You Can Count on Monsters Proclaimed a Self-Learning Tool That Makes Math Fun

BOCA RATON, Fla., March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- You Can Count on Monsters, a creatively educational children's book that illustrates prime and composite numbers through colorful monsters-themed geometrical designs, has earned international acclaim and stellar sales since its January debut on NPR's Weekend Edition.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110321/FL68288-a )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110321/FL68288-b )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110321/FL68288-c )

Parents in the know have been clamoring for the book, which immediately sold out after the NPR interview (NPR interview audio) and is now in its second printing, to teach their children to understand the building blocks of numbers and how to multiply and factor numbers 1-100.

You Can Count on Monsters dedicates a double page to each number 1-100. On the left appears the number and a configuration of said number of dots clustered into spirals or an interesting design. On the right is a whimsical, geometric shaped monster. Prime numbers are individual monsters that illustrate their number through the proper amount of legs, eyes, angles, etc. Composite numbers are a creative compilation of the prime numbers that compose it – so the 70-monster, for example, incorporates the monsters for primes 2, 5 and 7.

The book is written and illustrated by Brown University math professor Richard Evan Schwartz. The first incarnation of the book was a hand-drawn, sketch-book given to his daughter as a fifth birthday gift to teach her prime numbers. Since then the friendly monsters have developed into illustrated posters, magnets and finally, the You Can Count on Monsters book.

"I was completely amazed to see the book shoot to number one on Amazon within just hours after the NPR special," said Schwartz. "I find it exciting and fulfilling to know that thousands of children are learning math from You Can Count on Monsters in a friendly way."

The book, published by CRC Press, is featured at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and other major bookstores.

For more information please visit www.youcancountonmonsters.com.

About CRC Press

CRC Press is a premier publisher of technical and scientific work, including: engineering; chemistry and biological sciences; mathematics, physics, statistics, computer science, and computer game development; business improvement and IT; and homeland security and forensics. The publisher reaches around the globe to collect essential reference material and the latest advances and make them available to researchers, academics, professionals, and students in a variety of accessible formats. CRC Press serves the needs of scientists and the community at large by working with capable researchers and professionals to produce the most accurate and up to date scientific and technical resources. CRC Press is a member of the Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business, and is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida.

About Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business

As one of the world's largest publishers, Taylor & Francis maintains offices throughout the world including London, Brighton, and Abingdon in the U.K.; New York, Philadelphia, Florence, Kentucky, and Boca Raton, Florida in the USA; and Singapore, Australia, China, and India. The Taylor & Francis Group publishes more than 1,500 journals and approximately 3,300 new books each year, with a backlist in excess of 60,000 specialist titles.

SOURCE CRC Press