Ten For Me

By: Barbara Mariconda
Illustrated By: Sherry Rogers
Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing
Publication Date: August 2011
ISBN: 978-1-6071-8074-6
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor 
Review Date: August 2011

Ah, the world of mathematics. Yes, this is - again - not a world that is easily embraced in school by any child or parent. The creativity of mathematics does not shine through very easily, but with the lovely words of Barbara Mariconda and the incredibly bright, colorful, and funny illustrations done by Sherry Rogers, math may just make a come-back and move up the ladder with children as far as popularity is concerned.

This author is an award-winner, as well as being a K-6 educator, mentor teacher, and an adjunct professor of Children’s Literature and Process Writing. It will come as no surprise to parents once they read this magnificent book with their children, that this author has written a wealth of musicals, songs and novels for teachers, and loves to speak on the topic of creative writing for children.

In Ten For Me, readers get to follow a ‘best friend’ duo, Ed and Rose, as they go off on butterfly hunts in order to see which one can catch the biggest number of the remarkably beautiful creatures. Ed begins to have the luck of his life as his numbers go sky high, while poor Rose can’t seem to get any of the beauties to come into her jar. However, as Rose begins to learn the “secret” about what makes the butterflies WANT to fly closer, her jar soon begins to fill up and the competition between the best friends is on!

The illustrations are lovely, as Ed and Rose battle it out to see who will become the butterfly catcher extraordinaire! And the laughs make a perfect combination with this truly artful way of teaching mathematics.

Quill Says: Fun, entertaining, and truly educational. Parents and children will both get an absolute kick out of it!