CAMathories® World Festivals Mathematics Series

CAMathories® has published a series of story books that teach mathematics in an enjoyable and engaging way using festivals from various parts of the world. The World Festivals Mathematics Series offers a research-informed approach to traditional mathematics classroom pedagogy and at the same time supports diversity and inclusion for one world.

How to Use Our Books

The CAMathories® World Festivals Mathematics Series of books are written in such a way as if our writers are “telling” the stories to the child, or children, in person. Enjoy reading the stories together. Chat together about the plot and the characters, and encourage the children to talk about their mathematical ideas. Touch and count objects and characters in the books. Once you have read a story with your children a few times, when you think they are ready, encourage them to retell the story on their own. That is how your children can learn and enjoy learning mathematics and language. You can find more learning tips here.

There are teaching plans, assessments and games that accompany the books. Please email info@camathories.com for more details.

Hope you enjoy our World Festivals Mathematics Series and Happy CAMathoring!

New Title

The First Thanksgiving

The First Thanksgiving tells the story of William, a young boy who sailed on the Mayflower, a ship that traveled from England to America in the year 1620. It is told in his own words. William thinks he is going to have such an exciting adventure! It was not always easy however, traveling to a new land, and William learns to be thankful for many things before he finally settles in America with his family. Upon reading this story, children will have opportunities to count to 5 and 10, and engage in further practice counting things that cannot be seen. Whilst reading the story, they will develop an initial concept of seasons.

An illustration of a ship leaving a harbour. The text reads: In the summer of 1620, I set sail on a ship called the Mayflower. The Mayflower was a grand ship, and her captain was called Christopher Jones. We sailed from Plymouth, a city in a country called England. I was traveling with my parents, my older sister, and many other brave English families.

An illustration of a map showing a ship travelling from Plymouth, England across the Atlantic Ocean. The text reads: The Mayflower journey 1620.

An illustration of a ship in rough seas with frightened-looking passengers.

An illustration of people building a house. The text reads: The storms, thankfully, did not last forever (they never do, do they?), and finally we arrived in America. We built ourselves houses so that we had shelter, but we had sailed through the summer and fall, and now it was winter. We had our houses, but it was very cold in America, much colder than in England, and we did not have enough food.

An illustration of a person harvesting corn.

An illustration of three people behind a table with pumpkins and corn. The text reads: We had settled in a new place and started a new life, thanks to Squanto.

Was Amazon.com's #1 New Release in Children's European Folktales

The Christmas Spider

In Western Ukraine a sparkly spider or spider web is a common Christmas tree ornament. Why might this be? Discover the answer as you share this traditional story. The tale tells of a poor family who would love to decorate their home for Christmas. A chance discovery helps them to grow their own Christmas tree, but how can they make it glitter and shimmer on Christmas Day? Help comes from a very unexpected source.

As children listen to this story they will learn and use some of the language that describes the position of things. They will describe and compare sizes and will practise early counting skills.

Illustration of a boy and girl inside a room. Through the window, we can see a woodsman outside.

Illustration of a woman and little boy. The text reads: Once upon a time there was a woodsman who lived happily with his wife and three children in a cottage in a wood. The eldest child was a boy called Alex, the middle child was a girl called Nina and the baby was a boy called Nikita. The family were very poor, but they enjoyed making many of the things they needed, and they grew herbs, vegetables and fruits to make delicious meals.

Illustration of a woman, boy and girl. The text reads: One day, in late winter, the cottage door blew open and a strange little object rolled in and landed on the cottage floor. It was shaped rather like an egg but it was brown and knobbly. 'What's that?' asked Alex. 'It's a fir cone,' explained the woodsman. 'If we look after it, it will grow into a fir tree that we can decorate at Christmas time.'

An illustration of a man and a little boy in a cottage. A fir cone has just blown in through the open door.

Two illustrations of three children: the first shows the children planting a fir cone; the second shows a fir tree starting to grow. The text reads: The children planted the little fir cone in some soil outside the kitchen window and looked after it carefully. Sure enough, after a long time, a tiny fir tree began to grow. Over the months it grew and grew, until it was as tall as little Nikita.

Two illustrations of three children: the first shows a growing fir tree in autumn; the second an even taller fir tree in winter. The text reads: Then the fir tree kept growing until it was as tall as Nina. It was taller than Nikita now but not as tall as Alex. By December the little tree was not so little any more. It was quite tall. It was the same height as Alex!

Was Amazon.com's #1 New Release in Children's Hindu Fiction

Diwali - The Festival of Lights

Join Rama and Sita to discover the Festival of Lights!

In this traditional Indian tale, Sita is captured by an evil demon. As Rama bravely searches through the forest to find his wife, he finds new friends and discovers that light will always win over darkness.

As children listen to this story they will meet patterns in groups of items and discover how to continue the pattern. Recognizing and understanding patterns is vital to mathematical development in order to make logical connections and predictions.

Book page showing a river beside a village with text: This is a story about Diwali, the Festival of Lights, and it begins with Rama and Sita, a wonderful couple who lived in a small village in India.

Diwali book page showing a beach scene with an island in the distance

Diwali book page showing a horse pulling a carriage with text: One day he saw how Sita made everyone around her so happy and he got jealous. So he snuck into the village and kidnapped Sita, taking her away on his chariot. Sita was very scared but she knew Rama would follow if he knew where to look. So clever Sita came up with a plan for Rama to follow. She dropped pieces of her jewelry behind her as she was carried away to lead Rama to her.

Diwali book page showing a beach with tigers, elephants and birds.

Diwali book page showing two monkeys, an elephant and a tiger with text: They searched and searched for days and days until they saw Sita trapped on an island, but Rama and the monkeys could not reach the island as it was surrounded by deep water. Wise Hanuman had an idea which would allow them to get to Sita; they started to build a bridge! All the animals from the forest helped build the bridge to the island.

Diwali book page showing a nighttime image of steps leading down to water with floating candles