Among the Odds & Evens: A Tale of Adventure

by Priscilla Turner, Whitney Turner (illustrator)

When X and Y, two Adventurers from the Land of Letters, crash-land in the Kingdom of Wontoo, they quickly learn that it is populated by two sorts of Number: the Odds, an eccentric bunch, and the Evens, orderly and predictable.

Genres: Mathematics, Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 10, 1999

Reviews

[Luisa Knight]

A clever little tale about X and Y crash landing in the Kingdom of Wontoo and learning about numbers and their relationships.

Probably better to read after the concept has been learned as the humor will be got.

Ages: 6 - 10

Content Considerations: nothing to note.

[Megan Beaverson]

Among the Odds and Evens was written by Priscilla Turner and illustrated by Whitney Turner. It was published in 1999 by Worzalla. This book is fiction. It would be valuable in a lower elementary classroom for a number or reasons. It provides assistance in learning numbers and letters, and as the letters travel around the world students could learn different cultures and customs and the manners that come with learning about those.

[Brianna Brown]

I’m particularly disappointed that the author chose not to explain the behavior of X and Y, and how rude they were to the place they came to visit. They talked smack about the natives, and then chose to stay there permanently. Why not explain how wrong it is to land somewhere and tell people how to live?!

[Makenzie Cerny]

I feel like this book has a lot going on, so the pictures might be a bit distracting. This is for higher level readers, but would be a good read for 3-5th grade students.

[Becky B]

X and Y are out exploring in their aerocycle when they have technical difficulties and crash in the land of Wantoo. The Wantoois are fascinating to X and Y. They notice that the odds all dress uniquely, while the evens like things more orderly. They also start to notice unusual patterns in the children of the numbers, patterns they find strange and maybe wrong according to what they are used to. Eventually they become quite accustomed to living in Wantoo and aren't sure they want their aerocycle fixed.

This story comes up with creative ways to teach the difference between odds and evens, and patterns that result when numbers are added. There's also a bit of a social commentary thrown in too. X and Y are typical explorers trying to force their ways on the "natives." I didn't feel like that aspect of the story was resolved well. X and Y choose to stay but never seem to change their minds about the Wantoois ways being lesser than their own and that really bothered me. Maybe the author is trying to say they did change since they wanted to stay??? It wasn't clear. And X and Y had already made themselves a nuisance by rubbing the Wantoois the wrong way with their cultural superiority. In real life, I think they wouldn't have ever been accepted fully if they tried to stay. Maybe I'm just more sensitive to this as an expat in a school that serves a largely expat community; I'd rather have characters that emulate good expat resident practices and cultural respect. (It does attempt to explain why Xs and Ys show up in math though.)

[Sarah Ziskend]

-even and odd
-compare and contrast
-predictions about why something is happening
-adding

As a teacher of mathematics, I would use this book as an introduction to Odds and Evens. I think it would best be suited for a 1st-3rd grade class, because the book also touches on more advance topics. It would be beneficial as a teacher for me to create a a venn diagram as I read the book aloud to students.

Science:
-making predictions
-gathering evidence
-the characters are acting like scientists that are discovering a new land and people


Social studies:
-discovering a new land
-colonialization?

[Kathryn Sublett]

This book would be great for early learners, such as kindergarten or first grade. It could be used as an introduction for a lesson on odd and even numbers. After reading the book, students could go on an odd and even number hunt in the classroom. Although, it's not very realistic. I would have preferred to see a story that involved children noticing odd and even numbers in their daily lives.

[Sima]

A good way to introduce alegebra and the . The Letters are stranded in the village of Wontoo (Numbers) where they learn of the strange customs of this village such as Odd parents having Even Children.

[Yadira]

This book tells a story of two letters, Y and X, who come to a village made up of odds and even numbers. The review different facts about these types of numbers through the story. Although I think this is a nice story, I think it can be somewhat confusing at times.

[Salsabrarian]

X and Y don’t understand the ways of the numbers and they begin telling them how things “should†be done. The numbers resent the unsolicited advice. X and Y soon realize that meddling with the numbers isn’t a fruitful undertaking and they come to accept the numbers’ lifestyle.

[Amanda Goodman]

I thought it was a very interesting take on exploring how odd and even numbers, when added together, equal what they do. Fun pictures. Picture Book.

[Janice Redding]

This is a wonderful book to read in Kindergarten simply because it discusses the difference between even and odd numbers. I can use this concept during calendar time.

[Elizabeth]

This book would be great for kindergartners and and first graders who are just learning about odd and even numbers.

[Rodopa]

Too confusing. Only useful item was the fact that odds and evens always have even children. Not written in a child friendly manner.

[Kimberly]

A bit weird, and I think the language would put some kids off.