Math Story Books 数学帮帮忙 (Bilingual Chinese and English)
Want to make math fun and relatable while raising bilingual kids? I highly recommend the Math Matters series! Originally published in English, Math Matters is also available in a bilingual edition — 数学帮帮忙 — with simplified Chinese translations. Whether or not your child naturally likes numbers, these math storybooks celebrate the wonder of math in everyday life. Math Matters 数学帮帮忙 introduces a variety of math concepts through stories.
Try this: How to Teach Kids Basic Math for Free
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What is Math Story Books 数学帮帮忙 about? Our family’s review of the bilingual series.
数学帮帮忙 Math Matters is a series of books that engages children in real-life math. The realistic children’s stories have relatable characters and humorous situations that require math to solve problems.
The books teach basic math skills, such as sorting, patterns, addition, and subtraction, as well as elementary school concepts, such as fractions, graphing, and calculating area. The series can be a fun supplement to your home or school math curriculum.
We strongly recommend these bilingual math books because:
- Each story shows that math learning opportunities are everywhere! Examples in the book can be applied to real life.
- The children in the stories are all excited about learning math.
- Math concepts are presented in simple equations and longer word problems.
- The illustrations are cute and realistic.
- The characters have diverse ethnicities.
What age are these Chinese and English math books for?
According to the publisher, these math storybooks are geared toward children ages 5 to 8 years. However, younger and older kids can enjoy the books depending on their math and Chinese fluency levels.
For example, fluent-speaking toddlers who understand Chinese idioms could enjoy some of the basic math stories.
On the other hand, older children who are beyond the math level may find the series helpful for Chinese reading practice. If your child is familiar with the math concepts, they can focus on learning the Chinese vocabulary.
Related: Montessori Multiplication and Division Boards – Our Home Learning Experience
What topics do these bilingual math storybooks cover?
Each title and topic is listed below.
Numbers and Operations 数字与运算
- A Collection for Kate 小凯特的大收藏 (数学概念：加法)
- Off the Light 熄灯时间到！ (数学概念：减法)
- The Blast Off Kid 宇宙小子 (数学概念：位值制计数法)
- Count on Pablo 我的小九九 (数学概念：乘法)
- Everybody Wins 每人都有份！ (数学概念：除法)
- Clean-Sweep Campers 来自夏令营的信 (数学概念：分数)
- The Yum Yum House 甜甜的糖果屋 (数学概念：加减法)
- The Long Wait 漫长的等待 (数学概念：估算)
Measurement 量与计量
- The 100-Pound Problem 100磅的难题 (数学概念：重量)
- Play Date 游戏日 (数学概念：日期)
- It’s About Time, Max 到点啦，麦克斯！ (数学概念：时间)
- All Aboard 上车喽！(数学概念：时刻表)
Graphs and Geometry 图形与几何
- Kitten Castle 猫咪城堡 (数学概念：立体图形)
- Where’s That Bone 宾果找骨头 (数学概念：方位)
- Chicken on the Move 小鸡搬家 (数学概念：周长)
- Math Fair Blues 摇滚数学日 (数学概念：平面图形)
- Sam’s Sneaker Squares 山姆的脚印格子 (数学概念：面积)
- X Marks the Spot! 外公的神秘藏宝 (数学概念：坐标图)
Properties 探索规律
- Super Glass 超级眼镜 (数学概念：数字规律)
- Sunset Necklace 晚霞项链 (数学概念：规律)
Statistics and Probability 统计与概率
- Grandma’s Button Box 外婆的纽扣宝盒 (数学概念：分类)
- Bad Luck Brad 倒霉蛋布拉德 (数学概念：概率)
- It’s About Time, Max! 马可的零用钱 (数学概念：条形统计图)
- Who’s Got Spots? 恼人的水痘 (数学概念：数据图表)
- Ask Mia 我们的校报 (数学概念：象形统计图)
Mandarin narration for children learning math
Here’s another great benefit! If you’re an audio learner or if you aren’t fluent in Mandarin, a professional narrator can read these books to your child! You can listen to Ximalaya or use the Luka Reading Robot for native Mandarin narration.
Related: Montessori Pythagoras Board and Bilingual Multiplication Table (English and Chinese)
Photos inside 数学帮帮忙 Chinese Math Story Books
Here’s a look inside a few of the Chinese math books!
In A Collection for Kate 小凯特的大收藏 (数学概念：加法), the book is about addition, as indicated by the 加法 (jiāfǎ / addition) at the top right corner of the cover. This book helped my daughter learn to add multiple double-digit numbers together and how to carry the one.
Here are pictures of the back of the book, including a page with math questions and English translation.
Off the Light 熄灯时间到! (数学概念：减法) is an interactive book about subtraction that encourages kids to look at the window. How many windows do you see outside? How many lights are on? What about in one hour? Keep track, and do the math!
Like the others, the end of the book features math questions and English translations.
Sunset Necklace 晚霞项链 (数学概念：规律) is fun for preschoolers and Kindergartners who are learning to create patterns. My daughter especially loved this book when she was making necklaces in different patterns in preschool!
Notice the relatable and engaging illustrations!
Here is a look at how the patterns look in “worksheet” form! As usual, the English translation is included in the last few pages.
For several weeks, my children were super intrigued by Who’s Got Spots? 恼人的水痘 (数学概念：数据图表). They asked a million questions about the chicken pox rash and how vaccines prevent infection.
Our teacher has been writing key Chinese idioms on Post-It notes as shown in the following images.
True to the title, It’s About Time, Max! 马可的零用钱 (数学概念：条形统计图) teaches kids how to tell time. We have done hands-on clock-learning activities that pair well with this book!
I hope your bilingual preschoolers and elementary school kids enjoy reading and learning from 数学帮帮忙 Chinese Math Story Books as much as mine!
