This series combines practice in reading with practice in counting and other mathematical skills, such as sorting and telling time. Children will have so much fun practicing math with the students in the books, they’ll forget they’re reading, and they’ll be so busy enjoying reading, they’ll forget how much math they’re learning! Brief, simple sentences employ “math language” throughout. Hands-on processes are depicted and described via photos and text. “Tell the Time” is especially useful, as it presents analog clocks with colorful, easy-to-read numerals and hands. High-quality color photos depict classes of enthusiastic, racially diverse students and teachers working together on math activities, using colorful, tangible objects and numerals and equations to figure out math problems. Readers see “math operations in practice,” e.g., kids counting on fingers and distinguishing shapes. Photos portray both group and independent activities. As readers flex math muscles, they’ll also have opportunities to practice their phonics knowledge of long- and short-vowel sounds, vowel blends, digraphs, etc. Back matter features include a word list divided into “math words,” “sight words,” and a word list representative of the volume’s phoneme(s) as well as a fun, theme-related math challenge. VERDICT A successful, enjoyable combination of math and reading skills and practice. Highly recommended.