Fibers and Fibonacci

Fibonacci potholders.

I am constantly learning new uses for the Fibonacci Sequence, and ways that people in different professions use these remarkable numbers. I recently corresponded with a woman who runs a fiber arts camp for children near my home in North Carolina. Above is a shot of the creations the children made using the Sequence. Here’s what the teacher told me about it.

This is a picture of the potholders made at the Fiber Arts Camp hosted by Heritage Weavers & Fiber Artists last week at Johnson Farm in Hendersonville, NC.  The Fibonacci Sequence is used with one looper of color 1, two loopers of color 2, three loopers of color 3, and five loopers of color 4, and reversed—1, 2, 3, 5, 3 ,2, 1—and then is woven in the same sequence. 

As weavers, we find using the proportions of the Fibonacci Sequence are always pleasing to the eye, no matter what combination of colors are used.

 Thank you for an inspiring book... 

Ruth Howe, Camp Director

The Korean edition of Blockhead is here!

The morning mailbag brought this Korean edition of my children’s picture book.  I can’t read a word of this. I wonder how the word Blockhead translates into Korean. Anyone know? Is it insulting? (It should be.) Is it hilarious? (Hope so.) Next up: Spanish and Catalan versions.

Meanwhile, on our shores, this book e-tailer is making the English version of the book available for the ridiculously low, low price of $5.99. Read the fine print. The books are bookstore return copies, and may have a bit more wear than pristine copies you get new. But they should still be fine for classroom use.

Only 12 copies left...

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Sing the Fibonacci Song, Won't You?

Tripping down memory lane with remarkably spry, 800-year-old Fibonacci (seated, in blue gown).

I was in Washington, DC, today to visit with students at the Georgetown Day School. We had a blast, and the kids were among the most knowledgeable Fibonacci fans I’ve ever encountered. And no wonder! It turns out that for the last 13 years, this school has celebrated a Fibonacci Day, where they talk about all things Fibonacci.

Sometimes, they are lucky enough to have a visit from the old Maestro himself, Leonardo Fibonacci, played by a hilariously comic teacher by the name of Reed Thompson. Fibonacci and I riffed on the building of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which happened when he was a boy. We talked about him taking that exciting trip to Algeria that started him on a lifetime of loving numbers, And we talked about the superiority of Hindu-Arabic numerals over Roman numerals.

This is your life, Fibonacci!

It was a dream come true. And then, at the end, the kids and I serenaded Maestro Fibonacci with a song the children had prepared for the occasion.

The song appears here with the kind permission of its author, Georgetown Day School teacher Barbara Buonora. Please do not reprint it without contacting the school for permission. But you are free to belt it out at the top of your lungs!

The song is sung to the tune of “My Darling Clementine.” My thanks to Fibonacci, MaryLou, Rose and everyone else who made it such a memorable day.

The Fibonacci Song

Leonardo Fibonacci

Born in Pisa, Italy—

Most Talented Math’matician

In Middle Ages history!

1, 1, 2, 3,

5, 8, 13, 21, and 34

55 and 89,

One hundred 44!

These are just his infinite sequence—

Patterns found in sunflower,

And in pinecone, shell and pineapple,

Music, art, and even more!

Leonardo loved his numbers

And we love them, too, you see,

For without them, life is boring—

Thank you  Fibonacci!

“The Fibonacci Song,” copyright 2004 by Barbara Buonora, Georgetown Day School. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

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Blockhead is a "Best Children's Book of the Year"

Just found out that my children’s picture book, Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci, about the Medieval mathematician Leonardo of Pisa, was picked one of the Best Children’s Books of the Year by the Bank Street College of Education. Great news coming from an institution that has trained so many fine teachers in New York City.

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Fibonacci Phlox

Chillier here today after a massive thunderstorm last night. But these little guys hung in there. They are Emerald Pholox (“phlox subulata”) which display Fibonacci 5 in their petals.

I have not spotted any flowers that show six or four, so I think the number is pretty consistent across the board for the cultivar.

If I had to pick a flower to plant now to share later with kids, I’d pick this little guy. Fun selection for a Fibonacci garden...

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Fibonacci Vinca

Vinca vine flowers display a Fibonacci 5 configuration, one of the most prevalent numbers in the plant and animal kingdom. (Think starfish, apple seeds, etc.)

These pale blue flowers are blooming now in our area. I like the asymmetrical cast of the petals, which give them a slight sense of movement. They look a little like a child’s pinwheel, designed to catch the wind.

