Toddler introductions to higher mathematics
Solution 1:
Chris Ferrie has a new series out that includes:
- Quantum Physics for Babies
- Newtonian Physics for Babies
- Optical Physics for Babies
- Quantum Entanglement for Babies
Although not specifically concerning mathematical content, they do include in passing some mathematical ontology. The Newtonian book, for instance, does mention force being the product of mass and acceleration and describes acceleration. Not the best answer to my question, but I still am not finding as much material as I know is out there.
These are a bit like Basher books for toddlers. Big letters with colorful minimalistic pictures. Very simple sentences that stress the big new words the pictures are showing. The same pedagogical goal of just making these words feel safe to the young ones so that they feel comfortable "seeing the map" without needing to understand on any deep level what any of the "places" are really about. Early connections and all.
In looking, I've also found work like "ε-Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Bolzano-Weierstrass Theorem" by Sunshine DuBois and Colin MacDonald, which although is very cute and clever, is not of the level or content that my child can enjoy. I think there is a clear distinction between a simple board-book style story with a simple core that mentions the big words in meaningful but not essential ways versus stories that have the appearance of children's stories but deliver highly mathematical content that the story depends upon for meaning. I know of many examples of the latter, but they clearly don't have the same pedagogical value.