Name: So You Want To Be A Mathematician
Author: Linda Soules
ISBN: 9781972766873

About So You Want To Be A Mathematician

From the award-winning So You Want To Be A… Series GRAND PRIZE — 2026 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards SILVER AWARD — 2026 CIPA EVVY Book Awards, Children's Nonfiction Somewhere in New York City right now, two people have exactly the same number of hairs on their heads. Nobody counted. A mathematician can prove it without checking. That's the magic of mathematical thinking — and it's waiting for your child. So You Want To Be A Mathematician turns math from a worksheet chore into an adventure. Instead of memorizing times tables, kids ages 10 to 14 hunt hidden patterns, solve logic puzzles that stumped people for centuries, and discover why cicadas count in prime numbers. The hands-on activities throughout let them test ideas for themselves, building the problem-solving skills that make math feel like play. Whether your child is in grade school or middle school math, the games and brain teasers here make learning feel more like recess than homework. Along the way, they'll meet famous mathematicians whose stories inspire — including Emmy Noether, Srinivasa Ramanujan, Katherine Johnson, and Maryam Mirzakhani. Several were once told they weren't good at math. Your child will learn that being stuck isn't failure; it's part of learning. This career-exploration book also gives an honest, age-appropriate look at the real job. Readers discover what mathematicians actually do, where they work, and how math guides Coast Guard rescues, protects online payments, and powers GPS. It's real-world learning that shows how number sense and logic shape everyday life — from sunflower spirals to the snow in Frozen. Designed for curious kids who love brain teasers, logic, word games, and asking "why," this STEM book is perfect for gifted learners, reluctant math students, and homeschool families searching for engaging enrichment. Educators and parents can use the included answer sheet to check work, while the literacy-rich storytelling and maker-style projects appeal to kids who learn by doing. It makes a thoughtful gift for any budding scientist, engineer, or coder. For every kid who has ever seen a pattern where everyone else saw randomness.

ISBN (print): 978-1-972766-87-3 / Published: 2026-9-27

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About Linda Soules

Linda Soules

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Linda Soules is the author and creator of the So You Want To Be A... series, a growing collection of career-exploration books for readers ages 10–14 (and beyond!). The series is envisioned to span more than 180 titles in total, with over 60 published to date and new releases on a steady cadence — covering everything from astronauts and marine biologists to magicians, stunt performers, and roller coaster designers. Her philosophy is straightforward: never talk down to kids. Young readers are smarter, more curious, and more capable than the publishing world often gives them credit for, and they deserve books that respect their intelligence while genuinely sparking their enthusiasm. Each title is written to pull back the curtain on a real career — its joys, its challenges, the path to get there — and to leave readers with the sense that the world is wider, more interesting, and more reachable than they imagined. Before turning to children's publishing, Linda spent 25 years in law and finance, advising hedge funds and sophisticated financial institutions on legal and regulatory matters — a career that taught her precision, discipline, and how to translate intricate subjects into language anyone can use. She brings that same clarity and care to every book she writes, paired with a deep belief that curiosity is the engine of a meaningful life. Linda lives in Seattle with her husband and two children, where the steady rhythm of family life, the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and the questions her own kids ask every day continue to fuel her work.

Other Books by Linda Soules

So You Want To Be An Astronaut

So You Want To Be A Veterinarian

So You Want To Be A Dinosaur Hunter (Paleontologist)

So You Want To Be A Video Game Designer

So You Want To Be A Firefighter

So You Want To Be A Zookeeper

So You Want To Be A Marine Biologist

So You Want To Be A Spy (Intelligence Agent)

So You Want To Be A Race Car Driver

So You Want To Be A Doctor

So You Want To Be A Robot Builder (Robotics Engineer)

So You Want To Be A Roller Coaster Designer (Theme Park Engineer)

So You Want To Be A Pilot

So You Want To Be An Inventor

So You Want To Be A Magician

So You Want To Be A Shark Researcher

So You Want To Be A Police Officer

So You Want To Be A Chef

So You Want To Be An Explorer

So You Want To Be A Professional Athlete

So You Want To Be A Scientist

So You Want To Be A Surgeon

So You Want To Be An Actor

So You Want To Be A Stunt Performer

So You Want To Be A Toy Designer

So You Want To Be A Singer

So You Want To Be A Voice Actor

So You Want To Be A Deep Sea Diver

So You Want To Be A Vaccine Developer (Immunologist)

So You Want To Be A Treasure Hunter (Archaeologist)

So You Want To Be A Crime Scene Investigator

So You Want To Be An Animator

So You Want To Be A Ballet Dancer

So You Want To Be An Astronomer & Exoplanet Hunter

So You Want To Be A Waterslide Tester

So You Want To Be A Coder (Computer Programmer)

So You Want To Be A Diplomat

So You Want To Be An Ice Cream Flavor Inventor

So You Want To Be A Fashion Designer

So You Want To Be A Candy Scientist

So You Want To Be An Animal Rescue Worker

So You Want To Be An Activist

So You Want To Be A Lawyer

So You Want To Be A Journalist

So You Want To Be A Psychotherapist

So You Want To Be A Psychologist

So You Want To Be An Architect

So You Want To Be A Teacher

So You Want To Be A Librarian

So You Want To Be A Geologist

So You Want To Be A Documentary Filmmaker

So You Want To Be An International Aid Worker

So You Want To Be A Public Defender

So You Want To Be An Anthropologist

So You Want To Be An Interior Designer

So You Want To Be An Engineer

So You Want To Be A Nurse

So You Want To Be A Hedge Fund Manager

So You Want To Be A Rocket Scientist

So You Want To Be A Movie Director

About So You Want To Be A Mathematician

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About Linda Soules

Other Books by Linda Soules

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