The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics by Norton Juster

1963/2001, Sea Star Books, 70 pages, hardcover

The Dot and the Line is a funny little picture book for kids and adults. It's a humorous allegory about a straight line who falls in love with a dot. Unfortunately the dot loves the more free-spirited squiggle and the straight line nears despair. He tries to rejoice in his wonderful uses (illustrated in creative and humorous ways) but is still frustrated by his lack of creativity and spontaneity. He finally discovers...

Well, I don't want to spoil it for you, but it's a fun little book that packs quite a bit of philosophical punch. Though it's not quite as involved, expect some of the same word plays and humor as the author's most famous book: The Phantom Tollbooth.

Of course this is a about a lot more than just mathematics, but it should delight the hearts of math lovers everywhere.

Available from Chronicle Books