Arithme-Tickle: An Even Number of Odd Riddle-Rhymes – Zany Poetry About Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication for Kids

by J. Patrick Lewis, Frank Remkiewicz (Illustrator)

These eighteen zany rhyming riddles involve addition, subtraction, and simple multiplication to calculate everything from poodle weights to travel time. And for anyone who's stumped, the answers are included in mirror-writing below each riddle.

Genres: Mathematics, Picture Books, Poetry, Childrens, Arithmetic, Nonfiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

J. Patrick Lewis is the current Children's Poet Laureate. He has written more than seventy children's books, including Once Upon a Tomb: Gravely Humorous Verses. J. Patrick Lewis lives in Ohio.

Reviews

[Tracy Strahsburg]

Although I am sad that these poems are of too high a level for my first graders, it is a book that I will definitely keep in mind if I am ever teaching older children! Each of these 19 unique poems is rhyme-y and catchy at a first read. Upon looking at these poems closer though they each hold a solvable math problem of sorts. I would love to use these for gifted students or “fast finishers” as a way to test their creative math solving skills. Because the author wanted math poems each of the poems contains all of the numbers and information that you need to solve the problem, but the facts are not always in the correct order as they have been shifted into a more “poetic feel”. By introducing one or two of these poems to the class and solving them together, I could see some young math geniuses’ falling quickly in love with these and attempting to solve them all! And, if by chance, you happen to become stumped, the author was kind enough to include answers to each poem as well!

[Tami]

I really enjoy J. Patrick Lewis' work and our whole family LOVED ARITHMETICKLE. We actually sat down with it (me, my husband, my 9-year-old and my 8-year-old) and read the poems and figured out the math problems within the poems together.

My husband and 9-year-old son love math and numbers, my 8-year-old daughter and I not so much, but we ALL enjoyed working the math riddles.

They are similar to the activities in the Dynamath series often used in 3rd and 4th grades as a fun and challenging supplement to math curriculums.

The poetry itself is delightful and there is a terrific mix of difficulty level for the math aspects of the poems. This would be a fantastic addition to a home or classroom library. As evidenced by myself and my daughter, this book appeals to all readers--not merely those who are passionate about math!

[Becky B]

This picture book is a collection of word problems written in rhyme sprinkled with a few riddles and one math trick (using fingers to calculate 9s products). The complexity of the problems makes the book most suited to upper elementary or middle school, but the illustrations would probably not make it popular above that (though the problems could be used in high school).

I would most likely use this book to provide transition or bell exercises, or for that kid who is always done early and bored. The answers are provided at the bottom of each problem/riddle written in small print backwards.

[Trang]

This books provides 18 different riddles that are kid-friendly yet challenging! Using addition, subtraction, and basic multiplication, you can handle a horse or jump on the moon! If any of these stump you, then you can find answers on the bottom but don't forget a mirror because you'll need it to understand your answer! Great to use for morning work that relates to math in fun ways.

[Jacey]

While this wouldn't be a book you could just read aloud to the class, it is a fun way to practice math skills! Different math problems are presented in rhyming riddle form and answers are provided to check your accuracy. It kind of spans many age levels though in that it has simple addition and subtraction problems along with multiplication and division problems.

[KidsNonFiction Teton County Library]

J 513 Lewis
Kay gave this book 4 stars because it gives children the opportuity to have fun with math. The book contains 18 riddles for the children to try to solve. Most of the math involved addition and subtraction and the riddles will have the children thinking.

[Andrea M]

Vibrant pictures make this humorous book of poetry readable. The poems which mostly rhyme challenge you to solve mathematical problems and have amusing characters like the poodle named Poo-poo-pee-doo.

[Emily Kuhn]

What a brilliant way to spark students' interest in math! Arithme-Tickle will tickle your students' funny bones while allowing them to practice their math skills. These challenging riddles would be a great way to begin a math lesson, and get students excited about the numerical fun to come.

[David]

This was an extra neat math book. My kids really liked it. These were a bit easier than the other math book we read today. I could do them in my head (mostly).

[Sam]

Great way to start every math lesson, it is fun and can be an easy introduction into any lesson.

[Julie Webb]

A challenge for most 1st graders

[571]

Grades 3-4 SLJ
gives practice doing story problems/ riddles, cute illustrations

[Leia-Catherine]

Really fun puzzles to figure out!!

[Kristen]

Reminiscent of Greg Tang's math riddles.

[Alison Lake]

My math class enjoyed this book, but some of the math riddles were quite challenging.

[Melanie Swider Wenz]

Love this book - such a great way to integrate math and literacy! Kids love trying to solve the rhymes!

[Karan Johnstone]

Cute book of math riddles. This book would be good to use for morning work.

[Debby Baumgartner]

Can you solve theses number problem poems?

[Jo Oehrlein]

Rhyming puzzles that are mostly just word problems. A few are puzzlers (how much dirt is in a hole you've dug).

[Marianna]

Challenging and fun.