Last year, I came across some wonderful math resources last year while replenishing the math section of the library. I have since come back to these books time and time again, expanding our classroom library for each new math unit. My goal was to find books that related math to the real world, AS WELL as entertaining students on some level. 
I think I was inspired by The Number Devil, which SEEMED to have all the nuance of an entertaining story centered on number literacy. However, I found the book to be a close cousin to The Phantom Toll-Booth, which was lovely in theory, but somewhat painful to consume (even in my 20’s, when I finally got around to reading it).
So then… books that got the point across, were age appropriate, did not beat you over the head with computation skills…
There is a sports series that incorporates math: The Math of the Game. These feature football, basketball, baseball, soccer, hockey and other typically male dominated sports.
At the other end of the spectrum (this one made me laugh… in a sad sort of way) is the female-geared books for middle school students (read: GIRLS) by Danica McKeller. She is also the author of “Math Doesn’t Suck.”
What I wanted, I decided, was a resource that didn’t scream “You struggle in math so I am going to make it look cook.” Just a nice, tidy book that allowed kids to picture math, as it is used in the real world- because isn’t that the end game?
Finally! I came across this wonderful series published by Capstone Press. Whether you are teaching 2-D shapes or volume and area, these books can easily be found on Amazon under different authors names: Dawn McMillan – Dianne Irving – Diana Noonan – Julia Wall – John Lockyer – Moira Anderson – Tony Hyland – Suzanne Barchers – M. W. Penn – Maria Alaina.
These books are even more engaging because they come in different levels for the same unit.
For example:
Collecting data (level 3): estimating
People Who Predict (level 4):
I bought a set for my classroom, one for each subject that we are going to cover. The books are used as extension activities and can be signed out by students to take home. Before I introduced them I made up a handout that explained the different levels of engagement students could take with books (we use a classroom currency, which is how is the extrinsic incentive):
LEVEL 1: read the book and write a summary ($5 clementbucks)
LEVEL 2: complete the mini-math problems, as well as a summary ($10)
LEVEL 3: complete the mini problems as well as the main problem as the end of the book. ($15)
I have also been able to use the books as a springboard for projects and class activities. For instance, the fractions books include recipes. The Amusement Part includes a map that we use for our 3-D mapping an amusement park project. One of my favorites is the Cartesian Plane books, which really give students an understanding of when they would use these skills in the real world.
Gender Bias: No
Varied levels of reading: Yes
Graphics: Amazing, detailed and current
Topics: current, interesting and applicable to Young Adults.
I give this resource two thumbs up!
Multiple Intelligences in the Everyday Classroom 