In first and second grade, his books had so much in the way of graphics and so little in the way of actual math that I think he was driven to distraction. So many of the problems were repetitious and unnecessary. There are NO graphics, other than maybe one picture of a student s head with an answer balloon over his head. The pages are very spare in this way, unlike the barrage of visual distraction common in some of the US math books. It is as though the publisher is saying to himself, math is such a bitter pill, I d better wash it down with loads of photos, drawings and cutesy things such as kittens chasing a ball of string.
Kids can work through it on their own.
It just seems to be a nice progression, not alot of glitz and fanfare, it is nice and to the point. I can t explain it. I like how the problems are set up. It is because I know that I may be one of those people who win those math contests. It s really easy, and as you go farther in the book, it gets harder so that you know all your math skills.