The History of Counting
by Denise Schmandt-Besserat, illustrated by Michael HaysMorrow Junior Books, 48 pp., $17
The window of time in which to present a child with The History of Counting is brief. Introduce a young child to the book and it’s likely to confound (the publisher suggests that The History of Counting is intended for readers ages eight and up, though the book’s complexity makes that suggestion seem optimistic at best). Readers beyond the age of about 11 are likely to dismiss Schmandt-Besserat’s enchanting explanations as child’s play, which is a shame because the clarity of what she has to say is beguiling. Schmandt-Besserat proves that you don’t truly understand something unless you can explain it to a child.
The History of Counting is full of little tidbits to keep children interested (for example, the ancient Sumerians’ largest common number was 60, so they called it “the big one”). And the author is engaging: “Why did it take thousands and thousands of years to invent abstract numbers?” she asks. “Why weren’t they invented sooner? It was not a question of intelligence: The size of your brain is the same as that of a child who lived fifty thousand years ago.” All the angles are covered and the extraneous questions muted so that readers can get down to the task at hand.
The History of Counting is one of those books children are apt to receive at Christmas or as a birthday present by a well-meaning benefactor; it’s good for you. If a child you know happens to receive The History of Counting, you’ll be doing the child — and yourself — a favor by preempting the child’s tendency to neglect the book in favor of more immediately gratifying play.
This article appears in December 10 • 1999.