That's a Possibility!: A Book About What Might Happen

by Bruce Goldstone

Overview

With colorful photographs and interactive examples, Bruce Goldstone's That's a Possibility introduces children to the ideas of something being possible, probable, or impossible.

Each spread features an easy-to-understand scenario such as dice rolling, with questions about probable outcomes and simple explanations. In the vein of Great Estimations, this is a perfect book for getting across important math concepts in a fun way.

This title has Common Core connections.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466844544
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	06/04/2013
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	20 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Bruce Goldstone is the author of Great Estimations, 100 Ways to Celebrate 100 Days, and Awesome Autumn, among other titles. He lives in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

Goldstone builds on his mini-oeuvre of math-themed picture books (following Great Estimations and Greater Estimations) by placing the study of probability in a playful, real-world context. Starting with basic concepts of possibility, certainty, and impossibility (“Will an elephant hatch from this egg? That’s impossible!”), he stages highly specific situations in photographic and digital illustrations. “Will this butterfly land on one of the purple flowers?” he asks. “That’s probable. Can you see why?” (Spiky purple thistles dwarf and outnumber two yellow flowers, helping readers make the connection.) Goldstone slowly builds complexity, using dice and cards to examine odds and scenarios with a great many possible outcomes. A smart intro to a pivotal math concept. Ages 7–10. (June)

Publishers Weekly

This book will be a boon to teachers working with these concepts, and it will attract browsers as well.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“Odds are, Goldstone's latest math title will provide readers with both the vocabulary and the practice to make them likely experts at determining probability. . . Certain to be popular with teachers, this is also certain to improve any child's understanding.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A more clever collection of 100 ideas is hard to imagine. A must-have for schools celebrating this special day.” —School Library Journal on 100 Ways to Celebrate 100 Days

“With an appealing layout that lends itself equally well to browsing or curriculum support, this lively book would be an excellent addition.” —School Library Journal on Greater Estimations

“A model of how to do it right.” —The New York Times Book Review on Great Estimations

From the Publisher

K-Gr 4—As he did in Great Estimations (Holt, 2006), Goldstone takes a mathematical concept and makes it easily understandable for children and great fun as well. Using a question/answer format, he explains possibility, impossibility, probability, improbability, and certainty. Each concept is accompanied by photographs that are not only sharp and clear, but that also employ colors that make the pictures really pop. Varying sizes and fonts add interest, and the subjects that Goldstone has chosen to illustrate the concepts have a great deal of child appeal. The pages featuring combinations have adorable Squidgy the Bear dressed in the 100 outfits made possible by his possessing 10 shirts and 10 pairs of pants. It's "bearly possible" to predict which outfit he will wear because of the 1 in 100 odds. This book will be a boon to teachers working with these concepts, and it will attract browsers as well. A first purchase.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

School Library Journal

Odds are, Goldstone's latest math title will provide readers with both the vocabulary and the practice to make them likely experts at determining probability. Certain, likely, (im)possible, (im)probable, odds: These are the words that Goldstone focuses on, highlighting them in the text, defining them and providing well-chosen, kid-friendly photos and digital illustrations so they can put them to use. Six lines of birds on electrical wires prompt the question: "If one of these birds flies away, what color will it probably be? What colors are possible, but not likely? What colors are impossible?" From gumball and prize machines to coin tosses, cards and dice, Goldstone leaves no stone unturned. His scenario involving game spinners is especially good--players have to choose between two spinners, and spots on the game board that say "Go back to START" and "Jump to FINISH" have to be taken into consideration. The book finishes with a look at permutations. A stuffed bear with 10 shirts and 10 pairs of pants has a total of 100 different combinations to choose among (and they are all shown!). A race with two racers has two possible results, but add a third entrant, and the possibilities go up to six. Backmatter provides readers with a few probability-related activities, an author's note and a few notes on answers to the questions in the text. Certain to be popular with teachers, this is also certain to improve any child's understanding. (Informational picture book. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews