The Prime-Time Burglars

The Math Kids (Book 1)

Book #1 of The Math Kids
Illustrated by Shannon O'Toole
Published by Common Deer Press
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
LIST PRICE $5.99

About The Book

Join The Math Kids, a group of young detectives, as they take on their first challenging case in The Prime-Time Burglars! When valuable items start disappearing from their town, the kids must use their math skills and deductive reasoning to crack the case. In this exciting adventure, readers will be captivated as The Math Kids, Jordan, Justin and Stephanie, follow the clues, unraveling a mystery that will keep them guessing until the very end. Perfect for kids who love solving puzzles and mysteries, this book is a thrilling and educational read that will inspire young readers to use their math skills in real-life situations. With its engaging storyline and relatable characters, The Prime-Time Burglars is a must-read for any aspiring young detectives out there.

The Prime-Time Burglars in the first in a children's mystery book series featuring the Math Kids. Have you read them all?

About The Author

David Cole has degrees in math and computer science and has shared his passion for education at many levels, including teaching at the college level, coaching elementary math teams, and running a summer math camp. He also has a love of writing and has written a number of plays as well as The Math Kids series. Find him on his website or on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About The Illustrator

Shannon O'Toole has been illustrating children's books since 2018. Originally a figurative painter, Shannon has been exploring new ways to tell stories through her art. Her artistic practices are inspired by the many unique characters and people in her life. In addition to her work in children's books, Shannon is an elementary school teacher. When she is not painting, she can be found drinking coffee, watching classic movies and exploring new recipes in her kitchen. Shannon lives and works outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Common Deer Press (December 1, 2018)
  • Length: 110 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781988761237
  • Ages: 8 - 11

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Raves and Reviews

Highly RecommendedWhat? Math is fun. Math is useful. Aah, come on, that can't be right. But author David Cole has written a novel that absolutely proves that math can be fun and useful. Jordan, Justin and Stephanie are all math whizzes in school, and, like most students, they face many challenges every day. They must deal with Robbie and his gang who are all bullies. Stephanie has trouble with their teacher, and all of them are faced with burglaries in their neighbourhood that are scaring all the kids in school. The three form an after-school math club and realize they can use math to help solve some of their problems. Perhaps they can even use math to solve the mystery of the burglaries and where the burglars will strike next. Wouldn't it be cool to help the police.The Math Kids: The Prime-Time Burglars is a fun book to read, and it really encourages readers to try some of the math challenges presented.

– Elaine Fuhr, retired elementary & middle school teacher, CM: Canadian Review of Materials

Best friends Jordan and Justin are in a special math group in their class, and definitely unwelcoming when a new girl, Stephanie, is put with them. Although they have to admit that she is bright, she is also dangerous as she shows no fear when confronting the class bullies. When a series of burglaries go unsolved by the police the trio decide to apply their minds to solving the problem. The threesome are credibly drawn and the story movies at a good pace to a satisfactory solution.The book is comprised of 15 chapters in 91 pages and an appendix. This last section dis- cusses the math problem mentioned in the early part of the story, together with some other famous math problems. The art work in the text is in pen and ink by Shannon O'Toole. An enterprising math teacher could have some fun with a group of students and this bookThere are two more in the series coming soon.Thematic Links: Mathematics; School Stories; Problem SolvingRated E

– Mavis Holder, Resource Links

The Math Kids: The Prime-Time Burglars by David Cole is a very entertaining story about a group of eight-year-olds who solve crime and math problems along the way. I was completely swept into the tale. Intrigue, mystery, and the troubles that followed kept me reading. This was a fun way to teach math. The kids math club were cool. They were smart and fun to follow. Nobody likes homework. However, they did just as much work as their homework, if not more. I loved the book's layout and organized ways. Overall, this is a must read for all.

– Urban Book Reviews

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