Karma Wilson’s illustrations always adorably bring to life Bear and his woodland friends. This delightfully colorful new offering from her is just as Karma Wilson’s illustrations always adorably bring to life Bear and his woodland friends. This delightfully colorful new offering from her is just as charming as everything else she’s given us. Pre-K classes learning about colors will love spotting the small, partially hidden creatures of every color as they turn the pages. This is an absolute winner for little ones, whether it’s in a classroom full of kids or for sharing one-on-one....more
Well, I can guarantee you this: if you read this book to a group of preschoolers, you’re gonna get a lot of giggling.
Here’s the problem: there is thisWell, I can guarantee you this: if you read this book to a group of preschoolers, you’re gonna get a lot of giggling.
Here’s the problem: there is this really cool pair of giant underwear, and two fuzzy bears who both want to wear it. They refuse to share the underwear. So one bear is left yelling out, “This is not fair!” The book continues in a like fashion. There are three items, for example, and four animals who want them, so three animals take them, and one animal is left out and unhappy. It is not until we reach ten twisty slides and 20 pigs who want to slide that we meet some animals who are capable of sharing and working together. The pigs’ solution of riding down piggyback (how else?) allows everyone to enjoy the fun of sliding, and encourages the other animals to share the items they had previously taken, all the way back down to the two fuzzy bears sharing one big pair of underwear.
The illustrations are produced in an adorable cartoon style that has a lot of appeal to children, and there is humor in each illustration, as well.
My two fears (and I am not kidding) is that sometime later this week we will hear reports of pre-k kiddos [1] trying to go down the slide piggyback, and [2] creating havoc and hysteria in the bathroom by trying to share their underwear. They are pretty literal! ...more
I’m not sure how much geometry readers are actually going to get from this book, as much as general concepts of near, far, higher, lower, and things lI’m not sure how much geometry readers are actually going to get from this book, as much as general concepts of near, far, higher, lower, and things like that. The humor is strange, the illustrations are awkward, and it just did not appeal to me. ...more
This book has the cutest fuzzy bears ever, even when they are arguing over who is small and who is big. The text is very simple as it deals with relatThis book has the cutest fuzzy bears ever, even when they are arguing over who is small and who is big. The text is very simple as it deals with relative size, and the bears soon discover that their opinions are definitely just that--relative.
This would be very cute and fun to use with Pre-K classes who are talking about small and big, bigger, biggest. ...more
While I was not as intrigued with this title as I was with the original book about moose and zebra working their way through the alphabet, it’s a goodWhile I was not as intrigued with this title as I was with the original book about moose and zebra working their way through the alphabet, it’s a good resource for pre-k classes learning about shapes and seeing shapes in the world around us. Plus, Moose’s crazy antics will really get some giggles out of a classroom of little kiddos....more
This book doubles as a lift-the-flap counting book and a lesson on irregular plural nouns: one mouse / two mice / one die / six dice one octopus / eightThis book doubles as a lift-the-flap counting book and a lesson on irregular plural nouns: one mouse / two mice / one die / six dice one octopus / eight octopi
With this book, your little-bitty ones really will be learning while they're lifting flaps and turning pages. ...more
I’m still trying to figure out exactly what I think about this book. There is a ton of information about angles here. Kids who are interested could reI’m still trying to figure out exactly what I think about this book. There is a ton of information about angles here. Kids who are interested could really learn a lot. But the information is given so quickly that I’m not sure how much readers will really understand or retain.
I love all the diagrams with the robot and the way the text explains angles, lines, and triangles very clearly, in a way that is easy for young readers to understand. I’m just not sure how much they will retain when it is given to them in such a direct and rapid-fire manner....more
Ten little guinea pigs are enjoying a party, but as so often happens in backward-counting books, they disappear one by one until just one little lonelTen little guinea pigs are enjoying a party, but as so often happens in backward-counting books, they disappear one by one until just one little lonely guinea pig is left. Luckily, he makes a wish and all his friends return to play some more.
The adorable, cartoon illustrations of fluffy guinea pigs will easily draw the attention of young children, who will also appreciate the easy text and rhyme. This is perfect for PreK classrooms working on counting backward from ten, and just plain fun for one-on-one sharing, too. ...more
Fantastic and easy to understand introduction to the concept of probability. What's the difference between things are possible, probable, improbable, Fantastic and easy to understand introduction to the concept of probability. What's the difference between things are possible, probable, improbable, and impossible? Those can be difficult concepts for kids to understand. Goldstone does a terrific job of explaining those concepts in clear terms, making this book a great addition to elementary and middle school math classrooms....more
I love Ashley Wolff's work with Baby Bear. The first one was fantastic, and this one is just as beautiful. Baby Bear is counting, hearing animal soundI love Ashley Wolff's work with Baby Bear. The first one was fantastic, and this one is just as beautiful. Baby Bear is counting, hearing animal sounds, and experiencing the changing seasons, all in one gorgeous picture book. Every preschool classroom could benefit from having this in their library. ...more
The Felix and Oscar of children's fiction are back. (I'm probably the only one who ever called them that, but seriously, that zebra is Tony Randall.)
