Most Popular Books by Mitsumasa Anno

Every child is a natural mathematician, according to Mitsumasa Anno. Children start to count long before they learn their ABC''s, for they are constantly comparing and classifying things and events they observe around them. As they try to bring sense and order into what they observe, they are actually performing basic mathematical feats. In this book, Mitsumasa Anno, the creator of the brilliantly inventive Anno''s Alphabet, invites young readers on another stimulating adventure of the imagination-this time into the world of numbers and counting. Gentle watercolor pictures show a landscape changing through the various times of day and the turning seasons, months and years, and the activities of the people and animals who come to live there. But the seemingly simple plan of the book is deceptive: look more carefully and you will see one-to-one correspondences; groups and sets; scales and tabulations; changes over time periods; and many other mathematical relationships as they occur in natural, everyday living. Just as our forebears developed our number system from observing the order of nature, the reader is subtly led to see and understand the real meaning of numbers. Look at this book and look again. Each time you do so, you will find another application of a natural mathematical concept that you had not noticed before.

Come along for a wonder-filled exploration of fabulous cities, picturesque villages, and uniquely various inhabitants in Anno''s USA.

One by one, ten children move from their old house into their new house with all their possessions. Die-cut windows reveal the interiors of the houses and the book can also be read from back to front.

Records in drawings the author''s journey through northern Europe and his impressions of the land, the people at work and play, and their art, architecture, folklore, and fairy tales.

First there is an empty field. The it is January, the first month of the year. All alone in the snow stands 1 yellow house. In front, 1 child builds a snowman. Behind the house is 1 tree and 1 black cow. Now, five months later, it is June. There are 6 buildings in the field, 6 children playing, and 6 adults working. One adult tends 6 ducks. Another drives a trains with 6 cars. From 1 to 12, through the months of the year, the town grows. More houses and trees and animals and people can be seen until December arrives with all it''s magic.

Ten outstanding artists illustrate the similarities and differences in children and their activities in eight different parts of the world throughout one 24-hour day. Features artwork from Raymond Briggs, Ron Brooks, Eric Carle, Gian Calvi, Zhu Chengliang, Leo and Diane Dillon, Akiko Hayashi, and Nicolai Ye. Popov.

Picture puzzles, games, and simple activities introduce the mathematical concepts of abstract thinking, circuitry, geometry, and topology.

The distorted letters of the alphabet become quite clear when viewed with the help of the silver tube included with the book.

Discusses how medieval people viewed the world before it was widely understood and accepted that the world is round and rotates around the sun.

Each letter of the alphabet accompanies a full-page picture puzzle of an object whose name begins with that letter: anvil, bicycle, etc.

Images of United States history: places, people, events.

A king discovers that bigger is not always better.

Simple text and pictures combine to present a fascinating and fun lesson demonstrating the mathematical concept of factorials. By the author of Anno''s Math Games. An ALA Notable Book. Reprint.

Scenes of Italian daily life of the past and present are interwoven with the theme of the life of Christ as depicted in famous Italian religious paintings.