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Fleeting Fibonacci!

Spring has sprung here at Casa Fibonooch. Greeting me this weekend from the cherry tree in the front yard were these fragile, beautiful 5-petal flowers. They'll last a week at most, then disappear until next spring.

Oh, fleeting spring! Oh, evanescent Fibonacci!

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DynaMath’s Blockhead Contest

I used to be editor of a children’s math magazine called DynaMath, which is published by Scholastic Inc. You might say that’s how I got into the math biz, and kindled my love of math in odd places.

I’m pleased to see that the magazine is running an excerpt of Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci in its upcoming March 2011 issue. Students have the chance to enter a sweepstakes to win one of 25 copies of the book that I will personally autograph.

Teachers can find out more about the contest rules here and about the magazine itself here. DynaMath really is a wonderful resource for students in math classrooms, well worth the money.

If you are a teacher, parent, librarian, or school administrator who is concerned about funding for another math resource, follow this link for suggestions on how to locate money for your school. Click on “New Funding” to learn how DynaMath qualifies for funding opportunities such as Title I.

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Check out the new Blockhead DVD

Spoken Arts, a very creative film production company, has produced an adorable audiobook and DVD based on Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci.

The DVDs are intended for classroom use, so kids can read along with the audiobook or watch the animated story of Leonardo as he embarks on his adventures in mathematics.

Both the audiobook and the DVD come with licenses for public performance, which means you can play it for large classrooms. (By comparison, the DVDs you buy or rent at your local video store can only be played in your living room, and scary men show up at your door if you try to play them for large groups.)

I was blown away by the quality of these new Blockhead products. The cities of Pisa and Bugia, not to mention Leonardo himself, all seem to come to life with music, animation, and voice acting.

I want to see these products reach as many classrooms as possible, so I’m making the following limited-time offer: Anyone who books a classroom visit will receive as part of their package an autographed copy of Blockhead and a copy of the Blockhead DVD. 

I am now also asking a $50 donation for any Skype visits booked from now on. The cost of a signed copy of Blockhead and a Blockhead DVD are included in the cost for a Skype visit. Any monies left over after shipping are donated to the Fibonacci Giving Project, which benefits Heifer International.

I do not make any money on classroom Skype visits. It is a wholly charitable venture. For teachers and schools, this is a great deal. The DVD alone is typically priced at $50, so this is a great way to build your classroom library with books and beautifully produced media.

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The Fountainhead Bookstore, Hendersonville, NC

Valerie (l) and her daughter Melise.

For a short time, I lived in the quaint town of Hendersonville, North Carolina, whose Main Street is chock full of adorable shops. One of those was a bookstore. That shop is now under new management, and I’m happy to have been invited to speak at The Fountainhead Bookstore in February. I’ll post reminders closer to the date, but I’m pleased to share this short interview with Valerie Wellbourn, the shop’s bookseller. Here’s my chat with Valerie.

Can you tell us about The Fountainhead Bookstore?

We have an eclectic selection, including a Children’s Section for the very young up to age 8 and a Tween Section. Customers tell us that we have a wonderful selection within each genre. We try to be a place where bookworms feel welcome and get social opportunities to meet other bookworms.

How did you become a bookseller?

I was a land surveyor for many years, believe it or not. In December of 2009 the local bookstore on Main Street had gone out of business.  I was actually looking for just such an opportunity, and as a book lover myself had gotten tired of always driving to the nearest big city, Asheville, for book shopping and book clubs.  I opened the kind of bookstore that I had always wished for in our town.

 What are some of your favorite books for kids? 

A few of my favorite picture books are: Blockhead (of course), pop-ups like Flanimals or the new Harry Potter pop-up book. One Red Dot is awesome, Of Thee I Sing is a great new one, and Children Make Terrible Pets is very funny.  I like the concept of Beautiful Oops! very much. I could go on and on.

Why do you think you so many people love the shop?

Customers tell us that they really appreciate the ambience, our helpfulness, and the friendly atmosphere.  Plus, they can find certain books here that are hard to find anywhere else.

Why should people support independent bookstore over chains or online stores?

Just remember, Amazon nor Kindle will never, ever host your favorite author.  Nor will they ever host a book club. If local indie stores disappear, all you’re likely to be offered in the future are mainstream books (which are not bad in and of themselves, but your choices will be limited). 

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The Fountainhead Bookstore will host my talk on February 19, starting at 3 PM. The store is located at 408 North Main Street, Hendersonville, NC.

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