What if nature knew numbers like you? Let's look at the spring. Imagine what patterns and sorting could do!

In Sorting Through Spring, the second in Owl Kids' Math in Nature” series, Lizann Flatt presents children with basic concepts of patterning, sorting, and probability. Sorting Through Spring strongly follows Flatt and Barron's Counting on Fall, a text that introduces children to basic number sense and numeration problems.

     “What if mosquitoes were mistaken and ignored the data taken? According to the graph, where should the mosquitoes lay their eggs?” Flatt provides children with the opportunity to interact with creative math problems via text and illustration while simultaneously learning about the habitats of plants and animals in the springtime. Not only is the text a wonderful problem solving exercise, Flatt offers readers the opportunity to further learn about the plants, animals, and habitats discussed in the word problems in an informative “Nature Notes” section at the end of the book.

     Again, as incredibly illustrated in Counting on Fall, in Sorting Through Spring Barron's cut-paper collage illustrations truly speak to mathematical dimension of the text. The vibrant collage illustrations captivate the reader in a visually stimulating reading and problem solving exercise.

     I would highly recommend the mathematic and lyrical world of Sorting through Spring for school and library collections—especially paired with Counting on Fall. I look forward to the next book in the new “Math in Nature” series, Sizing Up Winter

Highly Recommended.

Natalie Schembri is studying children’s literature at The University of British Columbia.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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