Looking for a specific children's book from the 1970s or 1980s

February 27, 2023 2:58 PM

The book is a learning resource to help elementary school students understand concepts in mathematics.

I can't say much more than that, I do recall a question that dealt with compound interest and (my recollection) is that they used the concept of vampires infecting multiple people, with expanding numbers of infected until the entire planet was a bunch of vampires. If I can track the book down I'm sending it to my sister, it was her book and it would blow her mind.

posted by elkevelvet to Education (4 answers total)

The Childcraft Mathemagic book has this example in it.
posted by shadygrove at 3:07 PM on February 27, 2023

This is the edition I had growing up.
posted by shadygrove at 3:09 PM on February 27, 2023

Yes, Childcraft Mathemagic has that example. Mathemagic is the 1978 Annual, to accompany the 14 volume set of the children's encyclopedia. If you can't find the book, memail me and I am happy to scan the vampire pages and send them to you.
posted by orange (sherbet) rabbit at 3:37 PM on February 27, 2023

That's it!! I don't think I would have arrived at this answer ever, really. We had a Childcraft series and I recall the book on dogs especially, but I never made the association with the mathematics content.

Thank you!!
posted by elkevelvet at 4:09 PM on February 27, 2023