Life of Fred
Life of Fred is a story-based math series by Dr. Stanley F. Schmidt. Each hardcover book follows Fred, a five-year-old genius who teaches at KITTENS University, and teaches math through his adventures, from first grade through college calculus.
What is Life of Fred?
Life of Fred is a math series that reads like a novel. Dr. Stanley F. Schmidt wrote it, and Polka Dot Publishing publishes it. Every book follows Fred Gauss, a five-year-old genius who teaches math at KITTENS University, through funny, sometimes odd adventures. Along the way, Fred keeps running into math he needs, and the reader learns it with him.
The idea is that children remember math better when it shows up for a reason inside a story.
How it works
Your child reads a short chapter. Each chapter ends with a few problems called Your Turn to Play, and the answers are on the next page. Later books add more problem sets at the end of each chapter.
There is no teacher's guide or workbook. The hardcover books are non-consumable, so children write answers on paper. Most students work through the books on their own, with a parent checking answers and adding practice where needed.
Lessons take a bit longer than a typical worksheet because of the story, and tangents are part of the charm.
What it covers
| Series | Books | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Apples to Jelly Beans (10 books) | 1–4 |
| Intermediate | Kidneys, Liver, Mineshaft | 4–5 |
| Arithmetic | Fractions; Decimals and Percents | 5–6 |
| Pre-Algebra | 0 with Physics, 1 with Biology, 2 with Economics | 6–8 |
| High school | Beginning Algebra, Advanced Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry | 9–12 |
| University | Calculus, Statistics, Linear Algebra and more | 12+ |
Books build on each other, so plan to go in order. The early books cover only some math facts (Apples covers sums to 7), so many families add flash cards, games or a facts app.
Who it's best for
Life of Fred fits strong readers, story lovers and kids who are tired of worksheets. It also suits families who want a cheap, reusable math spine they can hand from one child to the next. Many families use it alongside a more practice-heavy elementary math program.
It is a poor fit for children who need a lot of repetition to master skills, or for parents who want detailed lesson plans.
Pricing at a glance
From the publisher's store, elementary and intermediate books are $19 each, Fractions and Decimals and Percents are $24, and each Pre-Algebra book is $39. High school and college books cost more. Because the books are reusable, the per-child cost drops with each sibling.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Often, yes. Curriculum books are commonly allowed in programs such as the Arizona ESA and Florida's scholarships, though each program decides which purchases and vendors qualify. Save Life of Fred to your wishlist, then check scholarships in your state and apply once on Edulist.
How it compares
- Math Mammoth gives far more practice at a similar price.
- Beast Academy also uses characters and story, with much harder puzzles.
- Singapore Math is a structured, parent-taught alternative with deep word problems.
- Teaching Textbooks is the independent, app-based option for later grades.
Browse all homeschool math curriculum or see our best homeschool math curriculum.
Who Life of Fred is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Strong readers who love stories and humor
- Kids burned out on worksheet-heavy programs
- Families who want a low-cost, reusable spine
- Curious students who like tangents and real-world uses
Look elsewhere if
- Children who need lots of practice to master facts
- Families who want a teacher's guide and structured lesson plans
- Kids who get distracted by long stories
Life of Fred pros and cons
Pros
- Engaging stories show why math matters
- Inexpensive, durable hardcovers reused across siblings
- Designed for independent reading and work
- Doesn't water down content; covers a broad range of topics
- Runs from first grade through college-level math
Cons
- Light on practice, especially math facts in the early books
- Storytelling makes lessons longer and sometimes wanders
- Answers sit right after problems, which tempts peeking
- Some story content may not suit every family
- Pre-algebra topics are spread across books
What’s included
- Math taught through a continuing story about Fred
- Short Your Turn to Play problem sets with answers in the book
- Hardcover, non-consumable books reusable for siblings
- Series runs from Apples (grade 1) to university math
- Optional Zillions of Practice Problems books
Life of Fred levels
| Level | Grades | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary series: Apples to Jelly Beans | 1–4 | Ten books used in alphabetical order. Apples covers addition facts that sum to 7, Butterflies those that sum to 9, and Honey has students master multiplication facts. |
| Intermediate series: Kidneys, Liver, Mineshaft | 4–5 | Three books that bridge into the arithmetic series. |
| Fractions and Decimals and Percents | 5–6 | For students in at least fifth grade. |
| Pre-Algebra 0, 1 and 2 | 6–8 | Pre-Algebra with Physics, with Biology and with Economics, usually done in grades 6–8 in order. |
| High school: Beginning Algebra to Trigonometry | 9–12 | Beginning Algebra, Advanced Algebra, Geometry (proof-based from chapter one) and Trigonometry, which partly serves as precalculus. |
| University: Calculus and beyond | Grade 12 · College | Calculus, Statistics, Linear Algebra and more, for advanced students and adults. |
How much does Life of Fred cost?
You buy each hardcover book once and reuse it for every child. On the publisher's store in October 2026: elementary and intermediate titles (Apples through Mineshaft) were $19.00 each, Fractions and Decimals and Percents $24.00, and each Pre-Algebra book $39.00. High school and college books cost more; Christianbook listed Beginning Algebra and Advanced Algebra at $48.99 and Calculus at $56.99.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary or Intermediate book (each) | $19 | One-time | — |
| Fractions or Decimals and Percents | $24 | One-time | — |
| Pre-Algebra 0, 1 or 2 (each) | $39 | One-time | — |
| Zillions of Practice Problems (each) | $24 | One-time | — |
Free trial: None. The publisher's Where to Start guide helps you choose a first book.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
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View wishlistWhat parents say
A summary of public parent feedback we read on forums, app stores and review sites. It is not a set of Edulist family reviews.
Reviewers and parents praise the stories for making math approachable and the books for being reusable and inexpensive. The steady criticism is limited practice, which led the publisher to add the Zillions of Practice Problems books.
Common praise
- Engaging, funny stories
- Shows real-world uses of math
- Low cost and reusable
Common complaints
- Not enough practice, especially early math facts
- Tangents and long stories can distract
- Basic arithmetic skills like carrying covered briefly
Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com · life of fred math elementary · cathyduffyreviews.com · life of fred math series middle school through high school
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Life of Fred FAQs
What order do Life of Fred books go in?
Start with the elementary books in alphabetical order (Apples, Butterflies, Cats and so on through Jelly Beans), then Kidneys, Liver and Mineshaft. Next come Fractions, Decimals and Percents, the three Pre-Algebra books, then Beginning Algebra, Advanced Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry.
Is Life of Fred a complete curriculum?
The publisher and many families use it as one, and the answers are in the books. In the elementary years, most reviewers suggest adding math-fact practice, since the early books cover only some fact families.
Is Life of Fred Christian?
Cathy Duffy describes it as secular but Christian friendly. There are a few references suggesting the author is Christian, but no overtly religious teaching.
How much do Life of Fred books cost?
From the publisher's store in October 2026, elementary books are $19 each, Fractions and Decimals and Percents $24, and each Pre-Algebra book $39. High school titles cost more.
What grade is Life of Fred Apples for?
Apples is the first book, used around first grade. The elementary series is meant for roughly grades 1–4.
Can kids use Life of Fred on their own?
Yes. The books are written for independent reading, with short problem sets and answers on the following page. A parent should check that answers aren't being peeked at.
Can an ESA pay for Life of Fred?
Often, since the books are curriculum. Each program decides what qualifies. Save it to an Edulist wishlist and apply once to scholarships in your state.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources: