David A. Adler

Editorial Reviews
 ★"It's rare to find a picture book that uses simple, hands-on activities so successfully, leading young children to a fuller understanding of a scientific concept."
—Booklist, Starred Review

*"Adler shows his customary skill for explicating mathematical concepts in this smart exploration of floatation and density."-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"This title supports the Common Core State Standards that focus on measurement skills, interpretation of data, and incorporation of key ideas and details in the text. Recommended for math collections in public and school libaries and classroom shelves."-School Library Journal

Kirkus Reviews

Adler and Raff bring a hands-on quality to scientific explorations of matter.

Simple experiments and kid-friendly language teach concepts about matter to young audiences.

The creators of Light Waves (2018) have teamed up again to create another engaging science book for kids. This time, the four states of matter are the topic at hand. The duo delivers scientific information alongside eye-catching illustrations with details that will delight. The book opens with the clear explanation that "Matter is anything that takes up space, even the smallest space, and has some weight, even the smallest weight," and it builds from there. As a family prepares a birthday party for Grandma, readers learn more details about matter and its different forms: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. A dog wearing safety glasses and two children with dark brown hair and peach skin tones (and no safety specs) conduct simple experiments that correspond with each form that matter takes. The complex scientific information covered in the book is made accessible and age-appropriate using typical party items such as a chocolate bar, ice cubes, and balloons. The text includes plenty of details for budding young scientists without becoming too dense. Explanations rooted in easy-to-replicate experiments drive concepts home and make for an educational and interesting read.

GoodReads

Zippy art and clear explanations introduce the basic characteristics of four states of matter and how they change from one state to another. Totally up-to-date, this book for elementary school children includes plasma, now covered in all curricula.

Straightforward text presents the facts and Raff's infographic illustrations demonstrate the science and tell a humorous story. There are hands-on activities, such as using a chocolate bar to demonstrate material consistency and using a balloon to prove gases have weight, to reinforce the learning.

A glossary defines density, plasma, vapor, and more essential terms.

Kirkus Reviews
Another solid shape book that will grow with young geometry learners; don't let the picture-book format fool you—high schoolers could use some of this math. (Informational picture book. 6-14)  Following Triangles (2014), Adler and Miller tackle another shape.  Again beginning with a definition and descriptions of basic three-dimensional figures and what they are called (sphere, cone, cylinder), Adler quickly ramps up to naming the parts of a circle—radius, diameter, chord, arc. Readers use their own circles, traced onto and cut from paper, and rulers (marked only in English measurements in Miller's illustrations) to explore these concepts as well as symmetry and intersection. Brightly colored cartoon animals created from geometric shapes (largely circles) ask children to find and count radii, major and minor sectors, and chords. The learning deepens again as Adler looks at ways to find the circumference and area of a circle and the formulas involving pi. The only mathematical calculations readers are asked to do is in determining the area of six different circles using the formula radius x radius x pi = area. A final page looks at the usefulness and ubiquity of circles, though it seems more of an introduction than a conclusion, especially given its simplicity after some math that can be pretty difficult for young learners. Backmatter includes a glossary and the answers to the questions posed in the text.

Publishers Weekly
David. A. Adler, illus. by Edward Miller. Holiday House, $17.95 (32p) ISBN 978-0-8234-3642-2
Frequent collaborators Adler and Miller follow their books on fractions, time zones, triangles, and other topics with a thorough look at all things circular. After a brief run-down of two- and three-dimensional shapes with round aspects (cylinders, cones, spirals, etc.), Adler dives into what makes a circle a circle, unloading a significant amount of vocabulary along the way, including words like symmetrical, diameter, sector, and chord, all clearly explained in direct writing, assisted by hands-on project ideas and Miller's playful circle-based animal portraits. By the time children get to the closing line—"We live in a world of circles"—they'll be convinced.

Kirkus Review

"This is as solid a look at simple machines as any that exists outside of dry textbooks, and at least readers can imagine a narrative for the two young boys."

School Library Journal

What do a slide, a flagpole, and a tricycle have in common? They illustrate principles of physics relating to simple machines: an inclined plane, a pulley, a wheel and axle, a wedge and a lever. The emphasis in each description is that simple machines make work easier. An inclined plane can be a simple ramp, a winding road leading to the mountain top, or a screw. The wheel and axle of a tricycle is shown next to the more complex Ferris wheel. Children will be drawn to the depictions of the machines in familiar situations such as turning on a water faucet or playing on a seesaw. The charming illustrations, featuring children, adults, and even a cat, enhance the impact of the message by depicting a small community going about their lives and using simple machines to make work easier. — Martha Edmundson

GoodReads Review

"Kids use simple machines every day without realizing it. Teeth are wedges and so are knives, forks, and thumbtacks. Many toys such as slides, which are inclined planes, and seesaws, which are levers, are also simple machines. Two appealing kids and their comical cat introduce levers, wheels, pulleys, inclined planes, and more, and explain how they work. This lively introduction to physics will get kids excited about how simple machines simplify our lives."

