A bespectacled hippo named Miss Prime and her class of math-minded students show off their subtraction skills at the school fair. The book tackles conceptual understanding (what it means to subtract) and demonstrates problem-solving strategies (writing and solving number sentences). Colorful, stylized illustrations provide lots of visual clues, and answers for all questions are included. From HORN BOOK Spring 2001, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Ages 6^-8. Similar in concept and format to her earlier math books Mission: Addition (1997) and Fraction Action (1994), this picture book features Miss Prime and her class as they learn about subtraction in seven short chapters centering around the school fair. In one chapter, the class watches a puppet play in which cookies disappear from Little Red Riding Hood's basket. Another chapter involves price slashing at two competing refreshment stands. Episodic and mildly amusing, the stories offer a variety of situations to reinforce learning about subtraction in students who understand the concept and have already had some practice. Leedy's cartoonlike drawings and chalk-box colors give the pages an inviting look. This isn't likely to persuade disbelievers that math is fun, but it will entertain children who enjoy the subject. --Carolyn Phelan

K-Gr 2-As in her previous concept books, Leedy creates an action-packed volume that is perfectly suited to its audience. The softly hued cartoon animals and dialogue balloons are skillfully combined on pages divided into framed sequences. There is plenty going on, but not so much as to be confusing. A scholarly hippo leads her class on a fun-filled adventure in numbers. Readers learn, along with Miss Prime's quirky students, about such important mathematical concepts as the definition of difference, writing a subtraction equation, regrouping, and three-digit equations. Most importantly, Leedy introduces practical application of mathematics when the class goes to the school fair. Tally and Otto use subtraction to sell snacks and Fay tries to break an obstacle-course record. Other brief episodes involve calculations as well. The text is interactive; a math problem is presented in every episode with the answers given on the back page. A zany book that is sure to make a difference at home and in the classroom.-Holly T. Sneeringer, St. Mark School, Baltimore, MD (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.