Double Puppy Trouble, by Danica McKellar

Dear Parent/Grandparent/Caregiver,

Congratulations on putting your child on the path to a lifelong love of numbers!

As you probably know, there is an epidemic in this country of kids growing up learning to fear math, which of course can adversely affect their futures in countless ways. It’s a slow but steady process that begins at a very young age as they absorb the negative stereotypes surrounding math (that it’s foreign, scary, not needed in life) from the media—and even from family and friends. And with every day that passes in our increasingly tech-driven society, math becomes more and more critical for our children’s success.

The good news is, we have the power to do something about it! And what is the solution? Making sure our kids see math as “friendly” and relevant in their lives, and it’s never too soon to start.

In Double Puppy Trouble, as your child is swept up a zany puppy adventure (and perhaps even absorbing a “less is more” lesson of gratitude!), a very important mathematical concept is on display: Exponential growth! We’ve all saw charts of exponential growth, whether due to a pandemic or something else, but I think we can all agree that this is a much more fun way to learn about the power of doubling.  By reading this book every night, we are giving our children tools to excel and are deliberately shaping how they see math—as an approachable, integral part of their world.

So when you’re at the grocery store, point out the unit prices. When you cook, show them the fractions on the measuring cups. And when it comes time for bed, read books like this one, where I’ve snuck math education into stories that feel like playtime. You’ll be giving your child the priceless gift of confidence in math, which will shape how they see themselves their entire lives—as strong, empowered adults who understand the value of numbers . . . and who certainly aren’t going to let a little math scare them off.

How To Get The Most Out Of
Double Puppy Trouble:

• Talk about how at first, the puppies don’t seem to increase in number very quickly, but that soon, the numbers get really big really fast! (This is called exponential growth.)

• On many of the pages with puppies, (up through 128 puppies), there are indeed that number of puppies on the page. See if your child can count them all, even on the front and back cover of the book!

• Try doubling on a calculator: Start with the number 1 and have your child hit “X 2” repeatedly, watch how the numbers are the same as in the book.

Come up with your own ideas, and send them to me at: share@danicamckellar.com

Happy doubling!