December 15, 2021
Two light-skinned children named X and Y, apparently siblings, ask their brainy aunt, Z, to help them make the pies of their dreams. X wants to make an infinitely wide pie, while Y imagines a pie that is infinitely tall. Aunt Z explains that "there are infinite different ways to make pastry" and guides the children through the steps of the recipe. When it's time to roll out the dough, X makes a circle while Y makes a triangle. When they fill the pies, X chooses bananas "because the slices are round," and Y opts for triangular strawberry slices. Once in the oven, the pies seem "to be taking infinitely long" to bake and smell "infinitely delicious," and when they're finished, they're so scrumptious the kids want them to last forever. Luckily, Aunt Z knows a clever way to make "infinite pie." She helps the children make yet more dough and shape it into fractals--the Apollonian gasket and the Koch snowflake--that have an infinite number of sides. In the process, Aunt Z explains mathematical concepts (further expounded in the backmatter) in accessible language, including the coordinate plane, combinatorics, polygons, and convergence. This discussion includes a fair amount of precalculus for readers who might not have mastered the times table as yet, but as Cheng says in her author's note, "if we can get our heads around something daunting, then [we] become more intelligent." After the baking is done, the characters have more pie than they can eat, but thankfully, they have "infinite friends to share it with." The illustrations, done in ink and Photoshop, use clever visuals to bring the math lesson to life; for example, on one spread the pie ingredients zoom around the characters, the motion lines making the shape of the infinity symbol. Not a page-turner but a charming--and appetizing--bit of didacticism. (notes, recipe) (Picture book. 5-10)
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February 28, 2022
When children X and Y begin dreaming of “infinite pie,” a family member suggests boundless combinations for baking and eating treats in this kid-friendly introduction to the concept. While X wants “an infinitely wide pie,” Y wants “an infinitely tall pie.” “How can we make infinite pie when it isn’t real?” the children muse. Luckily, their imaginative Aunt Z has some ideas, and the trio are soon mixing, rolling, cutting, folding, and baking their way through mathematical concepts including exponentials, fractals, Zeno’s paradox, and more (detailed in back matter). The mottled, uncluttered backgrounds of Ren’s ink and digital illustrations focus attention on warm-skinned, dark-haired X, Y, and Z, and the concept-forward pastries they cook up (for example, a Koch snowflake). Though readers would benefit from an initial definition of infinity, Cheng’s frequently lengthy, dialogue-driven text encourages curiosity about rather than fear of math. Back matter includes an author’s note and pie recipe. Ages 4–8.
March 1, 2022
K-Gr 3-Cheng uses the act of pie baking to demonstrate mathematical concepts, specifically the idea that shaping and reshaping dough and fillings can produce an infinite number of results. Two children named X and Y join brainy Aunt Z in the kitchen, where they learn that combining butter, flour, and water is not only useful for making pastry, but also for observing a never-ending array of geometric forms, an expanding number of points and exponential layers. Cheery, playful illustrations and a tale based on yummy desserts will have some appeal to young readers, though the continual cutting of shapes gets repetitive. The story itself is rather bland. In addition, there's a disconnect between the main text, which is geared toward a young audience, and the substantial back matter, which includes an impressive introduction to sophisticated concepts such as Zeno's paradox, fractals, and convergent sequences. VERDICT Purchase where there is a need for more math resources that will address the needs of both primary and middle grade students.-Gloria Koster
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Starred review from February 15, 2022
Grades 1-4 *Starred Review* This picture book about a pair of young siblings (referred to as X and Y) baking pies with their wise auntie Z offers innovative introductions to abstract mathematical concepts. The characters (all three have light brown skin, and the pleasant illustrations depict both kids androgynously) are relentlessly inquisitive and show off their maker skills as they experiment with pie pastry and an assortment of fillings, exploring such ideas as infinity, X and Y axes, cross sections, fractals, polygons and circles, exponentials, loops, convex and concave corners, and Zeno's paradoxes. Definitions and basic applications become accessible to young readers thanks to the storylike text (sometimes rhyming couplets, sometimes straightforward commentary) and its effortless alignment with the colorful, detailed illustrations. The pie premise also offers opportunities for sharing all kinds of fanciful creations, whether it's just X, Y, and Z hanging out or a whole group of friends having the culminating celebration. Back matter includes a reassuring author's note acknowledging that, though some math might seem daunting, there's no reason to be afraid of it; brief reiterations of the math principles; and a recipe for banana butterscotch pie. This seemingly simple picture book is just the thing to whet appetites and spice up STEAM collections.
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