Partners & Sponsors

PRIZE ORGANIZER

SLMath (formerly MSRI)

The Mathical Book Prize is awarded by the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath) in Berkeley, California, formerly known as the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI). SLMath is one of the world’s preeminent centers for collaborative research in mathematics. Our mission is to advance mathematical research, foster talent, and further the appreciation and understanding of mathematics.

Our public programs aim to showcase the importance and beauty of math to the general public. SLMath strives to make mathematics accessible and exciting to those outside the field through initiatives including sponsorship of Numberphile (one of YouTube’s most popular informal mathematics channels, with over 4.3 million subscribers), film production for public television (mostly recently Secrets of the Surface: The Mathematical Vision of Maryam Mirzakhani), and the Mathical Book Prize.

SLMath is supported by the National Science Foundation, with additional support from other government agencies, private foundations, corporations, individual donors, and over 100 academic institutions in the U.S. and worldwide. 

In 2022-23, MSRI is becoming the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath).

MSRI / SLMath is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the United States, and it is not affiliated with any publisher or bookseller of Mathical award titles.

Educator Partnerships

SLMath is pleased to partner with two of the United States’ premier professional associations for educators, the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Members of each organization are represented on the Mathical Book Prize selection panel, and both organizations coordinate with SLMath to announce the competition results, share resources for educators, and promote Mathical award winning titles both online and at events throughout the country.

National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) is the nation’s most comprehensive literacy organization, supporting more than 25,000 teachers across the PreK–college spectrum. Through the expertise of its members, NCTE has served at the forefront of every major improvement in the teaching and learning of English and the language arts since 1911.

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) is the public voice of mathematics education, supporting teachers to ensure equitable mathematics learning of the highest quality for all students through vision, leadership, professional development, and research. Founded in 1920, NCTM is the world’s largest mathematics education organization, with 40,000 members and more than 200 affiliates throughout the United States and Canada.

Support for Low-Income Communities and Schools

Early Math Project

The Early Math Project promotes awareness of the importance of math and science in early education (birth to age eight), provides tools to parents and educators, and collaborates with agencies and organizations working to advance math and science learning.

Guru Krupa Foundation

The Guru Krupa Foundation (GKF) is a private foundation incorporated in New York.  The Foundation follows a holistic approach to charitable giving, addressing a range of issues from education to basic sustenance, arts & culture, and the environment. In particular, organizations that focus on delivering complementary or supplemental programs for younger children, designed to enhance the learning experience and outcomes, form a core component of many of the Foundation’s initiatives. For more information on the Foundation’s projects, please visit www.guru-krupa.org.

ParentChild+

For over 50 years, ParentChild+ has been working to strengthen inclusivity and diversity by partnering with parents to build school readiness supports in the homes of young children and their families. By committing to provide all families with reading and play materials that are diverse, inclusive, and culturally relevant, ParentChild+ prioritizes helping children and families to be rooted in their own identities and develop a strong sense of self and understanding of others. ParentChild+ believes that representation and book selection can be a powerful step toward building a stronger, more equitable world.

First Book

First Book provides access to new books for children in need. To date, First Book has distributed more than 185 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families throughout the United States and Canada, including over 10,000 copies of Mathical award-winning titles. Educators working with schools and programs serving low-income communities can register with the First Book Marketplace to access many Mathical titles at heavily discounted prices, as well as grants and no-cost books through First Book’s National Book Bank.

Bring Me a Book

Bring Me a Book provides book access to under-resourced children and families through partnerships with schools and community-based organizations to foster a love of reading, kindergarten readiness and learning to read.

Bring Me a Book and the Oakland Literacy Coalition played a critical role distributing Mathical books to kids in need in the Bay Area during Fall 2022.

Reach Out and Read

Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based, national, nonprofit organization that gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together. Founded in 1989 at Boston Medical Center, Reach Out and Read’s 34,000 pediatric clinicians served 4.8 million children and shared 7.4 million books at 6,400 program sites around the country over the last year.

TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks strives to enrich everyone’s experience reading children’s and young adult books with our original and curated literary resources. Their mission is to equitably give all readers insights and opportunities that deepen their understanding and joy of the books they are reading.

School Library Journal

School Library Journal (SLJ) is the premiere publication for librarians and information specialists who work with children and teens. A source of quality journalism and reviews for more than 60 years, SLJ produces award-winning features and news coverage on: literacy, best practices, technology, education policy and other issues of interest to the school library and greater educator community.

Development and Research in Early Math Education (DREME)

Development and Research in Early Math Education (DREME) is a network of scholars across the country who collaborate to advance math teaching and learning in the early years (birth to age 8). Visit DREME for free, research-based resources that support the development of early math skills.

Books for Kids

Books for Kids creates libraries inside of preschools, Head Starts, and family homeless shelters in under-resourced communities because we know the difference that access to books can make in a child’s life. Their Library Specialists are experts at making reading both an educational and joyful experience for the children they serve.

Bookelicious

Bookelicious promotes literacy by helping children find great books on topics they are passionate about. Its fun, child-friendly website, bookelicious.com, combines gamification, innovative personalization technology, and the expert knowledge of educators and reviewers to offer children a wide selection of high-quality, age-appropriate, personally relevant books they truly want to read.

Association of Children’s Museums

The Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) champions children’s museums worldwide since 1962. With more than 460 members in 50 states and 19 countries, ACM is the world’s foremost professional society supporting and advocating on behalf of children’s museums, and those who work at and otherwise sustain them.

Special Thanks: Our Sponsors

We gratefully acknowledge the following organizations and individuals:

The Mathical Book Prize is made possible with support from the Firedoll Foundation, the Guru Krupa Foundation, and The Luce-Fahey Family Foundation.

The Firedoll Foundation, a private family foundation founded by Sandor and Faye Straus in 1998, helps non-profits “fight the good fight” for environmental conservation and justice, immigration and human rights, community development, Middle East peace, and support for those affected by traumatic brain injury.

The Guru Krupa Foundation (GKF) is a private foundation incorporated in New York.  The Foundation follows a holistic approach to charitable giving, addressing a range of issues from education to basic sustenance, arts & culture, and the environment. In particular, organizations that focus on delivering complementary or supplemental programs for younger children, designed to enhance the learning experience and outcomes, form a core component of many of the Foundation’s initiatives. 

The Luce-Fahey Family Foundation co-sponsors Mathical, as well as supporting a variety of initiatives in the Los Angeles community and nationwide.

SLMath thanks the Simons Foundation for founding support of the Mathical Book Prize, and the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation and Joan & Irwin Jacobs for previous sponsorship.