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It is not often I am able to give a seal of approval to a children’s book that so seamlessly incorporates math and science and somehow makes it fun that Dirt + Water = Mud gets a special place on our family’s summer reading list.  We read so many books together and I have a ‘Brooke Test’ I use on our books so that if a book is requested more than once, I know our oldest daughter is a fan.  We have now read Mud at least a half a dozen times now so you can do the math!

Dirt + Water = Mud is about a young girl and her dog having fun in her backyard using their imagination.  Her games involve combining items together to make something enjoyable and interesting.  How can you make an airplane?  Simple!  You just add a bed sheet to your tree house with a strong summer breeze and you are off on a whole new adventure.  It’s fun, it’s down in the dirt muddy, and a fantastic book for summer readers who can get some perfect ideas on how to incorporate learning during the school break.  Hannigan’s illustrations come to life and bring a refreshing look at the wonderful world of play with the beautiful notion that time spent having fun is a necessity in a child’s lifelong adventure of learning.  Love!

About the Author/Illustrator:  Katherine Hannigan studied mathematics, painting, and studio art and has worked as the education coordinator for a Head Start program and, most recently, as an assistant professor of art and design. She is the author of True (. . . Sort Of), Emmaline and the Bunny, and the national bestseller Ida B . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World. She lives in Iowa with a bunch of cats and the occasional bunny or bird visitor. Her backyard hosts an additional array of creatures, including deer, raccoons, possums, and sometimes a skunk. But no alligators . . . yet!

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