Math Adventures

I’ll admit: I side-eyed *Math Adventures* at first. Sixteen minutes to cover counting *and* subtraction *and* odd/even numbers? That’s either a miracle or a mess. Turns out, it’s the former—mostly. Atwood’s stories are so snappy and visual that my five-year-old started interrupting to predict what “happens next” in the plot (e.g., “The cookie monster ate 3, but there were 5… so now there’s *two left*!”). The standout segment involves a “measurement treasure hunt” where kids compare foot lengths to a “giant’s” (aka Dad’s) shoe—brilliant for kinesthetic learners. Fleming’s narration sells it; she doesn’t just read, she *performs*, with a comedic timing that makes even the driest concept (looking at you, “greater than/less than”) feel like a joke setup. That said, the pacing occasionally stumbles. The transition from addition to odd/even numbers feels abrupt, like flipping channels mid-cartoon. And while the stories are clever, some rely too heavily on parental follow-up (e.g., “Now go measure your toys!”). Without a pause button and a willing adult, a kid might miss the connection. Still, for the price of a latte, this audiobook delivers more engagement than most $20 math workbooks. It’s the rare educational tool that doesn’t *feel* like one—until your kid starts quizzing *you* on how many steps it takes to reach the fridge. (Spoiler: It’s always an odd number.)