The Numbers Race
How Shakuntala Devi's Mathematical Mind Zoomed Around the World
Rekha S Rajan author Chaaya Prabhat illustrator
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Simon & Schuster
Published:5th Nov '26
Should be back in stock very soon
This upbeat and accessible picture book biography makes math fun with the true story of record-breaking Indian mathematician Shakuntala Devi taking on the world’s toughest math problems.
Little Shakuntala loved to race all over her small town, against her siblings and cousins—and even chickens! But she wasn’t just speedy on her feet. She raced against numbers in her mind. Shakuntala would count up all the animals at her father’s circus, multiply the times her mother flipped the dough for dosas, and solve her older brother’s long division in her head!
As she grew up, Shakuntala zipped all around the world performing her mathematic magic, racing against professors, the clock—and even a computer! This fast-paced true story celebrates women and girls in STEM and makes solving math problems become the most amazing race you’ve ever watched.
[J]ewel-toned, river-like flows of numbers and images explode across the pages, and Shakuntala’s vivacity is clear as she ages through the engaging story. Readers won’t be able to help but adore Shakuntala. -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB) * 10/1/26 *
In snappy prose complemented by expressive illustrations, Rajan and Prabhat capture Shakuntala’s experience with sharp clarity and will leave readers impressed and inspired. -- Booklist * 10/7/26 *
This engaging biography of an extraordinary Indian woman provides strong STEAM connections for classroom use and encourages children to feel pride in their own innate skills. -- School Library Journal * 8/1/26 *
Inspirational, for any number of reasons. -- Kirkus Reviews * July 15th Issue *
ISBN: 9781665957052
Dimensions: 305mm x 229mm x 13mm
Weight: 531g
48 pages