I Can Add Bills and Coins

Children's Literature - Carol Raker Collins

The "I Like Money Math!" series shows the middle reader how to identify, count, add, and subtract money. The book format is as much visual as it is textual. A straightforward presentation of the basics of money and math gives the young reader an essential grasp on the real world of math. This title applies lessons on addition to the world of money. The young student is shown long and short ways to add money. The value of groups of coins is demonstrated by laying the coins in a row and counting them up. The second way is to add the value of the coins on paper through the process of addition. The answer is the same; but when there are several groups of coins to add up, it becomes obvious that written addition becomes a shortcut to counting up every last coin again. Sets of coins, such as those in the hand and those in the pocket, are also added in two ways. There is no need to know exactly what the denomination of money is if the value is known. The ? sign and the $ sign, plus the decimal point, are explained. Addition of bills, and then bills and coins complete the lesson. The book relies on and builds upon school lessons in addition (and perhaps even multiplication). A child will, hopefully, learn to handle money in a rather sophisticated way. Included are book and website references, plus an index. Practice worksheets are online. Reviewer: Carol Raker Collins, Ph.D.