ABOUT THIS BOOK: INFINITY AND ME
By Kate Hosford
As I was searching for an informational text to reinforce some of the math concepts introduced in The Boy Who Loved Math, Infinity and Me popped up a couple of times. Reviewers loved this book about young Uma who wonders about the concept of infinity……….What is it? This creative and interesting book is the result of Kate Hosford’s children asking her about infinity. She couldn’t find an appropriate picture book to answer the question to the satisfaction of her four and six-year-old children.
With young readers in mind, Ms. Hosford juxtaposes Uma wondering about one of the big ideas of the universe as she, also, wonders about a child-like question: why no one notices her new red shoes. As Uma asks the people in her world how they imagine infinity, their answers are simple, age-appropriate responses. Her best friend, Samantha, says the infinity symbol “looks kind of like an eight that fell over and took a nap.” Uma’s dual quest to understand how big infinity is and to draw attention to her beautiful new red shoes is successful on both counts.
At the end of the book, in the Author’s Note, the author shares responses she has gathered from children and encourages children to remember the first time they thought about infinity. She encourages them to supply their own answer to the question, “How do you imagine infinity?”
Infinity and Me has won numerous awards and citations, such as: a 2013 American Library Association Notable Book and 2012 New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book. The illustrations are unique containing surreal elements that are reminiscent of visions from Alice in Wonderland. There are great details and humor as you look to see how each illustration relates to infinity. My favorite illustration is the giant ice cream cone. I loved asking my grandchildren how that illustration might be connected to infinity.
This leads to the Reading Comprehension Best Practice for this book: Answering Questions During Reading. As you look at each illustration, you’ll ask how does this illustration tie to the meaning of infinity. You’ll discover those relationships in the Second Reading. Enjoy!