King Maximo and the Number Knights | Y1 Place Value Booklist

King Maximo and the Number Knights
by Howard Schrager

"King Maximo and the Number Knights," written by Howard Schrager, is a children's book designed to introduce young readers to the world of numbers through an engaging narrative. The story is structured into 12 lesson-chapters, each featuring a different "Number Knight" sent by King Maximo to discover what the greatest number is. Each knight has their own adventures and perspectives, leading to a rich exploration of numerical concepts.

Publication Details: The book was published on October 6, 2020, and is available in paperback with 87 pages. It has been well-received, particularly in educational settings, and is noted for its artistic illustrations that accompany each chapter's theme.
Educational Approach: The narrative serves as both a story and a teaching tool, making it suitable for homeschooling or classroom use. It emphasizes the qualities of the first twelve numbers, allowing children to engage with mathematics in a creative and imaginative way. Each chapter includes an illustrated shield representing the number discussed, which adds an artistic element to the learning process.
Target Audience: The book is primarily aimed at young children, particularly those in early education settings such as Waldorf schools. It is praised for making math relatable and enjoyable, fostering a positive relationship with numbers from an early age.

The book has garnered positive reviews for its engaging storytelling and educational value. Readers have noted that it not only teaches mathematical concepts but also encourages creativity through activities related to the story, such as crafting knights from household items.

Overall, "King Maximo and the Number Knights" stands out as a unique resource for introducing foundational math concepts in a fun and imaginative manner.

Author: Howard Schrager

Howard grew up in northern New Jersey, and received degrees from the University of Wisconsin and U.C,L.A. He has lived in California for over 40 years, having been a Waldorf teacher for 30 of these years, and a poet for more than that. As such, he’s always sought the magical in language, and enjoys helping children to learn in imaginative and playful ways. He has taught every grade, 1-8, at least three times. He is the father of two grown daughters, and a grandfather, too.

Book Details:

Publisher: Lemontree Press
Format: Paperback
Print length: 87 pages
Dimensions: 21.59 x 0.53 x 27.94 cm
Reading age: 6 - 8 years old
Publication date: 6 Oct. 2020
ISBN: 979-8694609722

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Place Value: One

How does King Maximo and the Number Knights help in learning about place value?

"King Maximo and the Number Knights" aids in learning about place value through its imaginative storytelling and structured lessons on the first twelve numbers. Each chapter features a different "Number Knight" who shares their adventures and insights about their respective number, allowing children to explore various mathematical concepts, including place value.

Key Features Supporting Place Value Learning

Sequential Number Exploration: The story introduces numbers in a sequence, allowing children to understand their order and significance. This sequential approach is fundamental for grasping place value, as it emphasizes the difference between units, tens, hundreds, etc.
Illustrated Shields: Each chapter includes a colorful shield representing the knight's number. These visual aids help children associate numbers with their characteristics, reinforcing the concept of how numbers can represent different values depending on their position (e.g., 2 in "20" versus 2 in "200") .
Engaging Activities: The book encourages creative activities related to each number, such as drawing or crafting. These hands-on experiences can help solidify understanding of place value by allowing children to manipulate and visualize numbers in different contexts .
Interconnected Learning: The narrative connects numbers to real-life examples and other subjects (like art and science), fostering a holistic understanding of mathematics that includes place value as a foundational concept .

Overall, "King Maximo and the Number Knights" serves as an engaging educational tool that introduces young learners to essential mathematical principles, including place value, through storytelling and creative exploration.