Math sucks for a lot of kids. Honestly, it does. Sitting at a desk while a teacher drones on about abstract integers isn't exactly a thrill ride for a seven-year-old. That's why Even Steven and Odd Todd by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook remains such a powerhouse in elementary classrooms. It isn't just a book; it's a mental shortcut.
It works.
If you’ve ever walked into a second-grade classroom during a numeracy unit, you’ve probably seen these characters plastered on a bulletin board. The story is simple but the psychological hook is deep. You have Steven, who is obsessed with symmetry and pairs. Then you have his cousin Todd, who is the literal personification of "one left over." This isn't just cute storytelling—it’s a foundational look at parity that sticks in a kid's brain way better than a worksheet ever could.
The Real Magic Behind Even Steven and Odd Todd
Most people think teaching even and odd numbers is just about looking at the last digit. 0, 2, 4, 6, 8. Easy, right? Not for a developing brain. Kids need to see the "why" before they memorize the "what."
Steven likes things in pairs. He has two of everything. He likes things neat. When Todd shows up with his three suitcases and his five-pronged fork, it creates a visceral sense of "wrongness" for the character of Steven, which helps children identify the mathematical property of an odd number: the remainder.
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Why the visual of "The Extra One" matters
Think about how we teach division later on. If a child doesn't understand that an odd number fundamentally cannot be split into two equal whole-number groups, they’re going to struggle when remainders enter the chat in fourth grade. This book lays the groundwork for division and multiplication before the kids even know they're doing it.
It’s about groups of two.
When Steven looks at his world, he sees 12 cookies—six for him, six for a friend. When Todd brings 13, someone is getting left out. That emotional reaction—the "hey, that's not fair!"—is actually a high-level mathematical observation. We call it parity. Kids call it Todd being annoying.
Moving Beyond the Picture Book
If you’re a parent or a teacher, you can’t just read the book once and call it a day. You have to live it. You've probably got a junk drawer full of buttons or a LEGO bin. Use them.
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Ask your kid to "Steven-ize" a pile of bricks. They should be making towers of two. If there's one brick sitting by itself at the end, they've found an "Odd Todd" number. It’s tactile. It’s messy. It’s effective.
I’ve seen teachers use "Even Steven" snack time where every kid gets an even number of crackers. If a kid realizes they have 15, they know they have to eat one or ask for another to make it "Steven-approved." This isn't just playing with food; it's reinforcing the concept of $n + 1$ or $n - 1$ changing the parity of a set.
Common Misconceptions Kids Have
- The "Big Number" Fallacy: Kids often think a huge number like 1,001 must be even because it's so big.
- The Zero Confusion: Is zero even? Yes. But try explaining that to a six-year-old without using Steven’s logic of "no one is left out."
- The Pattern Trap: They might think numbers just alternate because they were told so, not because they understand the pairing logic.
The Scholastic Impact and E-E-A-T
This book isn't some fly-by-night indie project. Published by Scholastic as part of their "Hello Math Reader" series, it was vetted by educational experts like Marilyn Burns. Burns is basically the GOAT of math education. She’s spent decades arguing that children need to talk about math to understand it.
When kids argue about whether Todd’s 7-speed bicycle is "fair," they are engaging in mathematical discourse. They are defending a thesis. That’s what real mathematicians do. They don't just solve equations; they look at properties and patterns.
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The illustrations by Catherine Stock also play a huge role. They aren't just decorations. Look closely at the background details in the house. Everything on Steven's side is mirrored. Everything on Todd's side is skewed. It’s a masterclass in visual learning.
How to use Even Steven and Odd Todd at home
Don't overthink it. Seriously.
- The Sock Sort: Next time you’re doing laundry, have your kid pair up socks. If there’s a stray (and there always is), ask them who that sock belongs to. They’ll scream "Odd Todd!" and suddenly laundry is a math lesson.
- The Number Hunt: Go for a walk. Look at house numbers. Why are all the Stevens on one side of the street and the Todds on the other? This is a great way to introduce urban planning and logic.
- Calculator Play: Show them that any number multiplied by 2 ends up being a "Steven" number. It’s like a magic trick to them.
Why this book stays relevant in 2026
We live in a world of screens, but the physical act of turning a page and seeing these two cousins clash over a plate of 12 or 13 cupcakes still hits home. The core of math hasn't changed. Parity hasn't changed.
The book avoids being "preachy." It doesn't feel like a textbook. It feels like a story about two guys who don't quite get each other, which is a universal human experience.
It's also a great way to talk about personality types. We all have a bit of Steven and Todd in us. Some days we want everything organized and "even." Other days, we’re a bit chaotic and "odd." Linking these personality traits to mathematical concepts makes the numbers feel like friends rather than enemies.
Actionable Steps for Deepening the Lesson
- Create a "Parity Wall": Use a sticky note to write a number and have the kid stick it under a drawing of Steven or Todd.
- The Mystery Bag: Put a random number of marbles in a bag. Have the kid reach in and pull them out two by two. Before they reach the bottom, have them guess: "Is this a Steven bag or a Todd bag?"
- Double It Up: Explain that doubling any number—even an odd one—always results in an even sum. $3 + 3 = 6$. Todd plus Todd equals Steven. It's a mind-blowing moment for a first grader.
Math literacy starts with these small, silly stories. If a child can internalize the difference between a pair and a leftover, they are already ahead of the curve for the rest of their elementary education. Stop worrying about flashcards and start talking about these two cousins. It's the best investment you'll make in their number sense this year.