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Any thoughts on the Primary Grade Challenge Math by Edward Zaccaro as a supplement to in-school differentiation (for after schooling or for sending to school)? I wonder how it compares to Beast Academy.

It would be for 2nd grade DD. I'm not sure if we want to jump into Beast Academy 3rd grade (would do pre-assessment, of course). I picked up the Challenge Math for Elementary and Middle School a year or so ago for my DS9 but we never really dug in -- it was pretty involved, and we could have used a lower starting point.

Well, the Beast Academy books are definitely a lot more fun.

If she's working above level in math, I think it would be worth a try of the Beast Academy 3A. My son's at the beginning of 2nd grade level for math but saw that book over the summer and wanted it desperately, so we did buy it and work through some of the first chapter (shapes) during the summer. He's advanced for his grade not the sort of personality that's actually really interested in academics for its own sake, so the story/comic aspect was the big draw for him. He would never have been interested in a regular math book.

That said, the challenge math is also a perfectly sound choice. My daughter had a copy of one of them which she was doing in after-school care. I think she'd probably still prefer Beast Academy but they don't go up to her level.

Thank you for the comparison! You really just sold me with the story aspect (somehow I missed that part before), I think it would appeal to DD right now, especially after looking at sample guide pages. :-)