Math + Literature = 2023 Mathical Book Prize Winners!

Berkeley, CA – February 15, 2023 — The Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath) announced today the 2023 winners of the Mathical Book Prize, which recognizes outstanding fiction and literary nonfiction for youth ages 2-18. This year’s selections explore the many facets of mathematics in the world around us, from recreational computer coding to poetry, counting what's not there, and more.

Preschool children may find playtime inspiration in the towering structures built by a young boy learning how to play with his new baby sister. Young readers will stretch their concept of numbers when counting zero zebras or writing whimsical math poetry; and for middle grades, themes of home, family, neighbors, surprises, and starting over come together with mathematical ideas.

The Mathical Prize, now in its ninth year, is selected annually by a committee of PreK-12 math and language arts teachers, librarians, mathematicians, early childhood experts, and others. The 2023 honorees include the following titles:

• For Pre-Kindergarten, the Mathical Award Winner is Again, Essie? by Jenny Lacika, with illustrations by Teresa Martínez (Charlesbridge Publishing).
• For Grades K-2, the Mathical Award Winner is Zero Zebras: A Counting Book about What's Not There by Bruce Goldstone, with illustrations by Julien Chung (Scholastic).
• For Grades 3-5, the Mathical Award Winner is Counting in Dog Years and Other Sassy Math Poems by Betsy Franco, with illustrations by Priscilla Tey (Candlewick Press).
• For Grades 6-8, the Mathical Award Winner is Shine On, Luz Véliz! by Rebecca Balcárcel (Chronicle Books).

The following Mathical Honor Books were also announced by the selection committee, co-chaired this year by Katie Hendrickson of Code.org, Chris Nho of Desmos, and Dr. John Urschel of Harvard University Department of Mathematics.

2023 Mathical Honor Books

PreK

Numbers Everywhere by Linda Leopold Strauss, illustrated by Sara Infante (Holiday House)

Usha and the Big Digger by Amitha Jagannath Knight, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat (Charlesbridge)

Grades K-2

Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money by Emily Jenkins, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Random House Children's Books)
One Boy Watching by Grant Snider (Chronicle Books)
Too Many Pigs and One Big Bad Wolf by Davide Calì, illustrated by Marianna Balducci (Tundra Book Group)

Grades 3-5

Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars by Laurie Wallmark, illustrated by Brooke Smart (Abrams Books for Young Readers)

The Kitchen Pantry Scientist: Math for Kids by Rebecca Rapoport and Allanna Chung, illustrated by Kelly Anne Dalton (The Quarto Group)

The Book of Math * by Anna Weltman, illustrated by Paul Boston (Kane Miller, A Division of EDC Publishing)

Women in Engineering by Mary Wissinger, illustrated by Danielle Pioli (Science, Naturally!)

Grades 6-8

Folding Tech: Using Origami and Nature to Revolutionize Technology * by Karen Latchana Kenney (Lerner Publishing)

It's A Numbers Game! Football by Eric Zweig (National Geographic Kids Books)

The Book of Math * by Anna Weltman, illustrated byPaul Boston (Kane Miller, A Division of EDC Publishing)

Grades 9-12

Folding Tech: Using Origami and Nature to Revolutionize Technology * by Karen Latchana Kenney (Lerner Publishing)

* Denotes titles which are honored in two grade-level categories.

The 2023 Mathical Book Prize is awarded by the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath). The prize is awarded in partnership with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and in coordination with the Children’s Book Council (CBC).