Review of Ann McCallum Books

So, have you heard of the Fibonacci Sequence? Me, too! Do you remember what it is? I know, I know, I have super smart readers, and a bunch of you probably do, but I'll confess that I couldn't for the life of me remember what it was until I read this adorable book.

Written by a high school math teacher, Rabbits, Rabbits Everywhere: A Fibonacci Tale by Ann McCallum Books teaches kids about a unique recursive series of numbers known as the Fibonacci Sequence. Interestingly, this sequence was first identified by a medieval mathematician who posed a question about the reproductive capacity of rabbits. Using rabbits to teach the Fibonacci Sequence is just perfect!
Of course, no kid wants to pick up an adorable looking picture book and read about *math*, right? Of course not! Fortunately, with this book, they won't be (or, at least they won't know they are!). The book sets the tone for what it is teaching right off the bat, as the main rabbit characters are Fibb and Knot and they live in the town of Chee (get it?). As rabbits are wont to do, they reproduce. Also as rabbits are wont to do, they do so at an astonishing rate. The citizens of Chee can't figure out what exactly that rate is...all except for a little girl named Amanda, that is. She cracks the reproduction code (which just happens to be the Fibonacci Sequence, naturally!).
Initially I left this book on the schoolroom table hoping that my kids would just pick it up and read it, but no such luck. I attribute that to the fact that they are 14, 12, and 3 weeks away from being 11 (twins). They probably thought it was a picture book that was on the chopping block (things that are headed out the door for Goodwill or siblings often make a pit stop on the schoolroom table). Thus, I moved to Plan B - read it to them. They loved Plan B. My kids will listen to *anything* as long as it is read to them - picture book, classic, poetry, cereal box - doesn't matter. Charming story about rabbits? No brainer.
They caught on quickly to the fact that there was a mathematical *something* going on, but they didn't get the sequence until after it was revealed. After that, though, they wanted to know more about Fibonacci and how all of this came to be, so I call that a successful lesson. Even if you're not all that interested in the Fibonacci Sequence, it's just a darn cute book. Plus, if you're the kind of homeschooling mom who loves to introduce harder concepts gently at a young age, you will absolutely adore this book.
Ann McCallum has written other wonderful books that the Crew got to review, including books with edible lessons! Intrigued? Click the banner below to read the reviews!