{"id":2076871105,"title":"A Very Improbable Story","handle":"a-very-improbable-story","description":"\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca title=\"Edward Einhorn bio\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/edward-einhorn\"\u003eEdward Einhorn\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca title=\"Adam Gustavson bio\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/adam-gustavson\"\u003eAdam Gustavson\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat are the odds?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEthan wakes up one morning to find a very strange cat stuck on his head. The cat, Odds, refuses to budge until Ethan wins a game of probability. Without looking, Ethan must pick out a dime from his coin collection or two matching socks from his dresser, or do something else improbable. If he doesn't, Odds is there to stay, and Ethan has a 100% chance of missing his big soccer game.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEdward Einhorn and Adam Gustavson play with probability in this clever Math Adventure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca title=\"Zachary Zormer: Shape Transformer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/zachary-zormer-shape-transformer\"\u003eZachary Zormer: Shape Transformer\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca title=\"Beanstalk: The Measure of a Giant\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/beanstalk\"\u003eBeanstalk: The Measure of a Giant\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/very-improbable-story-spread.jpg?v=1600700078\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e\u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEdward Einhorn, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnter Author bio here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEdward Einhorn is the author of \u003cem\u003eThe Living House of Oz\u003c\/em\u003e (Hungry Tiger Press), and \u003cem\u003eParadox in Oz\u003c\/em\u003e (Hungry Tiger Press), a centennial sequal to the Wizard of Oz series. He is also a playwright and the artistic director of Untitled Theater Company #61, a theater group producing drama with a philosophical bent. He lives in New York City.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Edward Einhorn bio\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/edward-einhorn\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Edward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdam Gustavson, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdam Gustavson received his Bachelor's degree in illustration from Rowan University and his Master's from the School of Visial Arts in New York. Adam has illustrated several picture books, including the award-winning \u003cem\u003eGood Luck, Mrs. K!\u003c\/em\u003e (Margaret K. McElderry). He also teaches at Passaic County Community College in Paterson, New Jersey, and Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Adam Gustavson bio\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/adam-gustavson\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Adam.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLand of Enchantment Book Award (Picture Book Master Reading List)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe latest of Charlesbridge Math Adventures tackles the idea of probability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEthan awakens one morning to find an unfamiliar cat named Odds on his head. Odds refuses to get off until Ethan wins a probability game. But that's not as easy as it sounds. Ethan fails to choose a dime from his bank, or to find two matching socks from his drawer of ten pairs. It is when his sister brings out the marbles that the true teaching moment begins. Ethan lays out color pairs to determine what the odds are of pulling out two white marbles from a bag of 100 of four equal colors. It isn't until breakfast that Ethan finally wins. By then, he has taken the lesson to heart and realizes that probability could help him win his upcoming soccer game. Gustavson's oil paintings highlight the improbability of Ethan's situation—his attempts to remove Odds, and failing that, to conceal him, will have readers in stiches. Each of Ethan and Odds facial expressions speaks volumes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAside from its rather sluggish start, this is solid math that also teaches children about its applicability in the wider world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile waking up with a cat on your head is against the odds, waking up with a talking feline on your head (especially one obsessed with probability games) creates an impossible situation for Ethan. Odds won't move an inch, even through a hated shower, until Ethan wins a game of probability. Will Ethan beat Odds at his game before leaving for the big soccer game? Tension mounts as choosing socks, sorting marbles, or arranging bits of \"Oatie-Woofs\" breakfast cereal create a series of probability challenges before Ethan finally rids himself of the animal-just in time to figure out the odds of his best soccer scoring possibilities. With a final nod to probability masters Blaise Pascal and Pierre de Fermat, this slim volume introduces a math concept with a flourish of humor and embarrassing, talkative headgear. Full-page oil illustrations accentuate both the actions and expressions of Ethan's improbable morning as Odds the Cat dominates on his head or in shadow. A marvelous teaching tool and an entertaining story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBooklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis picture book for older children introduces the idea of probability using a funny, fantastical premise: A boy named Ethan wakes up with a talking cat on the top of his head. The cat informs Ethan that he'll get off his head if Ethan wins a game of probability. After cartwheels, jumping jacks, and a shower don't remove the cat, Ethan decides to play along. The two consider a variety of everyday household groupings—coins, socks, marbles, cereal shapes, and even soccer strategies—and eventually Ethan goes from haphazard guessing to a real sense