THE TRIPLET THREAT

Fourth grade sleuths do it by the numbers in this STEM-centric series kickoff.

Showing every step in inset boxes of calculations and solutions inserted throughout the narrative, Starmer pitches a nonstop series of classroom mysteries at math whiz Abby “The Abacus” Feldstein, stats superstar Gabe Kim, and talented chemist/kitchen dynamo Cam McGill—collectively known as the Prime Detectives since, obviously, they’re indivisible like prime numbers. Shepherded by firm, kind teacher Mrs. Everly (think Ms. Frizzle but with an even larger wardrobe), the team solves conundrums ranging from why the Penderton triplets are tardy on the first day of class at Arithmos Elementary and why the initial batch of homemade cookies they bake for everyone tastes terrible (a recipe is included midway through) to the fate of a stolen iPad. Along with arithmetical operations and systematic evidence gathering, getting to answers involves rounding, estimation, and unit conversion…not to mention clear explanations of “buffalo theory,” the right way to scale recipes up, techniques for creating a “Memory Palace,” and several other intellectual tools as useful outside math class as in. In Kissi’s blue-tinted drawings, Abby and Mrs. Everly are light-skinned, Gabe is cued Asian, and Cam presents Black; their classmates are a racially diverse group.

High density edutainment…with cookies.