The Best of Times gives kids an intuitive understanding of multiplication, encouraging them to arrive at answers on their own, rather than memorizing the times tables. A child who can multiply by two, for instance, can multiply by four, and even eight. Likewise, times six builds on times two and times three. With his common-sense approach, Greg Tang encourages kids to solve problems creatively, building both their skills and their confidence.

5 Responses to “The Best Of Times”

1. Trina Miller says:

   March 13, 2009 at 12:00 am

   This is a very cute book. It has multiplication fact rhymes.

   However, if your intent is for learning, this product is not for you. I thought it may help my third grader learn his times tables. It uses complicated wording and formulas.

   I’m not sure at what grade level this would be useful. I say if you have a child ages 10 (maybe) and up who just love math, go for it.

   Otherwise, leave it on the shelf.
2. Stanley Cup says:

   May 21, 2008 at 12:00 am

   I love Greg Tang’s books and his ability to take a subject like math and make it fun, fun, fun. I got this book for my son without seeing it first, and I hoped it was going to be like his other books that make the child solve problems. That is not the case with this book. Instead, this is a book that teaches you tricks to learn how to multiply, number by number, from zero through 10. I have to agree with the review (2 star) from the person who thought that some of the concepts he provided for solving math problems was a bit more complicated than it needed to be. My son, who already knows multiplication, found his suggestions for multiplying by 6’s and 8’s was way more cumbersome and confusing than it should be. I think this is a great book for a child who is just learning multiplication, but I would not recommend it for someone who knows the subject well. As usual, he does use fun rhymes, and the artwork in the book is fabulous.
3. Fawn says:

   January 11, 2007 at 12:00 am

   This book has help my six year old understand the concept of multiplication. Thank you so much!!!
4. person says:

   October 22, 2005 at 12:00 am

   Half of me wants to praise Gregory Tang for doing what so needed to be done. He has shown how to do math what I call “the easy way”, the way great mathematical brains do it. Not only has he made books that teach math how it should be taught, and exposes those boring heavy school books as just that, but he has put it in an amusing form – a geneous in litterature as well as math! The other part of me is like “oh, no! he let the secret out” now people will no longer marvel at my great math ability. After understanding all his books, any child could rival my ability in math, that used to keep my peers in awe!
   
   Math is all about relationships, relationships of numbers. No, he doesn’t suggest ways to memorize something just to “get the right answer”, he truely makes just the right delicate mixture of encourageing and not getting in the way (that great teachers know), to provide the perfect environment for them to figure out and explore the relationships of numbers themselves.
   
   Beautiful.
5. Becky L. Powell says:

   July 21, 2005 at 12:00 am

   Greg Tang has done it again, combining literature with mathematics and giving a concrete concept of multiplication with pictures and rhyme. A great introduction to multiplication.