A GREAT introduction to basic economics:

What's all this money madness? It's just metal and paper.  Long ago people traded rocks or sheep for the items they wanted.  But rocks are heavy and sheep may run off.  Today there are many different kinds of money including money you can't see.  Each kind of money has value because you can use it to buy the things you want. 

A colorful introduction to a fascinating geometric shape made by two friends and a savvy robot.

* "A great update on the subject." -- School Library Journal (starred review)

* "A book that can grow with kids." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

A is both a letter and a word.

1 is both a digit and a number.

1 is the second digit in the number 318.

To understand our number system you first need to understand the vital importance of place value.

Place Value is a crucial book for young math students.

By using simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division

you'll discover that solving math mysteries can be both challenging and fun.

Working with Fractions 

"Will be greeted with cheers

by teachers everywhere . . . Excellent."  

Kirkus Reviews

We can't feel it, touch it, or smell it, yet none of us could live without light.  It this book readers will learn about the waves that make up light and create different colors.  They can even test light's characteristics for temselves!

-- "A great choice."  -- Booklist

Kirkus Reviews

Estimating and rounding: two great, everyday mathematical tools.

We round and estimate all the time; they're right up there with adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. Adler brings a no-nonsense approach to the subjects, sometimes a little too much so, letting the narrative go flat at the expense of tinder-dry precision. "For most purposes, that's a perfectly acceptable answer. But it's not an exact answer." Even the inclusion of the contractions doesn't lighten those sentences. And there is also a measure of disconnect between Miller's artwork, with its Candyland playfulness and large population of dinosaurs, and the audience, some of who will be nigh approaching junior high school. On the other hand, he has a good gender and racial mix among the humans, who participate via speech bubbles. Adler's text overcomes its occasional drab presentation by stressing the utter usefulness and pleasure of rounding and estimating. They allow us to have a sense whether or not we are in the ballpark numberwise, and they can be just plain fun in gaining an idea of how numbers relate to the real world, both for amusement and to grasp time and space: estimate the steps to a friend's house and how long that will take.

Sometimes prices go up and up.  Sometimes they suddenly fall.  WHY?  The basic laws of supply and demand are made simple in this book with clear explanations and colorful graphics.

Booklist Review 
Prices! Prices! Prices!: Why They Go Up and Down.
Adler and Miller, known for their math-related picture books for kids, now present the laws of supply and demand. The question, "How are prices set?" is answered with the example of a boy opening a lemonade stand. His initial outlay for equipment represents his fixed costs. His supplies and ingredients are his variable costs. Each day, he adjusts his price according to the supply of lemonade (a rival stand increases supply) and the demand for it (a hot day increases demand). Adler lays out the four laws of supply and
demand in a logical, methodical way, while Miller brightens the pages with vibrant, stylized digital illustrations. One or two helpful diagrams appear on almost every double-page spread, showing how changes in the narrative can be expressed in terms of either revenue, variable costs, and variable profits, or supply, demand, and prices. Kids cruising through the story may not absorb all the concepts, but those who are motivated to think through the basic economic principles will find the book useful and interesting.
— Carolyn Phelan

Kirkus reviews
FRACTIONS, DECIMALS, AND PERCENTS
BY DAVID A. ADLER AND ILLUSTRATED BY EDWARD MILLER ‧ 

 
Adler and Miller easefully tackle yet another aspect of mathematics with clear explanations and graphic interpretations that extend the topic of an earlier book of theirs, Working with Fractions (2007). Here the author draws the connection between fractions, decimals and percents using money as a convenient vehicle to express parts of a whole. The illustrator sets the action at a county fair with electric colors and sharp, two-dimensional edges. The price of goods at the fair serves to launch the discussion of how 89 cents becomes 89/100 becomes .89 becomes 89 percent. Gradually more complicated material is introduced—numerator, denominator, position relative to decimal point—and then how one finds decimals and percents when the denominator isn't 100. Times when a particular use predominates is explained, and a few pop quizzes are administered to give readers a sense of grasp and accomplishment. The team's sense of sheer fun gives the book significant propulsion, the county fair conveys an assuaging atmosphere for those with a touch of math anxiety and the quizzes offer an enjoyable challenge. Both straightforward and bouncy, a successful primer on parts. (Picture book. 6-10)

THE CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL reviews TIME ZONES
What are time zones and why do they exist? When it's noon where you live, why is it midnight halfway around the world? This entertaining book explains why time zones exist and includes little-known facts and historical lore, an explanation of Daylight Savings Time, and a hands-on activity that can be performed at home or in the classroom.

