Member Reviews

These STEM board books are a great deal of fun. Are you going to fully understand the topic after reading them? Of course not. But you're getting a very basic understanding that you can build on later. Plus the simple illustration style will be appealing for even very small children.

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Brilliant!!!
Why isn’t calculus first taught in school this way too?!
Instead of approaching it like here’s the equation let’s break it down by numbers you use visuals to show the spatial relations between items!!

Seriously I might have gotten into a semi-STEM job before I was 30 yrs old if someone had taken the time to breakdown complex concepts like this. Never-mind this ‘Babies For’ series being perfect for tots; I think it needs to be available in every school (of every grade level) and recommended reading for all kids to start their brain thinking in scientific ways.

This series is a must have for anyone with a child. It might even be a must have for most adults!

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

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My kids loved this book! It's super cute and wholesome and kept their attention the whole time during reading. I highly recommend this book and will purchase a physical copy.

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As a part of the Baby University series, "Calculus for Babies" by Dr. Chris Ferrie stands out as an exemplary introduction to the world of mathematics for young minds. Known for his ability to simplify complex scientific concepts, Dr. Ferrie once again proves his prowess in making learning accessible and fun for even the youngest audience.

"Calculus for Babies" is not just a book; it's a gateway to a future where math and science are no longer intimidating subjects. The book introduces fundamental calculus concepts in a way that is both engaging and comprehensible for toddlers. With bright, colorful illustrations and clear, simple explanations, this book transforms the seemingly daunting world of calculus into a playful and enjoyable experience.

The book begins with basic ideas of change and accumulation, laying the groundwork for understanding derivatives and integrals, core concepts of calculus. Each page is designed to capture the attention of young readers with its vivid imagery and straightforward language. The visual representations help to solidify abstract concepts, making them tangible and easy to grasp.

One of the standout features of "Calculus for Babies" is its dual appeal. While it serves as a fantastic educational tool for toddlers, it also acts as a refreshing reminder for adults. Parents reading along will find themselves recalling high school math lessons, making it a delightful shared learning experience. This dual-layer approach ensures that the book is not only informative but also fosters a bonding experience between parent and child.

Dr. Ferrie's expertise shines through in every aspect of this book. His ability to distill complex ideas into their simplest forms is a testament to his deep understanding of the subject matter and his dedication to education. "Calculus for Babies" is a perfect addition to any toddler's library and an excellent starting point for budding mathematicians and scientists.

In conclusion, "Calculus for Babies" is a must-have for parents looking to introduce their children to the wonders of mathematics at an early age. Its engaging presentation and educational value make it a standout title in the Baby University series, reinforcing the idea that it's never too early to start learning. With Dr. Ferrie's guidance, the next generation of geniuses is sure to have a strong foundation in the fundamentals of calculus.

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Calculus for Babies is an adorable STEM book for babies and their grownups and part of the Baby University series by Chris Ferrie. Due out 2nd July from Sourcebooks Kids, it's 24 pages and will be available in board book and ebook formats.

These books simplify relatively complex concepts from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics so that anyone can understand them. In this short and very simply illustrated board book, the author takes readers through a simple exercise to prove that the surface area of a ball is exactly four times the area of its projection (the author uses "shadow" in the book).

The idea is to demystify these subjects and give even the smallest kids and babies a fun introduction to -learning- showing that it doesn't have to be a slog, or tiring, or even difficult or intimidating. Will this turn your kid into a prodigy? No, but the *time* spent enjoying learning together will certainly potentially make positive connections and a more open mind toward learning science and mathematics in future. It's never too early.

Five stars. Super (SUPER) simple, fun concepts to read with the small humans. It would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or gift giving.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

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I think that reading Calculus for Babies is as valuable as reading a child any information. Reading to children is the utmost importance. I also wish that this was a book called Calculus for Preschoolers and published as a picture book. I think a preschooler could retain this, while a baby will be chewing on the edges of pages. It is well written and illustrated. If it was for preschoolers there could be additional information provided for parents to answer questions in a manner children could understand about the topic. Preschoolers ask questions about books whereas babies do not.

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I wondered how this would be accomplished because calculus is not an easy to grasp subject. This seems more like a book that is just for show not one that a child would actually be interested in. I was excited to see this executed well but unfortunately it fell short for me.

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I know this is babies, but I think I learned something new myself! Easy short sentences to read to little ones. Will littles ones really understand? Maybe not? But I think if read multiples times over and over, they could start to understand the short lesson. I think this book is great for parents who are very interested in math and science, or for parents who want an easy academic children’s book. I personally would not pick this book up for my child - there is not much engaging pictures for littles on to look at since it is mostly shapes.

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Being a math geek myself, I love these Baby University books!! I love how you break down complicated concepts for babies/toddlers.
Our boy was all about the red ball in Calculus for Babies!

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS kids for the ARC.

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While I wish there was more than just a single concept discussed here, it was a cute book that broke down the surface area of a circle into easily understandable and digestible steps. However, I did struggle a bit with the last few pages of the "proof" in this book. 3.5/5 Stars

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Used balls to explain one of the concepts of calculus. I did struggle a little at the end trying to understand what they were trying to teach but I struggle with math overall so I would still give this book a shot if you're interested.

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Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

We are big fans of Chris Ferrie’s baby university books in our household! This book lived up to expectations. Simple explanations for complicated topics paired with illustrations to keep babies attention. Rating 4 instead of 5 because the digital copy of this book isn’t formatted very well, but I know this will be excellent as a physical copy!

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Covered a singular concept and not particularly visually appealing in any way. (Perhaps it was the version I downloaded.) I would not get this for anyone.

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We have a bunch of books in this series already and my two year old loves them so I was excited to check this one out. I don’t know enough about calculus, well, who am I kidding? I don’t remember anything about calculus, so I can’t comment on the accuracy of the book but I love the simplicity of the images that match the series so far and the simple steps of explanation. A great addition to the series!

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What another wonderful addition to an already great collection. I love how similar to quantum physics and organic chemistry this starts with the “this is a ball” such a great intro, babies/toddlers know what a ball is! This covers new topics such as “cutting” things in half and does it in such a great way!

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⭐️4.5
My engineer major son would have LOVED this book as a child.
This book introduces young minds to one of the most obscure branches of maths-calculus.

Calculus is math with motion, and the simple step by step explanations make it easy for the reader to understand. If a caregiver has no understanding of calculus, it might even enlighten the adult.

Many thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Publication date: July 2, 2024

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I love that books like this exist to start teaching young children about STEM related topics! Math was never a great subject for me. It was never fun, but after reading this book my son thinks math is fun. If you enjoy math I recommend reading this with the young kiddos in your life.

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Simple pictures, simple explanation -- the perfect recipe for letting even very young readers know that they can handle calculus. There needs to be more of this!
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

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Calculus for babies is a children’s book that teaches babies the basics of calculus. It had simple topics and wording for a complex thing. I just love the idea of kids books about a complex topic. This was a cute book! Thanks so much to netgalley and sourcebook kids for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

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(4/5 stars) This book is so cute and the perfect gift for the expectant nerd parent in your life. I personally would buy a box set of the whole series, although that is getting rather large at this point! Simple illustrations and straightforward concepts, perfect for developing the next generation of nerds.

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