16 Great Math Books for Homeschoolers
As a homeschooling mom, I’ve sometimes struggled to find reading resources that both my boys and I love, especially great math books. Over the years, though, we’ve gathered a list of not just good math books, but great ones! You know, the kind that your kids will read just for fun … and they’re learning important math concepts at the same time.
The ones listed below are math books we all agree are fabulous! They have engaging storylines, quirky characters, and puns my boys love! Seriously, I cannot tell you how many times we’ve referred to these stories when remembering equations or concepts! And if you look at their ratings, you’ll see we’re not the only ones who love them.
And if you find you need more help in arithmetic than these math books can offer, I want to tell you about a terrific math curriculum, CTCMath. This is something else my boys and I agree on. CTCMath has been a blessing to this homeschooling family. The super short, hyper-focused lessons were such a welcome change for us. As a homeschool mom, I really focus on mastery and move on. CTCMath allows me to do that, but if you prefer spiral, CTCMath can actually accommodate you too!
I’ve talked with plenty of homeschooling mamas over the years and I know, for many of you, math is the most dreaded subject. When you find yourself perpetually having to field questions like, “When am I ever going to use this?” and “Why does math matter?” from your kids, the core issue might be that they’re having a hard time understanding math concepts. If this is the case, do yourself and your children a favor and take the stress out of math by checking out CTCMath. They also have a 365-day money-back guarantee with no questions asked, so you literally have nothing to lose. Try it. This curriculum is a game-changer!
Okay, back to our list of fun math books for your kids. My family discovered most of these when my boys were in lower elementary, but we regularly reviewed them when they hit upper elementary and even middle school. The stories are entertaining and have enough silliness to keep your kids engaged but most importantly, they are MEMORABLE, which is the goal when teaching math concepts, right?
16 Great Math Books for Your Homeschool
What’s Your Angle, Pythagoras?
This is a fictionalized look at Pythagoras as he discovers his famous theorem. He is depicted as a curious boy who travels with his father from Samos to Alexandria, where he meets a builder who introduces him to the right angle. He begins to experiment, observing and noting the fixed and unvarying mathematical nature of right triangles. This clear and interesting explanation of the theorem is a wonderful read.
Another of the math books written by Julie Ellis, this narrative carries young mathematicians and musicians back to Ancient Greece where an ever-curious Pythagoras enjoys solving problems. Young Pythagoras helps his cousin Octavius tune his new pipes by comparing them to his own and realizing that because they are twice as wide, they also need to be twice as long. He uses the same ratios to solve problems for his other cousins as well.
Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi
When Sir Cumference turns into a dragon, Lady Di of Ameter helps him hide, while Radius searches for the cure–the magic number that is the same for all circles. This engaging book introduces children to the concepts of pi, diameter, and more, in a memorable manner.
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table
King Arthur has a problem! When his knights get together, they sit at such a long table that everyone has to shout to be heard. Can Sir Cumference and Lady Di of Ameter “measure up” to the challenge of building a better table? Explore the castle, watch a tournament, and ride along with Sir Cumference as he searches for the shape of the future. Noisy knights, a clever carpenter, and a juggling jester all add to the fun.
Mummy Math: An Adventure in Geometry
The Zills family is summoned to Egypt to help find the hidden burial chamber of an ancient pharaoh. But when Matt and Bibi get trapped in the pharaoh’s pyramid, they stumble upon a bigger mystery. With only their dog Riley and the geometric hieroglyphics on the walls to help them, the twins must use their math skills to locate the burial chamber—and the way out. Luckily, Matt and Bibi know their stuff when it comes to geometric solids, and so will the readers of this math adventure!
Sir Cumference and the Viking’s Map
Xaxon Yellowbeard was the fiercest Viking warrior of his time. Now a map to his hidden treasure lies in Radius’s and Per’s hands. Together the cousins must decode the strange numbered grid on the map and figure out the secret of the Viking’s X and Y axes. As bungling bandits pursue them, Radius and Per use coordinate geometry in their quest for “treasure of the greatest measure”.
Sir Cumference and All the King’s Tens
Sir Cumference and Lady Di planned a surprise birthday party for King Arthur, but they didn’t expect so many guests to show up. How many lunches will they need? And with more guests arriving by the minute, what about dinner? Sir Cumference and Lady Di have to figure out a quick way to count the guests to bring order to the party. Sir Cumference and his friends have been entertaining young and old alike for years as they introduce important math concepts with clarity and humor.
Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland
On a quest to earn his knighthood, Radius uses different geometry concepts to find and rescue a missing king in order to prove himself worthy of knighthood. He encounters many dangers, including dragons, but the greatest challenge before him is a castle full of angles and ancient mysteries.
Sir Cumference and the Isle of Immeter
In an adventurous title that teaches math skills, such as finding the area and perimeter of a rectangle and a circle, young Per must figure out how to unlock the secrets of the mysterious island of Immeter. The creative word plays will keep your child engaged, as with all the Sir Cumference math books.
King Arthur and the Sword in the Cone
King Arthur has issued a challenge. The first knight to find the sword, Edgecalibur, will be the next king. Sir Cumference, Lady Di of Ameter, and Radius help their friend, Vertex, find the sword. Any child familiar with the story of Excalibur and the mythical sword in the stone will enjoy this new twist on the old narrative.
The Zills family is off to Paris to see the sights and take a class at the International Pastry Academy! In class, Matt and Bibi have to measure liquids to make lollipops. It’s hard work, but knowing about different liquid measurements comes in handy when the Inspector General pays a visit while everyone else is out. The twins want to help. Will their knack for baking the best-ever brownies and their knowledge of capacity be enough to save the day?
In addition to these great math books, here are several other terrific books that will help your child easily learn math while having fun and being entertained:
Reading fun math books together, or just making them available for your kids can be a terrific part of teaching math alongside a curriculum like CTCMath. Also, you can use our HipHomeschoolMom’s link to get an extra six months on your year’s subscription! One great aspect of CTCMath is that it’s one price for the entire family. I can’t say how thankful I’ve been for a math curriculum designed to take the intimidation out of math and make it approachable for everyone.
Does your family have a list of favorite math books? Please leave a comment below so we can check them out, too!
