One crisp fall morning, Oliver dropped his backpack on the floor and perched on his bed. Oliver hated his bedroom. It was so bland with its green walls and plain metal bed. He stared dejectedly at the wall and wished for a majestic oak bookcase to appear. There was no such luck. He decided to grab a snack and head outside to think.

Click! The front door clicked shut and Oliver ran up the hill. He was still thinking about the oak bookcase. Suddenly, a idea popped into his head. He ran as fast as he back down the hill and into his parents' room. 

Oliver dashed into the room and found his mother sitting on her bed. He flew onto his father's bed and landed before eagerly explaining how he would earn his much wanted oak bookcase. 

Mom! You know how I always wanted an oak bookcase? I am going to earn it by reading 1,000 words. Then, to make it challenging, I only have one week, and I have to keep up with my schoolwork. 

That is an excellent idea! I think there should be one more challenge though. I think that the challenge should be dedication. You must read everyday or else you will have 200 words deducted. What do you think? I will have to ask your father if he agrees though.

That's a great idea! I can't wait for Dad to respond!

Oliver raced up to his room and began to look through books to read on his tablet. There were so many genres and series to pick from that Oliver didn't realize his mother standing in the doorway of his room. 

Oliver, I asked your dad and he agrees to this deal. However, he says that you must keep track of your words by making a record. You must also show us every day to make sure that your record is valid and correct. How does that sound?

Excellent!  I'm already choosing a book. I'll draw my record right after I get my book in for today. I don't want to be below zero on my first day.

Oliver's mother left and he began looking for books again. He finally decided on a book about space and black holes. He enjoyed the book thoroughly and looked at the back cover for its word count.  Its word count was 352 words. He hurriedly got a piece of paper, a pencil, and a calculator. Then, he began to draw. 

When Oliver was done with his record, it looked like this.

October 15, 2020 - The Awesome Book of Space and Black 

Holes: 352 words {Total - 352}

Oliver smelled a delicious scent wafting up to his room. Oliver placed his tablet, pencil, record, and calculator under his bed. Then he headed downstairs to meet his father and to eat his dinner. 

Oliver excitedly told his father of his progress on his record and asked which book his father would recommend.

Dad! I'm so excited you're home! I wanted tell you about my record. Can you come look at it after bed? Also, which book do you think I'll like to read? 

Whoa! Slow down! I'll look at your record after dinner and I'll also search for a book for you. Hurry up and eat your dinner so that you can go to bed. You have school tomorrow.

Oliver hurriedly finished dinner and got in bed. He patiently waited for his father to come upstairs. Oliver also went ahead and put his record on his bed.

Oliver's father finally came upstairs and leaned his backpack against his bed. Then he looked over Oliver's record and explained the term absolute value to him.

Oliver, your record is excellent but I want to teach you a term called absolute value. Absolute value is how far a number is from zero. For example, your first book has 352 words. Therefore, the absolute value is 352. Do you understand?

Yes, I understand. So if the absolute value of 352 is 352, is the absolute value of 1,000, 1,000? If it is, does that mean that I need to 1,000 words away from zero to earn the bookshelf?

Yes! That is why I explained this to you. I wanted you to learn a new thing while you earn your bookcase. I want you to add the absolute value of the total onto your record. You can represent absolute value by using two straight lines on both sides of the number. Can you write that?

Yes, I will! Here, I'll write it right now before bed so that you can check it.

Oliver reached under his bed and brought out his pencil. He wrote the symbol for absolute value and the father deemed it correct. His father starred a book on the tablet for him to read, and then Oliver placed everything back under his bed and went to sleep.

When Oliver finished writing the absolute value, it looked like this.

October 15, 2020 - The Awesome Book of Space and Black 

Holes: 352 words {Total - 352} |352|=352

The next day, Oliver woke up bright and early and headed off to school. As soon as he got back home, he grabbed a piece of fruit to eat and started looking for the book his father had starred.

Oliver finally found the book. It was about tigers and lions and their differences. He then got out his record and recorded the book's title, the date, the total, and the absolute value.

When Oliver finished recording the book, it looked like this.

October 15, 2020 - The Awesome Book of Space and Black 

Holes: 352 words {Total - 352} |352|=352

October 16, 2020 - The Differences and Similarities of 

Tigers and Lions: 423 words {Total - 775} |775|=775

Oliver then grabbed the record and put the pencil away before heading downstairs for dinner.

Dad! I read the book you recommended. I loved it! Can you star another book and check my record?

Sure! You only have five more days. I'll star a longer book so that it has more words. Make sure you keep reading!

Oliver gave his record to his father and got out his tablet. His father checked his record and starred a book for him. Then Oliver put everything away and went to bed.

The next day, Oliver was invited to Mushroom Park to play with his friends. He eagerly agreed and forgot all about reading the book on his tablet. He played so long at the park; his mother had to come and take him home for dinner.

Oliver, did you read a book today? I heard that your mother had to tell you to come home for dinner. If you haven't read a book, I will have to deduct 200 words you know.

No, I didn't. I guess you'll have to deduct 200 words. I will read my book tomorrow, and I won't get sidetracked. I promise!

Oliver sadly hung his head and got his record and pencil. With his father watching, he carefully deducted 200 words from his total and put everything away again. Then he glumly pulled up the covers and went to bed.

When Oliver subtracted the words, the record looked like this.

October 15, 2020 - The Awesome Book of Space and Black 

Holes: 352 words {Total - 352} |352|=352

October 16, 2020 - The Differences and Similarities of 

Tigers and Lions: 423 words {Total - 775} |775|=775

October 17, 2020 - Incomplete Book: -200 words {Total 

- 575} |575|=575

The very next day, Oliver came home and started on his homework. He was almost finished when he saw a link on the bottom of the page. He clicked it and it took him to an educational video. As Oliver finished the video, another interesting video caught his eye and he watched that one too. Before he knew it, it was already time for dinner and Oliver still hadn't read a book!

Oliver, did you read a book today? You look rather dejected. I hope I don't have to take away another 200 words. 

Oliver swiftly made up a lie, and he immediately felt guilty. Earning the oak bookshelf would be worth it, he told himself and then began to speak.

Dad, I did read a book today! I didn't read the book you starred. I read another book. Unfortunately, that book was extremely sad.