Addition

Do you have one soft, cuddly teddy bear. What happens if you get another one. Now you have more teddy bears to hug. Do you have one bright red block. What if you stack a shiny blue block on top. Now you have a taller tower. I love it when things come together to make something bigger and better. It feels so happy to have more. I am Addition, and my special sign is a plus. It looks like a little hug for numbers.

Long, long ago, people needed me but did not know my name. I was a secret helper. I would watch a farmer count his fluffy sheep. He had two sheep in a sunny field. Then three more sheep would come to eat the green grass. I helped him see that when he put them all together, he had a bigger group of happy, fluffy sheep. I helped people who gathered yummy red berries. They would have one little pile, and then find another little pile. When they put them together, they had one great big pile of berries to share. I have always loved helping people see how much more they can have when they bring things together.

I am still your helper today. When you have two yellow crayons and a friend shares two green crayons, I help you have more colors to make a beautiful picture. At your birthday party, we add one more candle to your cake for every year you have been here. More candles make the cake look so bright and happy. I help add up all the wonderful things in your life, like friends to play with, warm hugs from your family, and big, happy smiles. I love helping everyone see that when we add good things together, the world becomes a more joyful place.