Mathical Book Prize
From the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath)
Register for the 2026 Mathical Book Prize Awards Announcement on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026
On Thursday, February 22, 2018, the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI) will announce the winners of the 2018 Mathical Book Prize during a special event in conjunction with MSRI’s Critical Issues in Mathematics Education conference.
Representatives from a dozen publishing houses joined Mathical Prize Coordinator Kirsten Bohl on January 23, 2018 for a Live Q&A Phone-In Session on the Mathical Book Prize. The meeting was hosted by the Children’s Book Council in New York City.
Mathical award-winning books are chosen by the Mathical selection committee’s panel of librarians, teachers, mathematicians, early childhood experts, and others. A Mathical panelist since 2015, librarian Betsy Bird joins us to share some of the panel’s favorite Mathical titles for readers ages 8-18.
Meet the members of the 2018 Mathical Book Prize Selection Panel.
The 2017 Mathical Press Kit is now available to spread the word about the winning prize titles!
At the 2017 National Math Festival in Washington, D.C., Mathical Book Prize selection committee member Dr. Herbert Ginsburg of Teachers College, Columbia University, spoke to parents and educators about how to find and read math storybooks with young children. You can watch Dr. Ginsburg’s talk below! Good math storybooks for young children have several essential …
The following review of 2017 Mathical Award Winner Absolutely One Thing: Featuring Charlie and Lola by Lauren Child was submitted by Mathical Selection Committee member Fran Wilson. The math fun begins when Lola and Charlie are told that they can get one treat from the store. Charlie asks whether that’s two things as in 1+1 or one …
MSRI and First Book are pleased to announce the creation of two new reading guides for 2016 winning titles.
These are not books that drill technique—they are chosen for their charm, their storyline, and especially for their positive spin on math.
Meet the members of the 2017 Mathical Book Prize Selection Panel.
Meet the members of the 2016 Mathical Book Prize Selection Panel.
While math textbooks may be left in the classroom, the summer months are the perfect chance to explore with Mathical Books.
Support math skills the sneaky way — with books! Paula Willey of the Baltimore Sun wrote a great article on books that parents and educators can use to support children’s development of mathematical thinking, while still being a fun read! Children’s author Jon Scieszka, a Mathical Book Prize selection committee co-chair, shared his thoughts on …
Second annual prize highlights books and graphic novels that let kids explore math in the world around them.
The 2016 Mathical Press Kit is now available to spread the word about the winning prize titles! You can find the Mathical press release, sample promotional content for newsletters and social media (#mathicalbooks), and a color flier to print.
Boston, Massachusetts – Children’s book authors, an early childhood expert, and a youth librarian made up the Mathical Books panel at the American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting, to highlight the need for effective literary math books in early childhood development and paths for librarians to incorporate math-themed literature into their collections. More than 100 librarians …
Publishers Weekly highlights the upcoming Mathical Books panel at the American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting in Boston as a can’t miss event for librarians. We hope you can join us to meet some of the Mathical selection committee and get a sneak preview of the 2016 Prize winners! Mathical Books! For Librarians—and Tots to Teens …
The Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI) and the First Book Marketplace announced today more than 1,500 Mathical award-winning titles were donated to more than 100 schools, Head Start sites and other early childhood centers, and community agencies serving children in need across 31 states.
Download free PDF reading guides from MSRI and First Book for each of the 2015 Mathical Book Prize award-winning titles.
Very young children and kids of all ages can experience math in new and surprising ways at the National Book Festival hosted by the Library of Congress on Saturday, September 5, in Washington, DC. Throughout the day at MSRI’s Mathical Station, authors of Mathical storybooks will meet and greet kids and their families. Young ones can …
Meet the members of the 2015 Mathical Book Prize Selection Panel.
Curious George is a perennial favorite among pre-K readers. But have you met George’s cousin, who loves math?
We hope you enjoy these resources about our winning titles!
What is Mathical: Books for Kids from Tots to Teens? Books can be a fantastic way to get kids of all ages excited and interested in math. Now, there’s a new annual book prize, Mathical: Books for Kids from Tots to Teens, recognizing the most inspiring math-related fiction and nonfiction books for youth of all …
