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Best Math Books

Unlock the secrets of mathematics with these celebrated math books. Whether for academic study or personal interest, this list encapsulates the most frequently endorsed titles by educators, mathematicians, and leading educational blogs.

Recommendations from 63 articles, Bill Gates, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Richard Branson and 77 others.
Best Math Books
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Math Curse book cover
Math Curse
Jon Scieszka - 1995-10-01
Goodreads Rating
"Math Curse" is a playful yet relatable story about a girl who wakes up to a day where everything seems like a math problem. From getting ready for school to solving the mystery of why math is everywhere, this book offers a relatable and fun take on the subject. With humor and a relatable tone, "Math Curse" shows readers that even the toughest math problems can be conquered.
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table book cover
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table
Cindy Neuschwander - 1997-07-01
Goodreads Rating
This math adventure story follows Sir Cumference, Lady Di of Ameter, and their son Radius as they help King Arthur find a solution to the threat of war from a neighboring kingdom. With wordplay, puns, and problem solving, they create the perfect round table with the help of Geo of Metry, making math fun and accessible for everyone.
Mathematical Mindsets book cover
Mathematical Mindsets
Unleashing Students' Potential through Creative Math, Inspiring Messages and Innovative Teaching
Jo Boaler - 2015-11-02
Goodreads Rating
Unlock the potential of every student in math! Mathematical Mindsets by Jo Boaler bridges the gap between research and practice, providing practical strategies for teachers and parents to show children that math is enjoyable and achievable. Boaler highlights the importance of a positive math mindset, sharing key findings from her research on math education. Revealing how the brain processes math learning, the book features practical activities that replace rote learning and gives advice on how schools and parents can improve math education for all. Empower your child to succeed in math with Mathematical Mindsets.
The Greedy Triangle book cover
The Greedy Triangle
Marilyn Burns - 1995-03-01 (first published in 1994)
Goodreads Rating
Explore the fascinating world of polygons and shapes in this charming children's book. Follow a triangle as he seeks excitement and discovers the joys of being a quadrilateral. But when his insatiable hunger for angles leads to trouble, he learns a valuable lesson. With vivid illustrations and a special teaching section, this book is perfect for young learners.
The Grapes Of Math book cover
The Grapes Of Math
Greg Tang - 2004-06-01 (first published in 2001)
Goodreads Rating
Master math skills in a fun and engaging way with this clever book! With rhyming couplets and visual clues, this book uses riddles and games to help kids learn to group numbers for quick counting. Written by a lifelong math lover, and featuring vibrant illustrations, this book is a winning addition to any child's bookshelf!
12 Ways to Get to 11 book cover
12 Ways to Get to 11
Eve Merriam - 1996-08-01 (first published in 1993)
Goodreads Rating
"12 Ways to Get to 11" is a playful and imaginative counting adventure perfect for young readers. Join the search for missing number 11 as you discover creative ways to add up to eleven. From the magician's hat to the barnyard, this book will capture your child's attention with its witty and charming illustrations.
Spaghetti And Meatballs For All! book cover
Spaghetti And Meatballs For All!
Marilyn Burns - 1997-09-01
Goodreads Rating
This delightful book explores the concepts of area and perimeter through a family reunion where things don't go as planned. Mr. and Mrs. Comfort set up seating for 32 guests, but everyone has their own idea of where to sit, forcing the family to rearrange the table. Kids and adults alike will enjoy learning math concepts in a relatable and fun way. Perfect for grades 5-6, it's also a great addition to any family's bookshelf.
Ten Black Dots book cover
Ten Black Dots
Donald Crews - 1995-09-21 (first published in 1968)
Goodreads Rating
"Ten Black Dots" by Donald Crews is a delightful picture book that introduces basic math concepts to children ages 4 to 6. Through a unique counting exercise, young readers will develop their visual learning skills, explore their creativity, and practice counting numbers. This award-winning classic is a perfect supplement for homeschooling or as an activity book for young children.
Fermat's Enigma book cover
Fermat's Enigma
The Epic Quest to Solve the World's Greatest Mathematical Problem
Simon Singh - 1998-09-08 (first published in 1997)
Goodreads Rating
Unravel the mystery of Fermat's Last Theorem with this award-winning book, based on a PBS documentary. For over 350 years, mathematicians struggled to solve Fermat's challenge, but no one had succeeded. Follow the captivating story of those who devoted their lives to the quest for the proof, and learn how they sacrificed and saved for the sake of mathematics. This heartwarming and engaging tale will transform your perspective on math forever.
