What does ten look like? How about one hundred? One thousand? Bruce Goldstone uses photographs of everyday objects (pencils and pipecleaners, dice and colorful paperclips, etc.) to help readers train their eyes and brains to recognize how many ten, one hundred, and one thousand look like. He then offers a series of estimation exercises, asking specific questions about the number of objects in additional photographs. The photographs get more challenging as the book progresses. The final image shows thousands of grains of rice (although that’s just an estimate!). For each question, Goldstone provides a hint that takes readers step-by-step through the process for estimating each answer. (Ages 7–11)

How many jelly beans are on this book's cover? Don't count—estimate!

If someone handed you a big bowl of jelly beans, how would you figure out how many there are? You could count them, one by one—or you could estimate. Do you see more than five jelly beans? Less than a million?

This unique book will show you how to train your eyes and your mind to make really great estimations—by making estimating into a game. Jelly beans are just the beginning! This title has Common Core connections.

Great Estimations is a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.