The Pigpen Problem. How to Calculate Area and Perimeter - (Hilariously Simple Math.) by Bill Wise (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"A practical and entertaining introduction to plane geometry" - Kirkus Reviews

A CBC Book's August Hot Off the Press title!

Join Farmer Ed and his perplexed animals as they face a puzzling task: constructing a pen for the pigs. With furrowed brows and scratching heads, they ponder where to begin. Luckily, Sheep steps up, armed with math skills to crack the problem wide open. But wait--do the others possess hidden mathematical talents as well, or is the problem doomed to never be solved? Join this crazy bunch as you discover different mathematical solutions and learn more about area and surface calculations.

Crafted by a former math teacher and esteemed award-winning author, this comic offers a delightful blend of humor and practical math application. With contributions to Scholastic MATH magazine spanning from 2002 to 2012, the author brings a wealth of expertise to every panel.

Whether for classroom use, library reference, or cozy reading sessions at home, this STEM book is a must-have addition to any collection. Plus, the endpapers feature invaluable summaries and examples to teach and learn about math, covering essential topics like area and surface calculations.

Join Farmer Ed's hilarious crew on a mathematical journey like no other, where humor and problem-solving go hand in hand. Get ready to discover the joy of math in action!

Learn about area and surface calculations in this side-splitting, educational comic that proves math is more fun than ever!Tailored for children aged 7 years and up, regardless of their affinity for numbers.

Review Quotes

"Venture to the barnyard for a lesson in math!

Goat, Chicken, and Sheep face an ultimatum from Farmer Ed: Build a pigpen, or forfeit their barn dance. They have 20 feet of fencing, and the pen must enclose the largest possible area. Impatient Goat plans a 20-foot perimeter but hastily hammers together a rectangle just nine feet by one, "barely big enough for a mouse." Sheep patiently explains how to calculate the area ("Multiply the length times the width"), but again, Goat jumps into rebuilding without math. Now the pen is eight feet by two. The next rash iteration is three by seven: 21 feet in area. Better, and now Chicken notices a pattern. Sheep presses on with the explanation ("Each time we increase the length by one and decrease the width by one, the area of the rectangle increases"), only to be interrupted by Goat, who tries four by six and then nine by one again. At last Sheep draws the five-by-five plan, yielding the largest area, as all agree--even Farmer Ed, who has one more request, however: a 100-square-foot triangular pen! The final two pages explain perimeter and the area of a rectangle. The jokes are corn-fed, the math clear (though there's no help with the triangle problem), and the goggle-eyed illustrations are wild, wacky, and amusing.

A practical and entertaining introduction to plane geometry." - Kirkus Reviews

A CBC Book's August Hot Off the Press title!

About the Author

Bill Wise (1958) is a retired middle school teacher who has written seven children's books, including the award-winning biography Louis Sockalexis, Native American Baseball Pioneer. The Pigpen Problem is the first of a series of Clavis Publishing comic books that feature math concepts. As a former teacher, Bill likes to write books that are both entertaining and educational. When not writing, he enjoys spending time with his family. Bill lives in Gorham, Maine, with his wife Mary Ann.

Davilyn Lynch was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, where she would spend most days drawing, escaping into a world of creativity and wonder. She grew up in an inspiring household surrounded by her father's abstract canvasses on every wall. After the distractions of life, it wasn't until her first child came along that she rediscovered her love of drawing and decided to make it a major part of her life. With the help and support of her husband and close friends she was able to make her dream a reality and became a children's book illustrator. Being born biracial, (Filipino and Caucasian) Davilyn grew up in a community that was predominantly white and suffered discrimination due to others seeing her as 'different'. Davilyn wants to make sure she sends a positive message to young readers through her character illustrations that diversity among children and families is completely normal. Davilyn is self-taught, letting her passion and creativity be her guide in the picture books she works on.