of odds and outcomes. Einhorn moves this math lesson quickly along, spurring it with Ethan's oft-repeated need to get to his soccer game within the hour—and without the cat. Gustavson's appealing oil paintings, which depict Ethan and his little sister in all their befuddled wonder, match well with Einhorn's quirky text and premise. They are full of energy, odd angles, and offbeat perspectives, and kids will want to give them more than a passing glance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Children's Hour\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat are the odds of awaking with a talking cat on one's head? One morning Ethan wakes up with Odds attached to his head, and apparently, the cat won't leave until Ethan wins a game of probability. With a soccer game imminent, Ethan tries everything to pull the cat off (cats do not like showers), but nothing works, until he agrees to pay Odds' game. Ethan tries many probability games: picking a penny from coins on a high shelf, (he picks a nickel), picking two matching socks without looking, (he loses), and picking two white marbles from a stack with his eyes closed (one was yellow). Finally, Ethan chooses two breakfast cereal shapes that are the same. Odds leaves and Ethan decides to apply the lesson to his soccer game. End papers give a history of two French mathematicians who developed the theory of mathematical probability in 1654. This is a very improbable story about a challenging math concept.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/very-improbable-story-cvr.jpg?13320481773717715598\" alt=\"A Very Improbable Story book cover\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/very-improbable-story-hires.zip?13320481773717715598\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-57091-872-8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book PDF\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-60734-120-8\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 7-10\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e8 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e x 9 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCorrelated to Common Core State Standards:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Literature. Grade 1. Standards 0-0, 0, 0, 00\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Literature. Grade 2. Standards 0, 0, 0, 0, 00\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2015-09-17T11:15:00-04:00","created_at":"2015-09-17T10:21:55-04:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Fiction","Browse by Format_Early Reader","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Concept Books","Browse by Subject_Life Lessons \u0026 Skills","Browse by Subject_Math \u0026 Counting","Browse by Subject_School Days"],"price":795,"price_min":795,"price_max":795,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":6638274113,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"18728","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"A Very Improbable Story - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":795,"weight":159,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":1,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"978-1-57091-872-8","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/very-improbable-story-cover.jpg?v=1570198882"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/very-improbable-story-cover.jpg?v=1570198882","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":"A Very Improbable Story book cover image","id":2447381233743,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.894,"height":671,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/very-improbable-story-cover.jpg?v=1570198882"},"aspect_ratio":0.894,"height":671,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/very-improbable-story-cover.jpg?v=1570198882","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca title=\"Edward Einhorn bio\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/edward-einhorn\"\u003eEdward Einhorn\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca title=\"Adam Gustavson bio\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/adam-gustavson\"\u003eAdam Gustavson\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat are the odds?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEthan wakes up one morning to find a very strange cat stuck on his head. The cat, Odds, refuses to budge until Ethan wins a game of probability. Without looking, Ethan must pick out a dime from his coin collection or two matching socks from his dresser, or do something else improbable. If he doesn't, Odds is there to stay, and Ethan has a 100% chance of missing his big soccer game.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEdward Einhorn and Adam Gustavson play with probability in this clever Math Adventure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca title=\"Zachary Zormer: Shape Transformer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/zachary-zormer-shape-transformer\"\u003eZachary Zormer: Shape Transformer\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca title=\"Beanstalk: The Measure of a Giant\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/beanstalk\"\u003eBeanstalk: The Measure of a Giant\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/very-improbable-story-spread.jpg?v=1600700078\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e\u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEdward Einhorn, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnter Author bio here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEdward Einhorn is the author of \u003cem\u003eThe Living House of Oz\u003c\/em\u003e (Hungry Tiger Press), and \u003cem\u003eParadox in Oz\u003c\/em\u003e (Hungry Tiger Press), a centennial sequal to the Wizard of Oz series. He is also a playwright and the artistic director of Untitled Theater Company #61, a theater group producing drama with a philosophical bent. He lives in New York City.