 The Number Devil: A Mathematical Adventure cover | |
| Author | Hans Magnus Enzensberger |
|---|---|
| Translator | Michael Henry Heim |
| Illustrator | Rotraut Susanne Berner |
| Cover artist | Rotraut Susanne Berner |
| Language | German |
| Genre | Children's book |
| Publisher | Henry Holt and Company |
Publication date | 1997 |
| Publication place | Germany |
Published in English | 1998 |
| Media type | Paperback/Hardcover |
| Pages | 261 |
| ISBN | 0-8050-6299-8 |
The Number Devil: A Mathematical Adventure (German: Der Zahlenteufel. Ein Kopfkissenbuch für alle, die Angst vor der Mathematik haben) is a book for children and young adults that explores mathematics. It was originally written in 1997 in German by Hans Magnus Enzensberger and illustrated by Rotraut Susanne Berner. The book follows a young boy named Robert, who is taught mathematics by a sly "number devil" called Teplotaxl over the course of twelve dreams.
The book was met with mostly positive reviews from critics, approving its description of math while praising its simplicity. Its colorful use of fictional mathematical terms and its creative descriptions of concepts have made it a suggested book for both children and adults troubled with math. The Number Devil was a bestseller in Europe, and has been translated into English by Michael Henry Heim.