Now’s your chance to promote creative math for kids, with Sue Looney’s new book on Kickstarter: Farzanah and the 17 Camels.
You can order the book in digital or paperback format, get multiple copies for a classroom or book club, or just donate to support the project.
Farzanah and the 17 Camels celebrates the excitement and the rewards of solving a challenging and intriguing math problem. Set against the backdrop of the ancient Silk Road, with bustling markets, stunning carpets, fun characters, and camels, the story draws readers into the magic of Farzanah’s surroundings.
As Farzanah searches for an unusual approach, a way of solving the problem that no one else could think of, she follows the wise advice of her mother:
“My dear Farzanah, don’t be discouraged,” said Mama. “Sometimes, being stuck is exactly where you need to be. I find the best thing I can do is to step away. I free my mind to think about other things. It is in that space that the magic happens. I am able to look at things from a different perspective. With wait time and wishful thinking comes the solution.”
Farzanah embodies the joy of productive struggle in mathematical problem-solving. She is patient, persistent, and curious, using these qualities to tackle a perplexing dilemma that has troubled everyone.
For a bonus math puzzle you can play today, based on Farzanah’s life, download Farzanah’s Sheep Dilemma.
Looney’s earlier book, Ying and the Magic Turtle, is available on the Natural Math website. Or check out her Same But Different discussion prompts for all ages on her website.
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Illustration above copyright © 2024 Noemi Sophia James, from the book Farzanah and the 17 Camels by Sue Looney.
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