Numbers

Name: Numbers
ISBN: 9787203128731

Heng Xiaofen / 小虾米Shanxi People's Publishing House · ChinaOct 2026

3.2

Word count: 95 words
Chapters: 16
ISBN: 9787203128731

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Summary

This book covers an introduction to the number family, the long origins of numbers, the travel-loving Arabic numerals, the clever and fun uses of numbers, the magic of the number 0, the orderly natural numbers, and the integers that quarrel among themselves.

Editor's review

This book presents numbers as a family with personalities of its own: from the long origins of numbers to how Arabic numerals spread by "loving to travel," to the magic of the number 0, the order of natural numbers, and the "quarrels" among integers—each chapter answers the seemingly simple questions children have that are actually hard to explain. Its value lies not in instilling definitions but in making abstract number concepts tangible and knowable through personification and storytelling. For primary school students just building number sense, this approach effectively lowers the barrier to understanding and sparks the urge to ask further questions. Parents and teachers can use it as a supplement to classroom teaching of number concepts, helping children think through questions like "why 0 matters" and "why natural numbers have order." Suitable for parent-child reading together, and also for children to browse independently and then discuss with adults.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Lower- and middle-grade primary school students who are building number sense and learning about 0 and natural numbers
Parents who want to help their children understand abstract number concepts through stories
Primary school math teachers who need materials for number concept启蒙 and classroom extension
General readers interested in the origins of numbers and the history of how Arabic numerals spread

Not a good fit for

Primary school students who need systematic math practice and problem-solving drills
Middle school students who have mastered basic number theory and seek advanced content
Readers expecting rigorous mathematical definitions and formula derivations

Reading tips

Read in chapter order, and after each chapter have the child retell the number's "personality" in their own words to check understanding.
When reading the sections on the number 0 and natural numbers, give examples from daily life, such as temperature, floor numbers, and queue order.
For parent-child reading, design a small activity called "number family cards," letting the child draw an image and write characteristics for each number.
Teachers can use the section "The Travels of Arabic Numerals" as an introduction to the history of mathematics, leading into the topic of how numerals spread.

About the publisher

Shanxi People's Publishing House China · Founded in 1951

Founded in 1951, Shanxi People's Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for its books on history, culture and fine arts, with a list covering politics, economics, history, culture, ancient texts, art, and textbooks and teaching materials. Judging from the 108 titles in the database, history and biography form an important part of its output: Huang Yongnian's A History of Chinese Politics from the Sixth to the Ninth Century, Zhu Dongrun's Biography of Zhang Juzheng and Agricultural Geography of the Song Dynasty reflect a solid grounding in historical scholarship and ancient texts. In biography and social science it has published works such as Pursuit: Comfort Woman Park Young-hee and Her Sisters. In the areas of inspirational growth and foreign literature, Chinese translations of Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People and How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, and Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, enrich its popular reading list. Its authors include Huang Yongnian, Zhu Dongrun, Dale Carnegie, Hemingway and Su Zhiliang, giving the house an overall profile centred on history, culture and the humanities and social sciences, while also embracing popular inspirational and classic literary titles.

版权信息
写给小读者的话
数字大家庭介绍
漫长的数字起源
热爱旅行的阿拉伯数字
妙用有趣的数字
神奇的数字0
有秩序的自然数
闹内讧的整数
正数的烦恼
唱反调的负数
长着尾巴的小数
主持公平的分数
讨厌分数的百分数
爱吵架的质数和合数
守规矩的数位与位数

FAQ

How is this book different from ordinary math启蒙 books?

It does not list knowledge points one by one; instead, it personifies numbers and uses ideas like "big family," "travel," and "quarrels" to connect the origins of numbers, the meaning of 0, and the order of natural numbers. It focuses on helping children understand the reasoning behind number concepts rather than repeatedly practicing calculations.

My child hasn't learned integers yet. Will they fail to understand "integers quarreling among themselves"?

This chapter explains relationships among integers in a story-based way and does not rely on formal definitions. Even if the child has not systematically studied integers, they can grasp the general idea through metaphors; parents or teachers can take the opportunity to briefly explain everyday examples of positive and negative numbers, without insisting on full mastery.

Is the content about the origins of Arabic numerals accurate?

The book presents the common narrative that Arabic numerals originated in ancient India and later spread to Europe through the Arab world, which is a popular-science account within the scope of common public knowledge. It primarily uses storytelling and is suitable for启蒙, not as an academic reference.

Is it suitable for reading aloud to children before bed?

Yes. The chapters are short and the language is vivid, with each section centered on one number-related topic; reading one or two sections before bed will not be burdensome. After reading, you can chat with your child about one or two small questions, such as "Why is 0 magical?" to help reinforce the impression.

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About the author

Heng Xiaofen Author · Chinese · 1979

Heng Xiaofen, born in Gushi County, Henan Province, in October 1979, holds a master's degree from Henan University and currently teaches at Xinyang Normal University in Henan, writing freelance in her spare time. Public information about her is limited. Judging from the 24 titles held in the collection, her interests span inspirational and personal growth writing, popular science, culture, industrial technology and social sciences. She has produced motivational books on family and children's education, popular works on Chinese culture such as Tales of Chinese Grotto Culture, Tales of Chinese Tomb Culture and Tales of Chinese City Culture, as well as archaeological popular science like Archaeological Treasures: China's Ten Greatest Discoveries. Her writing tends to link specialized knowledge through thematic narrative, making more technical subjects accessible to general readers, and she has published steadily in both family education and the popularization of traditional Chinese culture.

小虾米 Author

Xiao Xiami is an author in the field of Chinese popular-science comics. Public information about this author is limited, and no clear records of nationality, dates of birth and death, or educational background are available. Judging from the ten works held in the collection, Xiao Xiami's writing centers on science education for beginners, covering fundamental subjects such as chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Representative works include Comic Chemistry ⑥: Fun Chemistry Experiments, Comic Chemistry ④: Acid and Alkaline Solutions, Molecules and Atoms, Air and Matter, Electricity and Magnetism, Oxidation-Reduction Reactions, as well as Comic Mathematics ④: Inequalities and Numbers. These works generally use comics to explain abstract concepts, turning experimental phenomena, material structures, electromagnetic principles, and mathematical relationships into intuitive and accessible images that lower the barrier for young readers. The works are commonly categorized as popular science and social science, reflecting the author's orientation toward making scientific knowledge accessible to the general public, especially students. Overall, Xiao Xiami's works emphasize the combination of knowledge and interest and have a certain influence in basic science education reading materials.