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Blockhead: The Life Of Fibonacci (2010)

by Joseph D'Agnese(Favorite Author)

3.99 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0805063056 (ISBN13: 9780805063059)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

review 1: The life of Fibonacci is fleshed out in this picture book biography. A medieval mathematician, Fibonacci discovered numerical patterns in nature. He also brought Arabic-Hindu numerals to Europe so that we don't have to figure out our budgets using Roman Numerals! Much of the story is made up, but whether it's true or not, the overarching theme of self-doubt is something that anyone can understand. He is teased for his day-dreaming and doubts his talents in math. With the help of an imaginary friend/spirit guide, he overcomes these doubts. Nice biography for anyone, whether they love math or not!
review 2: This was a story with potential, but I found myself disappointed. Fibonnaci the "Blockhead" who became a great mathematician is a story that is compelling, b... moreut the delivery of this aspect of the story was not. The biographical story-line feels like a distraction from what I really did find engaging - the story of Fibonacci creating his famous "sequence" of numbers and the amazing connections that this has to the natural world. I think that the real-world connections of mathematics in the lives of children and the world we see everyday would make for a good connection in a math/science classroom, I just wish that the author had kept his focus on this element of the story. less

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