Math unnerves Nikhil, who prefers art, storytime, and gardening. But Nikhil’s teacher, Ms. Oates, suggests that the youngster write letters to math (“She thinks it will help us be friends. It won’t”). Over time, Nikhil’s hostility (“You make my tummy hurt,” “I still don’t want to be friends”) turns to curiosity and even passion. Told entirely through letters, the book spans a school year as Nikhil begins to realize math is everywhere. Shapes, like octagons, are all around us; folding snowflakes helps the child learn about symmetry—and lets the youngster fuse a love of art with an appreciation for math. Turns out that astronauts also use math—another career path for Nikhil. Humor and clever wordplay drive the narrative (“Did you hear the one about the hen who counts her eggs every day? She is a brilliant mathemachicken,” riffs Nikhil at one point). Haldar makes clear that the child’s dislike of math is rooted in a fear of messing up—something that will resonate with many students. But, she emphasizes, math is about more than getting the right answers; it’s about passion and discovery. Martinez’s energetic artwork has a childlike flair (doodles appear on Nikhil’s letters) while also clarifying the concepts discussed. Brown-skinned Nikhil is cued South Asian.
