The Reindeer Remainders

July 22, 2024
Mathematical concepts and social-emotional learning collide in this rhyming tale for number lovers. As a group of 12 youthful reindeer prepare for a school showcase, the arrival of a 13th complicates their efforts to form even-numbered groups. Over the course of a school day, the caring crew attempts to divide into small clusters, only to find that there is always a “remain-DEER one.” Acknowledging that there’s something “odd” going on, their math instructor points them toward prime numbers, and the group at last hits on an approach that leaves them “undivided.” With Howes’s punny prose, Hermansson’s digital renderings feature fully realized forest scenes and expressive subjects, helping readers visualize both division and empathically modeled relationships. Back matter includes more about remainders, primes, and inclusion. Ages 4–8.