Recommended by
Hannah Fry
The Doorbell Rang book cover
The Doorbell Rang
Pat Hutchins - 1989-10-26 (first published in 1986)
Goodreads Rating
A heartwarming tale about friendship and sharing, this beloved classic follows the delightful story of a family sharing homemade cookies with friends. Perfect for reading aloud, The Doorbell Rang also teaches young children basic math concepts. Named a Notable Book for Children by the American Library Association, this picture book is a must-have for any child's collection.
The Boy Who Loved Math by Deborah Heiligman
The Joy of x by Steven Strogatz
One Hundred Hungry Ants by Elinor J Pinczes
A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar
What Is Mathematics? An Elementary Approach to Ideas and Methods by Richard Courant
Multiplying Menace by Pam Calvert
Fractions in Disguise by Edward Einhorn
Elevator Magic, Level 2 by Stuart J. Murphy
The Girl With a Mind for Math by Julia Finley Mosca
Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas R. Hofstadter
Journey through Genius by William Dunham
One Grain Of Rice by Demi
Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday by Judith Viorst
Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar by Masaichiro Anno
Elementary and Middle School Mathematics by John A. van de Walle
The Lion's Share by Matthew McElligott
One Odd Day by Doris Fisher
The Mission of Addition by Brian P. Cleary
What's Math Got to Do with It? by Jo Boaler
How Much Is a Million? by David M Schwartz
The Action of Subtraction by Brian P. Cleary
Counting Crocodiles by Judy Sierra
The Code Book by Simon Singh
Anno's Counting Book Big Book by Mitsumasa Anno
Sort it Out! by Barbara Mariconda
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
Bedtime Math by Laura Overdeck
Each Orange Had 8 Slices by Paul Giganti Jr.
Quack and Count by Keith Baker
Place Value by David A. Adler
Make It Stick by Peter C. Brown
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
How Not to Be Wrong by Jordan Ellenberg
The Princeton Companion to Mathematics by Timothy Gowers
Prime Obsession by John Derbyshire
A Mathematician's Lament by Paul Lockhart
Calculus Made Easy by Silvanus P. Thompson
Official SAT Study Guide 2020 Edition by The College Board
The Man Who Knew Infinity by Robert Kanigel
Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K-12 by Peter Liljedahl
Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni
The Music of the Primes by Marcus du Sautoy
Linear Algebra Done Right by Sheldon Axler
Making Number Talks Matter by Cathy Humphreys
Two of Everything by Lily Toy Hong
What's Your Angle, Pythagoras? by Julie Ellis
PWN the SAT by Mike McClenathan
Mathematics for Human Flourishing by Francis Su
Principles to Actions by National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Full House by Dayle Ann Dodds
The Penny Pot by Stuart J. Murphy
Equal Shmequal by Virginia Kroll
The Best Of Times by Gregory Tang
Math Fables by Greg Tang
Even Steven and Odd Todd, Level 3 by Kathryn Cristaldi
Amanda Bean's Amazing Dream by Cindy Neuschwander
The Four Pillars of Geometry by John Stillwell
A Mathematician's Apology by G. H. Hardy
On a Beam of Light by Jennifer Berne
My Even Day by Doris Fisher
The Number Devil by Hans Magnus Enzensberger
Balancing Act by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott
Triangle by Mac Barnett
A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars by Seth Fishman
How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten by Jane Yolen
Mission by Loreen Leedy
365 Penguins by Jean-Luc Fromental
A Place for Zero by Angeline Sparagna Lopresti
Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Tally O'Malley by Stuart J. Murphy
Pigs Will Be Pigs by Amy Axelrod
Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh
The Great Graph Contest by Loreen Leedy
Just a Little Bit by Ann Tompert
Visible Learning for Mathematics, Grades K-12 by John Hattie
Infinite Powers by Steven Strogatz
The Power of Moments by Chip Heath
Humble Pi by Matt Parker
Ten Apples Up On Top! by Theo. Lesieg
Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Mindset by Carol S. Dweck
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, Robert Petkoff, Donna Dale Carnegie, Simon & Schuster Audio
Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson
Introduction to Algorithms by Thomas H. Cormen
One by Kathryn Otoshi
The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa
Number Talks by Sherry Parrish
SAT Math Prep by Kaplan Test Prep