GoodReads reviews Time Zones

What are time zones and why do they exist? When it's noon where you live, why is it midnight halfway around the world? This entertaining book explains why time zones exist and includes little-known facts and historical lore, an explanation of Daylight Savings Time, and a hands-on activity that can be performed at home or in the classroom.

Kirkus reviews Time Zones 

Adler combines mathematics and geography to successfully tackle a topic many kids find confusing. With simple and clear language, he introduces readers to the idea that time zones are dictated by the rotation of the Earth. When the sun is directly overhead in one part of the world, it is midnight on the other side of the globe. The author divides the difficult material into easily digestible chunks, first tackling the Earth's division into 24 sections. He then moves on to explain the prime meridian and international date line. Finally, he explains the zigs and zags that the time zones make on the map. Also included is a fascinating history of the advent of official time zones , necessitated by technological advances in travel and communication. Miller's digital illustrations work hand-in-hand with the text to help youngsters grasp the concepts presented. He includes many different views of the world (planet, globe, map), laying a strong geographical foundation. Quirky details and collaged-in photos keep readers' attention. Sure to be a teacher favorite. (Informational picture book. 6-10)

A hands-on introduction to polygons that takes the fear out of math and puts the fun back in!

Draw three dots on a piece of paper. Or maybe— draw three dots on a slice of cheese. What happens when you connect the dots?

With bright, colorful illustrations and a simple, funny text, Shape Up! introduces triangles, quadrangles, and other polygons to young readers, encouraging them to play along, and learn everything there is to know about shapes.

Explaining basic geometric concepts and offering definitions for important vocabulary, this introduction to shapes, lines, and angles is to good to miss— even if the jokes can be a little . . . cheesy.

Created by a respected children's nonfiction author and former math teacher, this is a perfect grounding in basic shapes— and a lot of fun, too.

Here's an easy math puzzle:

A taxicab is on its way to the airport.

1 passenger is in the front seat.

3 passengers are in the back.

How many people are in the taxicab?

                                                           5 people are in the taxicab.  Don't forget the driver!

Here's another one:

Cans of soda cost 25c each.

When you return an empty can you get 5c back.

Jerry has 25 empty soda cans.

How many full cans of soda can Jerry buy 

after he returns each of his empty cans?  

(Suprise!  The answer is not 5.)

                     6 cans.  When Jerry returns the 25 empty cans he will get enough $$$ to buy 5 cans of soda.  After he drinks those 5 cans and returns them he will get enough $$$ to buy 1 more can of soda.  

Here's a calculator riddle:  What would you call someone sitting in a bowl of ice cream?

On your calculator multiply 16 X 20, add 3 and multiply that total by 25.

Answer--8075.  Turn your calculator upside down and read the word 8075 becomes. 

If writing was like swimming...an interview with Bruce Black:

1) how do you get into the water each day?
The only way to get into the water is to jump in. Don't over think the process. Just jump in and write.

2) What keeps you afloat...for short work? For longer work?
I keep rereading what I've written and that takes me deeper and deeper into my story.

3) How do you keep swimming through dry spells?
How can there be dry spells in swimming? Being dry can only mean you stepped out of the water. If I get stuck working on one manuscript, I start or continue work on another. I find it helpful to work on more than one project at a time.

4) What's the hardest part of swimming?
The hardest part, I find, is discovering the voice for my story and that comes at the very beginning.

5) How do you overcome obstacles, problems, when swimming alone?
Writers always swim alone. I try not to put too much pressure on myself, not to demand a great first draft. But I keep rereading and rewriting until I'm satisfied.

6) What's the part of swimming that you love the most?
It's the swim I love, not the jumping in the water, and not the stepping out. I love the rewriting, just playing with my words. I feel somewhat sad to finish the final rewrite and have to send off a cherished manuscript.

"Adler has a near-miraculous ability to share an entire lifetime in a few words." -- School Library Journal review of A PICTURE BOOK OF DAVY CROCKETT.
"Lives of the characters unfold as stories."--Booklist review of A PICTURE BOOK OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
"A fine addition to the notable series." -- Kirkus review of A PICTURE BOOK OF JACKIE ROBINSON.

The Picture Book Biographies (Holiday House, publisher)