This cheerful picturebook has an unusual and very effective method of encouraging an interest in maths in young children. Aliyah’s cousin Robin is taking her on a camping trip. The destination is a mystery and first they have to go shopping. Shopping trips with Robin are lots of fun it seems, and throughout she sets Aliyah a series of problem-solving challenges – what fruit will fit best into their rucksacks, how long will their train journey take – while also regaling her with stories and snippets of information.
Later, as the two are enjoying marshmallows toasted over their campfire, Aliya realises that maths is everywhere, including in nature, and has decided she wants to be a mathematician like her cousin.
The book concludes with a set of suggestions for using maths to discover more about the world around us, and there’s a fun maths game to play with friends too. The book has enough of a narrative to hold children’s interest, and the illustrations are fun and appealing too, and it certainly succeeds in its intention of demonstrating how maths is key to so much in our lives, and enjoyable at that.
Striking illustrations and an empowering story combine to introduce young readers to the world of maths, creative thinking and problem-solving.
Setting off on a camping adventure with her cousin, Aliyah soon discovers that numbers are everywhere, whether it's counting out money at the shops, planning trips on the train or even stargazing in a forest. As Aliyah solves some sums of her own, she learns about the brilliant mathematicians who have helped us understand our world. Soon she can't wait to become a maths whizz too! With pages encouraging kids to play maths games with their friends, this brilliant picture book written by engineer and TV presenter Dr Shini Somara unlocks a love of numbers and creative thinking, and celebrates women in STEM.
Mechanical engineer Dr Shini Somara loves to introduce scientific concepts to broader audiences. She has fronted science programming on the BBC, Al Jazeera America, Sky, Discovery and The Science Channel. Shini is an advocate for STEM education, encouraging women and girls in particular to empower themselves by studying these subjects.
