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A Very Improbable Story by Edward Einhorn
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A Very Improbable Story (original 2008; edition 2008)

by Edward Einhorn, Adam Gustavson (Illustrator)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingConversations
19014142,017 (4.26)None
This book goes through day of this young boy who has a VERY improbably day. He wakes up one day and his cat challenges him with probability problems! This short story walks through this child's day and shows how often you use probability and how you can use it in your every day life!
Genre: Fantasy
  KaylaAnn715 | Apr 21, 2015 |
Showing 14 of 14
This book is great for introduction probability to help them prepare for the statistics class. I enjoyed the book because it had the main character go through different types of examples of probability. It is also quirky and some kids may find that enjoyable to read. ( )
  Kym23 | Mar 25, 2021 |
Another great one by Author Edward Einhorn.

This one introduces us to Ethan who wakes up one morning to find a strange cat perched atop his head. The cat's name is Odd and the only way he will agree to hop off of Ethan's head to is Ethan agrees to play a game with him. A game of probability. Ethan must be able to do something improbable because if he can't Odd's is there to stay and Ethan will miss his big soccer game.

This is a great book if you're looking to get your kids interested in the concept of probability. Probability is something that kids can struggle with but Odd's and Ethan help you see it in your everyday life making it more interesting and relatable. I even really liked the illistrations. ( )
  NickiByrd | Mar 18, 2021 |
When Ethan woke up, there was something strange on his head. Odds the cat loves probability, and then the only way he'd get off Ethan's head if he won a probability game. This is a fun book for students that introduces them to the concept of probability. I give this book 5-stars because you could make the book interactive by having your students play some of the same probability games that Odds made Ethan. ( )
  jmn055 | Apr 6, 2020 |
A higher-level book on probability and odds. There is good terminology throughout that make sense in the context of the story. In a nice blend of math terminology and rich story-telling language Einhorn manages a helpful, but also enjoyable story. For younger students with an interesting this story could prove valuable for exploring ideas like odds, fractions, and the likelihood of an outcome. Ethan, the narrator, explains what he is doing and the idea of probability to his younger sister, helping illustrate the idea in a clever way. You could perform some of the same probability experiments or games that the narrator attempts to get the cat off his head. ( )
1 vote fsgiamba | May 5, 2019 |
This story was entertaining because it was about a boy who woke up with a cat on top of his head. He was trying to find ways to get the cat off his head, but the only way to get the cat off his head was agreeing to play a game of probability with it. It also teaches a difficult concept. ( )
  JuanCunningham | Sep 11, 2018 |
Ethan, the young boy in this story, learns about probability in the most improbable way. A sneaky cat, named Odds, puts Ethan to the test by sitting on his head until he is able to win a probability game. Throughout the story Ethan is put to the test as he tries to figure out a way to beat Odds. What a silly way to explore this common and yet very tricky subject. At times I fear that the book is a bit wordy but would make a great text for children to explore as a read aloud with adult support. ( )
  Jess.Taylor | Sep 9, 2018 |
Interesting subject, nicely illustrated, but for some reason not as engaging as I was hoping. Not sure if any kid under ten would really get the concepts presented here, the way they are explained (or not explained). But, a great idea that can most definitely spark interest. Maybe this book can be complimented with some other book that provides more clarifications. ( )
  Fjola | Apr 23, 2015 |
This book goes through day of this young boy who has a VERY improbably day. He wakes up one day and his cat challenges him with probability problems! This short story walks through this child's day and shows how often you use probability and how you can use it in your every day life!
Genre: Fantasy
  KaylaAnn715 | Apr 21, 2015 |
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Critiques: This is a realistic fiction book because it presents a realistic plot and setting of a boy with a cat on his head that won't get off. Readers can relate and be intrigued by how Ethan needs to master probability in order to get it off. Readers can also relate to the struggles of solving problems of probability.
The plot is told from an onmiscient point of view because the author knows everything about everyone. The thoughts, feelings, and dialogue is known by the author of Ethan and his little sister.

Media: oil on print making paper ( )
  cdolan10 | Apr 16, 2013 |
This is a story of a young boy who wakes up one morning with a huge problem... a cat that won't leave him alone until he plays and wins a math game against this cat named Odds. He ends up finally winning a game and learns a valuable lesson about finding math and probability every where he goes!
  alissabecker | Oct 22, 2012 |
Summary: Ethan woke up one day with an odd cat on his head who would not get off until he won a probability game.
Genre: informational
Critique: This book is a great way for children to learn about probability and odds using a story that they could see as realistic and possible.
  mhinderlie | Feb 7, 2012 |
Summary: a boy wakes up with a cat on his head. He is used to having a cat laying on him, but the problem was that this was not his cat. This is a special cat due to the fact that it talks and gives the boy challenges. Throughout the story he finds probability after probability until the boy can beat the odds and break the probability. They have to find the matching sock, the matching marble, and in the end the matching cereal piece.

Genre: This is a fantasy due to the fact that cats cannot actually talk and force humans to look for probabilities/ratios. It is a great resource for fantasy/math because it allows students to be engaged while learning about how to find odds/probabilities all around them.

Plot: The plot of the story is where a boy must face challenges of probability in order to be free of a cat on his head. It begins with the cat resting on his head, then there are little spikes of challenges where we hope the boy wins, but he doesn't, then we come to the climax with the cereal probability and the boy wins. He is so happy and the cat has to get off of his head, and then it teaters off with the boy realizing that if he uses probability for his soccer game, and how he kicks the ball, he might be able to win. ( )
2 vote debrasw | Oct 5, 2011 |
An adorable story that introduces the concept of probability. This would be a fantastic book to use during my probability unit. ( )
  MesserPicks | May 26, 2010 |
This was a fun story. ( )
  Olisia | Nov 1, 2008 |
Showing 14 of 14

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Edward Einhorn is a LibraryThing Author, an author who lists their personal library on LibraryThing.

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Charlesbridge

2 editions of this book were published by Charlesbridge.

Editions: 1570918716, 1570918724

 

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