Annette and André Parent's legacy | Tangente

Annette and André, her partner, who died exactly twenty years ago, were two passionate teachers who did a great deal to promote mathematics among people of all ages and backgrounds. They were founding members of the Comité international des jeux mathématiques (CIJM).

Together—André with his middle school students and Annette with her preschool pupils—they involved many young people in scientific gatherings around the world, always striving to foster a spirit of discovery.

Math for the "little mice" -------------------------------------

Annette and André Parent pursued their teaching careers in their small Belgian town of Mouscron. They created public events celebrating mathematics, with their own students taking part in these celebrations of math. In doing so, they showed how a fair devoted to mathematics and mathematical games might be created. In 2000, when Gilles Cohen, then president of the CIJM, proposed such a fair to the City of Paris, Annette was on hand to make sure that the youngest children were not left out, and her "Little Mice" stand was mobbed. She took part in the fair until 2010, organizing a "mouse rally," a trail through the fair that sent young children out to discover the world of mathematics. Many visitors retain wonderful and moving memories of it. To pay tribute to her and carry on this important commitment to young children, the CIJM runs a stand called "Seeds of Math" at the fair each year.

Furthermore, for several years and until 2017, Annette organized the Belgian section of the International Championship of Mathematical and Logical Games launched by the FFJM (Fédération française des jeux mathématiques, see the following page).

Annette Parent's two puzzle books -------------------------------------

Annette Parent devised two puzzle books, published by POLE in 2006, designed to help preschool and early-primary children understand and play Sudoku.

The book *Mon premier sudoku* is intended for children aged three to six. It is first and foremost a story to tell, featuring Coralie the mouse, her bear Martin, and her friend Juju the piglet. Through their conversations, they introduce children very gradually to the rules of Sudoku, first using pictures of animals or familiar objects to cut out, and then using numbers. The book encourages adults and children to talk together and develops observational skills, the ability to follow simple rules, awareness of left and right, logical thinking, and oral expression. The center pages contain pieces to cut out and use to complete the various grids, making the book great fun.

The book *Coralie joue au sudoku à la grande école* follows the same principle, but the text is set in larger type to make it easier for children to read, and the grids are more elaborate, with the final ones even involving basic mental arithmetic. It is intended for the first few years of primary school.