1 + 1 = 5

1 + 1 = 5? What?

Well, the concept of this book is pretty simple. Each page has a 1 + 1 =, followed by a number that is not two, with an illustration that gives you a hint at how that can be. Then you turn the page, and you see how it works.

What?

Okay, for example, one of the pages has a picture of some kids looking at sea animals in an aquarium, and it says "1 + 1 = 13?" Then you turn the page, and it says, "1 octopus + 1 starfish = 13 arms!" (See, because an octopus has eight arms and a starfish has five.) Another one is "1 unicorn + 1 goat = 3 horns!" It's fun to look at the illustrations and try to figure out how one plus one could equal five, or eight, or hundreds of something.

This probably goes without saying, but this book is best for kids who have a pretty good grasp of how addition works. Little Boy loved the concept--he's read this book every day, and I'm sure he'll be bummed when we take it back to the library.

1 +1 = 5
Written by David LaRochelle and illustrated by Brenda Sexton
Age range*: 5-8
My rating: 4 stars [out of five] 

*Age ranges are very flexible.