The Flying Birds

Handsomely illustrated with earth-toned collages, this picture book is one of six new titles in the TanTan Math Story series, which presents mathematical concepts in everyday contexts. In this story, an old carpenter becomes nostalgic for the birds he heard when he was young, so he builds bird houses, placing them in trees in the park. Introducing addition and multiplication problems, Han writes, “If there are 4 eggs in each nest and there are 3 birdhouses (4 times 3), there are 12 eggs in total.” The distinctive folk-art-like birdhouses, changing forest foliage, and colorful birds of different species create an alluring backdrop for the unfolding math lessons, as well as a gentle chronicle of art-making and the lives of birds. Closing information and activities augment the concepts presented. Ages 7–9. (June)