McMillan has forged new ground, and established a reputation, in creating picture books that teach mathematical concepts. Mathforum.org, a non-profit, online math help site, recommends his books for teaching math concepts through literature. The author includes a surprising array of accessibility features, seldom found in children�s picture books, that can be used to introduce children to new ways that nonfiction books can be used. The inside flap of the book jacket establishes, early on, the concept that one cent will buy one jelly bean. The front matter has a chart that explains, in graphical style, the value of the different coins that will be used to buy jelly beans in the book. The back matter shows ten jelly beans, with the colors and flavors printed beside each one. Additional material includes: a brief history of jelly beans; a description of the seven-day process involved in making jelly beans; the relationship between presidents, coins, and jelly beans; background information about making the book; and an offer of free jelly bean kits for classroom instruction.
The only text in the book are the equations printed on the left side of each double spread. They state, mathematically, that a certain amount of money equals a certain number of jelly beans. Each is a textual description of the photograph on the same page, which shows a certain amount of money, represented by different coin combinations, along with the number of jelly beans it will buy. �Brilliantly colorful, bold photographs present different coin combinations up to twenty-five cents with corresponding sets of jelly beans.� (Horn Book Guide, March 1, 1997)
The photographs are the main medium of communication in this book. The visuals so clearly demonstrate the money-to-candy ratio that children will grasp the concept even without the additional text. Readers of all ages will enjoy the careful attention to artistic integrity that the book's design reflects. Each double spread has as its theme the color of the jelly bean(s) used to illustrated the concept. On the first two pages, red jelly beans are the theme. The photographs are superimposed on a palette of giant, shiny red jelly beans. The boy on the facing page, wearing a red shirt, is holding a single red jelly bean between his teeth. That same format is repeated throughout the book. Every spread has smiling children, enjoying different colors of jelly beans, in different ways.
Children will absorb mathematical concepts easily and painlessly as they enjoy this brightly colored little book that radiates the happiness of the children enjoying the jelly beans. Adults can share this book with children in a variety of ways, either as a read through, browsing, or reading the front or back matter. It would be a helpful, fun addition to the math curriculum, and beats the competition offered by other trade books. �More closely related to curriculum needs than Barbara Barbieri McGrath's The M & M's Counting Book (Charlesbridge, 1994) and more fun than Tana Hoban's 26 Letters and 99 Cents (Greenwillow, 1987).� (School Library Journal, October 1, 1996) Children will be able to enjoy this book on their own, but even more when enjoyed with a loving adult and a bag full of jelly beans.
Sources
Books in Print [database online]. Available from http://www.booksinprint.com. Accessed 03 April 05.
Drexel University. Math Forum. Available from http://mathforum.org/. Accessed 03 April 05.
Related Websites
Jelly Belly Jellybeans
Bruce McMillan Website
School of Library and Information Studies
TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY