The Best of Times

The team behind The Grapes of Math and Math for All Seasons follows up with a third title for aspiring mathematicians: The Best of Times: Math Strategies That Multiply by Greg Tang, illus. by Harry Briggs. Tang eschews multiplication tables in favor of emphasizing a better understanding of numbers and quantities. Bouncy, rhyming ditties remind kids, among other things, that 0 times anything is zero (""For every problem it's the same,/ zilch or zero is its name!"") Briggs's cheery signature artwork, featuring an active menagerie, keeps the concepts clear and the mood light.