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Edward Einhorn bio\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/edward-einhorn\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Edward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdam Gustavson, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdam Gustavson received his Bachelor's degree in illustration from Rowan University and his Master's from the School of Visial Arts in New York. Adam has illustrated several picture books, including the award-winning \u003cem\u003eGood Luck, Mrs. K!\u003c\/em\u003e (Margaret K. McElderry). He also teaches at Passaic County Community College in Paterson, New Jersey, and Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Adam Gustavson bio\" href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/adam-gustavson\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Adam.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLand of Enchantment Book Award (Picture Book Master Reading List)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe latest of Charlesbridge Math Adventures tackles the idea of probability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEthan awakens one morning to find an unfamiliar cat named Odds on his head. Odds refuses to get off until Ethan wins a probability game. But that's not as easy as it sounds. Ethan fails to choose a dime from his bank, or to find two matching socks from his drawer of ten pairs. It is when his sister brings out the marbles that the true teaching moment begins. Ethan lays out color pairs to determine what the odds are of pulling out two white marbles from a bag of 100 of four equal colors. It isn't until breakfast that Ethan finally wins. By then, he has taken the lesson to heart and realizes that probability could help him win his upcoming soccer game. Gustavson's oil paintings highlight the improbability of Ethan's situation—his attempts to remove Odds, and failing that, to conceal him, will have readers in stiches. Each of Ethan and Odds facial expressions speaks volumes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAside from its rather sluggish start, this is solid math that also teaches children about its applicability in the wider world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile waking up with a cat on your head is against the odds, waking up with a talking feline on your head (especially one obsessed with probability games) creates an impossible situation for Ethan. Odds won't move an inch, even through a hated shower, until Ethan wins a game of probability. Will Ethan beat Odds at his game before leaving for the big soccer game? Tension mounts as choosing socks, sorting marbles, or arranging bits of \"Oatie-Woofs\" breakfast cereal create a series of probability challenges before Ethan finally rids himself of the animal-just in time to figure out the odds of his best soccer scoring possibilities. With a final nod to probability masters Blaise Pascal and Pierre de Fermat, this slim volume introduces a math concept with a flourish of humor and embarrassing, talkative headgear. Full-page oil illustrations accentuate both the actions and expressions of Ethan's improbable morning as Odds the Cat dominates on his head or in shadow. A marvelous teaching tool and an entertaining story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBooklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis picture book for older children introduces the idea of probability using a funny, fantastical premise: A boy named Ethan wakes up with a talking cat on the top of his head. The cat informs Ethan that he'll get off his head if Ethan wins a game of probability. After cartwheels, jumping jacks, and a shower don't remove the cat, Ethan decides to play along. The two consider a variety of everyday household groupings—coins, socks, marbles, cereal shapes, and even soccer strategies—and eventually Ethan goes from haphazard guessing to a real sense of odds and outcomes. Einhorn moves this math lesson quickly along, spurring it with Ethan's oft-repeated need to get to his soccer game within the hour—and without the cat. Gustavson's appealing oil paintings, which depict Ethan and his little sister in all their befuddled wonder, match well with Einhorn's quirky text and premise. They are full of energy, odd angles, and offbeat perspectives, and kids will want to give them more than a passing glance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Children's Hour\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat are the odds of awaking with a talking cat on one's head? One morning Ethan wakes up with Odds attached to his head, and apparently, the cat won't leave until Ethan wins a game of probability. With a soccer game imminent, Ethan tries everything to pull the cat off (cats do not like showers), but nothing works, until he agrees to pay Odds' game. Ethan tries many probability games: picking a penny from coins on a high shelf, (he picks a nickel), picking two matching socks without looking, (he loses), and picking two white marbles from a stack with his eyes closed (one was yellow). Finally, Ethan chooses two breakfast cereal shapes that are the same. Odds leaves and Ethan decides to apply the lesson to his soccer game. End papers give a history of two French mathematicians who developed the theory of mathematical probability in 1654. This is a very improbable story about a challenging math concept.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/very-improbable-story-cvr.jpg?13320481773717715598\" alt=\"A Very Improbable Story book cover\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/very-improbable-story-hires.zip?13320481773717715598\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-57091-872-8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book PDF\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-60734-120-8\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 7-10\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e8 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e x 9 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCorrelated to Common Core State Standards:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Literature. Grade 1. Standards 0-0, 0, 0, 00\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Literature. Grade 2. Standards 0, 0, 0, 0, 00\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}

