Max explained the new arithmetic operator, haku, as the “crossing out of multiplication and addition. ” In this example, 2×5 = 10, so 10 haku 2 = 5. Max also proposes a symbol for haku, which looks like an equals sign with up and down arrows attached to the end.
Although I’m just starting to understand haku and how it works, I think the implications for math are profound. I’m surprised someone didn’t discover it sooner.
[ Here is the full book, as a PDF. ]
Max likes to write little books, so I gave him a Field Notes brand notebook that I wasn’t using. It disappeared for a few months. I learned today that he carries it to school and has been making entries, a few of which are scanned here.
The first entry is a day’s schedule for Reily,
Dear Riely,
Here is the day.
1. Book Find
2. DBW
3. Handbook
4. Surfs up!etc. Love Max B.
The second entry is max’s literary catch phrase: “Love Is Life.” He’s even attributing the quote to himself, dating it on each utterance. Clearly, he inherited his father’s humility.
He makes a few observations about the day.
Yesterday, I smell ocan spray.
The waves are going to be 15 ft tall.
The crossing guard are playing.
He likes the idea of Haiku, but doesn’t understand syllables yet.
Finally, the Sunset’s tale:
Once there was a seed. At sunset, it grew and grew, until it became a palm tree. Even before the seed grew, love was passed onto it. The End!
A palm tree, naturally.
Here is the full book, as a PDF.
Max wanted to cheer up a friend who was upset during a playdate, so he wrote her this card.
Here is the front of the card:
Everyone who loves life should have this
Here is the inside of the card:
Love Is Life, By Max B, for Beatrix
Via the Magic Tree House, Max has taken an interest in Bashō. Here is a PDF Version of his epic translation.
Max:
Don’t tear up your baby license. The Evil Gods will look into the ripped part and say “Oh, this is the power.” And that will destroy the Aloha Relaxation Company.
Eric:
Oh. I’ve got to go upstairs …. (Dashing to Facebook! )
Max:
Don’t post that on Facebook. The Aloha Relaxation Company will fall apart.
The Aloha Relaxation Company delivers blankets that help you relax. The Founder, Max, gives us examples of his company’s services every morning at 5:45. I’m not entirely sure what the Baby License is.
We’re well along to raising an Eagle Scout. Max has taken an interest in fishing, is reading Boy’s Life, and this morning, wrote a book about using a pocket knife.
Unfortunately, with these instructions you certainly will not get your Totin’ Chip. The part about “Pretend you are swinging a s(w)ord” would disqualify anyone.
Based only on third hand reports I’ve developed a revulsion to the sparkly-vampire show Twilight. So, I jumped like I’d met a leper when Max wanted to show Mom his “Sparkling Communities.” Mom put him to bed, hoping that he’d forget. Max never forgets. Next morning he was still excited about Sparkling Communities.
Max wakes up about an hour before his parents and he often entertains himself by making books.
Fortunately, Max is all boy, and the Sparkling Communities turned out to be astronomical constellations. Here is a PDF of the full book.
Max has become interested in knights and dragons, so it wasn’t surprising when he asked about how to get a sword from a stone. I explained the legend of King Arthur as best I could remember. Then Max explained, “No, how do you make a sword from a stone. ”
Possible, I supposed, but not practical. Max persisted. He persisted for several weeks. Finally, I understood what he was really saying: “Good God Man, you’re a Busboom! Get to work! ” So I made a sword from a stone.
We took a river rock from the garden, put a diamond blade on the angle grinder, and free-handed a sword. Even though Max was equipped with safety glasses and an apron, the lesson was entirely negated by Dad holding an angle grinder in one hand, and a rock in the other.
Regardless, the result was acceptable, and Max approves:
This was the first year that we’ve really talked to Max about Santa Claus. He’s 5 now, and in previous years he didn’t care or didn’t understand. The magic did not last long.
Max, to Mom: Is Santa Claus real, or a made up story?
Mom: Well, Santa Claus is, um, the spirit of Christmas.
Max: But is he real or a made up story?
Mom: It’s kind of hard to say.
Max: Can Daddy say?
Mom: Go ask your Dad.
So, tomorrow, I get to pitch Santa Claus to a young skeptic. Somehow, saying “If you see it in the Huffington Post it’s so” doesn’t quite feel right.
The second release from the Artists’ oeuvre:
The lyrics are exactly what they sound like, and his parents have absolutely no explanation for them.
Zeppologue