100 Bugs! A Counting Book is a 2019 Mathical Honor Book!

I am beyond honored that 100 Bugs! is a 2019 Mathical Honor Book. Twenty-three years ago when I did my student teaching at University of Wisconsin-Madison, my evaluator, Cookie Miller remarked, "You know what I think you'll be doing in your classroom?"

"No," I responded.

"A whole lotta math." 

Turns out she was correct along with a whole lotta reading and writing. The above image features all the books that won honors, but four of my students wrote essays arguing that Nothing Stopped Sophie written by Cheryl Bardoe, illustrated by Barbara McClintock and edited by Deirdre Jones should win the 2019 Sibert Medal. That didn't happen, but look what won the 2019 Mathical Prize:

You can read why my students thought Nothing Stopped Sophie should have won the 2019 Sibert here and here.

The Mathematical Science Research Institute awards the Mathical Prize along with Children's Book Council, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, National Council of Teachers of English and the Firedoll Foundation. For years I have admired these institutions (I am a NCTM member), and I am pinching myself that they believe 100 Bugs! is worthy of their honor. 

Lastly, I'd like to give a shout out to my fellow Homewood-Flossmoor High School alumna, Nnedi Okorafor, because her book Binti is also a 2019 Mathical Honor Book. For four years, I started each and every day of highschool talking with her older sister, Ngozi Okorafor, my locker neighbor. I have long admired the Okorafor family and am over the moon to have my work recognized alongside Binti.

Thanks again to Mathical Books for this tremendous honor. I look forward to exploring all the prize winning and honor books with my students.