A Very Improbable Story

By: Edward Einhorn / Illustrated by: Adam Gustavson

What are the odds?

Ethan wakes up one morning to find a very strange cat stuck on his head. The cat, Odds, refuses to budge until Ethan wins a game of probability. Without looking, Ethan must pick out a dime from his coin collection or two matching socks from his dresser, or do something else improbable. If he doesn't, Odds is there to stay, and Ethan has a 100% chance of missing his big soccer game.

Edward Einhorn and Adam Gustavson play with probability in this clever Math Adventure.

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Edward Einhorn, author

Enter Author bio here.

Edward Einhorn is the author of The Living House of Oz (Hungry Tiger Press), and Paradox in Oz (Hungry Tiger Press), a centennial sequal to the Wizard of Oz series. He is also a playwright and the artistic director of Untitled Theater Company #61, a theater group producing drama with a philosophical bent. He lives in New York City.

Read more about Edward.


Adam Gustavson, illustrator

Adam Gustavson received his Bachelor's degree in illustration from Rowan University and his Master's from the School of Visial Arts in New York. Adam has illustrated several picture books, including the award-winning Good Luck, Mrs. K! (Margaret K. McElderry). He also teaches at Passaic County Community College in Paterson, New Jersey, and Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey.

Read more about Adam.

  • Land of Enchantment Book Award (Picture Book Master Reading List)

Kirkus Reviews

The latest of Charlesbridge Math Adventures tackles the idea of probability.

Ethan awakens one morning to find an unfamiliar cat named Odds on his head. Odds refuses to get off until Ethan wins a probability game. But that's not as easy as it sounds. Ethan fails to choose a dime from his bank, or to find two matching socks from his drawer of ten pairs. It is when his sister brings out the marbles that the true teaching moment begins. Ethan lays out color pairs to determine what the odds are of pulling out two white marbles from a bag of 100 of four equal colors. It isn't until breakfast that Ethan finally wins. By then, he has taken the lesson to heart and realizes that probability could help him win his upcoming soccer game. Gustavson's oil paintings highlight the improbability of Ethan's situation—his attempts to remove Odds, and failing that, to conceal him, will have readers in stiches. Each of Ethan and Odds facial expressions speaks volumes.

Aside from its rather sluggish start, this is solid math that also teaches children about its applicability in the wider world.

School Library Journal

While waking up with a cat on your head is against the odds, waking up with a talking feline on your head (especially one obsessed with probability games) creates an impossible situation for Ethan. Odds won't move an inch, even through a hated shower, until Ethan wins a game of probability. Will Ethan beat Odds at his game before leaving for the big soccer game? Tension mounts as choosing socks, sorting marbles, or arranging bits of "Oatie-Woofs" breakfast cereal create a series of probability challenges before Ethan finally rids himself of the animal-just in time to figure out the odds of his best soccer scoring possibilities. With a final nod to probability masters Blaise Pascal and Pierre de Fermat, this slim volume introduces a math concept with a flourish of humor and embarrassing, talkative headgear. Full-page oil illustrations accentuate both the actions and expressions of Ethan's improbable morning as Odds the Cat dominates on his head or in shadow. A marvelous teaching tool and an entertaining story.

Booklist

This picture book for older children introduces the idea of probability using a funny, fantastical premise: A boy named Ethan wakes up with a talking cat on the top of his head. The cat informs Ethan that he'll get off his head if Ethan wins a game of probability. After cartwheels, jumping jacks, and a shower don't remove the cat, Ethan decides to play along. The two consider a variety of everyday household groupings—coins, socks, marbles, cereal shapes, and even soccer strategies—and eventually Ethan goes from haphazard guessing to a real sense of odds and outcomes. Einhorn moves this math lesson quickly along, spurring it with Ethan's oft-repeated need to get to his soccer game within the hour—and without the cat. Gustavson's appealing oil paintings, which depict Ethan and his little sister in all their befuddled wonder, match well with Einhorn's quirky text and premise. They are full of energy, odd angles, and offbeat perspectives, and kids will want to give them more than a passing glance.

The Children's Hour

What are the odds of awaking with a talking cat on one's head? One morning Ethan wakes up with Odds attached to his head, and apparently, the cat won't leave until Ethan wins a game of probability. With a soccer game imminent, Ethan tries everything to pull the cat off (cats do not like showers), but nothing works, until he agrees to pay Odds' game. Ethan tries many probability games: picking a penny from coins on a high shelf, (he picks a nickel), picking two matching socks without looking, (he loses), and picking two white marbles from a stack with his eyes closed (one was yellow). Finally, Ethan chooses two breakfast cereal shapes that are the same. Odds leaves and Ethan decides to apply the lesson to his soccer game. End papers give a history of two French mathematicians who developed the theory of mathematical probability in 1654. This is a very improbable story about a challenging math concept.

Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-57091-872-8

E-book PDF
ISBN: 978-1-60734-120-8

Ages: 7-10
Page count: 32
8 1/2 x 9 1/2

Correlated to Common Core State Standards:
English Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Literature. Grade 1. Standards 0-0, 0, 0, 00
English Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Literature. Grade 2. Standards 0, 0, 0, 0, 00