Algebra and Geometry: Anything But Square!

Basher Science

by Simon Basher, Dan Green

Basher Science: Algebra and Geometry created and illustrated by Simon Basher:

The best-selling author of Math and Punctuation now turns his attention to the fun and funky characters in Geometry and Algebra. Meet Polygon and Plane, Reflection and Rotation, Odd Number and his buddy Even Number and the three amigos Sine, Cosine and Tangent. Discover the secrets of their world and how they like to throw their numbers about. Bringing his charming manga-style artwork and tongue-and-cheek approach to explaining the basics, Basher brings a whole new spin to the world of higher math.

Genres: Mathematics, Nonfiction, Science, Childrens, Education, Picture Books, Reference

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 21, 2011

Reviews

[jack • 20]

3✨ • really great education but honestly i just hate math so much lol. i was hoping maybe the facts would be cool but it didn't help but like i said GREAT education !

[Jacob]

I was curious about this series to see if it really was educational in a way that engages kids. My two or three older kids (ages 3-9) have certainly picked this up repeatedly and looked at it, and even read parts of it. When I read through it to see why they kept checking it out, but never stuck with it for very long, I think I figured it out. The illustrations are pretty interesting and the anthropomorphic interpretations of math concepts are interesting, but then the math related text is kind of dry. It's not something you'd want to read straight through -- I know because I did so. I wish they'd put more effort into explaining the meaning of the concepts in a creative way so the meaning stuck better in a person's mind, instead of just naming the concepts and giving them quirky personalities.

However, I think there is a place for books like this that are semi-educational and semi-entertaining, which is as a reference book. Younger kids can look at things in here and get a taste of what they might learn later, and older kids can come back and get a reminder about the math concepts inside.

[Zww]

I like books that hurt my head. I learned about a bunch of stuff. (age 8)

[Charlotte S]

If you know me, you know that I *don't like* algebra. This book has really helped me along with my math lessons, and made them more enjoyable!

This awesome book is basically a math dictionary! Everything you want to know about algebra and geometry is in here! There are definitions of each math term (for example, a square root or a tangent) and how to use that term. The simple explanations make the difficult math subjects easy to learn and remember!
I love using this as a reference guide for my algebra equations. If I ever forget what a math-y sounding word means, I pick up this book and look for it! Honestly, this book is great for algebra beginners or algebra masters. It's the perfect book that has all of your math needs in one place. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Thank you for reading my review! Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for fun book recommendations!

[David Cohen]

A cute, small, smart read, well written tongue-in cheek, great illustrations, and categorically presenting: Counting Crew, Number Nuts, Cranium Crackers, Graph Gang, Shape Sisters, Transformation Team, Trig-Athletes, and In the Round teams.
If I were to teach HS Math Models again (bridge for those performing poorly in Algebra and not quite ready for Geometry), I'd issue a copy of this book to every student. Covers all of the expected concepts, and gives them a personality!

[Karen]

My third-grade son loves these Basher books. I know he likes them mostly because of the quirky illustrations. But I also know he has learned facts from them -- facts that may not have made sense to him at the time he learned them, but later he was able to relate what he had learned from these books to what he was learning in school.

[Mary Potter-Henderson]

Cute way to introduce math vocabulary. This would be an asset in any upper elementary classroom to middle school. There are a couple of grammar mistakes and some vocabulary is assumed to be already understood. However, the presentation is well done and the grouping of the chapters helps with synchronizing understanding. I feel it would lead to great discussions in a classroom!

[Rebecca]

I learned algebra and geometry from this book when I was in elementary school, way too young to be learning about these things. When I finally got to these topics in middle school and high school, having a background in algebra and geometry from this book helped a lot. Showing these math concepts as characters made me remember them even eight years after I read this book.

[Isaac]

It was okay.

[Julianna]

Really excellent introduction to math concepts. Fun and cute. Perfect for a student who loves reading but is less enthusiastic about math.

[William V]

This book tackles the often-abstract worlds of algebra and geometry, transforming their core concepts into engaging and memorable characters. The distinctive visual style and clever personification make intimidating mathematical principles surprisingly approachable, helping readers grasp fundamental ideas with remarkable ease. However, while superb as an introductory tool for sparking interest, its focus on conceptual understanding means it provides a broad overview rather than delving into the rigorous problem-solving methods or detailed proofs necessary for advanced study. Despite its simplified scope, it's an excellent and highly recommended resource for making foundational math truly "anything but square" for aspiring mathematicians.

[Tracy]

For the kids, this will be good. I wish I had a visual book about math when I was kid. It's not simple, and some of these concepts I've never studied in HS or college. It would be good for the already math-interested kid or the reluctant one. As an adult, I gripe about the Greek-focused history. A lot of math was happening in the Middle East and Asia long before the Greeks and this Western-focused book, with the origins of Algebra in the Arabic Middle East and Pi in Mesopotamia. Nonetheless, if you have a visual, narrative kid you're having trouble getting interested in math, try this. I really like the Basher Science series.

[Sally]

Basically dumbed down kids' encyclopedias with irrelevant kawaii-style illustrations. Might be useful in a situation where relying on a variety of books/explanations helps bring a difficult point home, but not a very good stand-alone series.

[Amanda]

Everyone knows i hate math but this book was actually very useful! It gave so much information in such a simplified easy understanding way.The book defines each aspect of the type of math then gives examples and remembering tools.It also gives fun graphic pictures for each one!

[Feathertail]

Interesting, gives facts, and is a wonderful guide through Math, Algebra and Theory description of elements of Math and their uses..from their respective perspectives. Funny and {I would} well recremend it to all ages.

[Keziah]

(Informational) This book really brings math to life! It introduces the concepts as charters and personifies them. Each character has a story that teaches you about that particular math concept. I could see my students really enjoying this book!

[Karen]

My fourth grade son is using a protractor in his Math class now. But angles and measuring angles are not new concepts to him -- because he had already read this book. He feels like a pro, and that makes this mom pretty happy.

[Dillon Evans]

it was good it taught me what i needed to now for 7th grade and 8th grade its really handy.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy)]

Uses humor and fun to help explain math concepts. Somethings still seemed a bit difficult to understand, but may be me.

[Crafty]

Just figure out how much fun math can be with Basher helping!!

[Brian]

It was a quick read despite what the start and finish dates would indicate.

[Renee]

3.5 The illustrations are super cute. The series is Basher Science.