TThe Felix and Oscar of children's fiction are back. (I'm probably the only one who ever called them that, but seriously, that zebra is Tony Randall.)
Trying to count from 1 to 10 seems simple, but nothing is easy when zebra and musk ox get together. Frustrated zebra just wants to count in a logical, one-to-ten manner. Musk ox (Oscar!) thinks that way is boring and has his own ideas about how to liven up the book.
Although I didn't think one was quite as funny as the first, it's still funny, and a lot of fun to read aloud, especially if you have two readers sharing the duty. ...more
Let's count the monkeys, okay? Uh, no. Right off the bat, a king cobra scares away the monkeys, and it just gets crazier from there.
First off, what kLet's count the monkeys, okay? Uh, no. Right off the bat, a king cobra scares away the monkeys, and it just gets crazier from there.
First off, what kid doesn't like king cobras? Even if they hate them, they love hating them. But it's the way the narrator invites interaction that will get kids involved and will keep them laughing. ...more
This is a book about numbers. Wait--the letters say it's a book about the alphabet. Which is it? The truth is, it's both, and it's pretty darn cute. PThis is a book about numbers. Wait--the letters say it's a book about the alphabet. Which is it? The truth is, it's both, and it's pretty darn cute. Parents and teachers of preschoolers will really like this one for the way it teachers numbers and letters with humor and fun illustrations.
I'm not sure about using it for a read-aloud, because there's a lot going on on each spread, but it might be worth a shot....more
A little girl asks friends and family members what they think "infinity" means. They all have a different answer, but each helps her form her own undeA little girl asks friends and family members what they think "infinity" means. They all have a different answer, but each helps her form her own understanding of infinity.
I didn't care for the European-style illustrations, and I don't think they will appeal to many children either, but they did have a certain loveliness some will appreciate. Teachers introducing the concept of infinity to their math classes may want to use this to begin discussions....more
While it's not an oustanding title, this book provides an entertaining (if very brief) introduction to animals that live in polar regions, including nWhile it's not an oustanding title, this book provides an entertaining (if very brief) introduction to animals that live in polar regions, including not only penguins, seals, and polar bears, but musk oxen, caribou, arctic terns & hares, puffins, tundra wolves, and walruses. The photographs are large and fill the pages. Good for kindergarten units on arctic regions....more
Paul Erdos loved numbers from a very young age. (Which tells me he was probably really boring from a very young age. Sorry, math-lovers.) He spent allPaul Erdos loved numbers from a very young age. (Which tells me he was probably really boring from a very young age. Sorry, math-lovers.) He spent all his time growing up in Budapest thinking about them. He also hated rules, so he stayed at home with Fraulein rather than attend school. He learned more and more about numbers as he grew, and was apparently quite the little math genius, even as a boy. (He probably would have been really good at running a "Guess Your Weight" booth at a carnival.)
Apparently he was also quite the little spoiled brat, as his mother and Fraulein did everything for Paul. Everything. They cut his meat, buttered his bread, got him dressed...everything. As a matter of fact, when he grew up, he literally did not know how to butter bread. Someone else had to take care of him his entire life. (I believe he would be a good example of really smart people with no common sense.)
As an adult, Paul Erdos spent all of his time working with numbers. He didn't really have a job other than traveling around giving lectures about math. He never wanted to stop doing math, and, appropriately, he died in a math meeting. Paul Erdos was so famous and revered in the math world that people who did math with him awarded themselves an "Erdos Number" of 1. People who worked with people who worked with Erdos received an Erdos number of 2. Apparently, this is a big deal with math people, your Erdos number, even today.
Now, this book was interesting. I'd never heard of Paul Erdos. No big surprise, as I am not a big fan of math. LeUyen Pham's illustrations are terrific (LOVE her) and really specifically detailed, a fact that will escape anyone who does not take the time to read the "Note from the Illustrator" in the back. (She also made Erdos a lot more handsome and friendlier-looking than he really was.) The layout is great, too, keeping the eye moving up and down and across the page. Kids who love math should adore this book, as it gives them insight into someone just like them. As far as I know, there aren't that many books like this (or people like this) out there for kids. So for the elementary math world, this book is a fabulously welcome addition.
But for me, personally, I have to say that Erdos comes across here as self-centered and oblivious to the feelings of others. He would make huge messes because he didn't know how to do things (he stabbed a tomato juice carton with a knife trying to open it; somebody had to clean that up and I'm guessing it wasn't him). He would wake up at 4:00 in the morning in the homes of people who were graciously hosting him and wake them up, too, because he was ready to get up and do math. I am hesitant to use the word "jerk" but that's the only word that keeps coming to mind. I hope he wasn't really that way, but I'm guessing that he was probably worse than Heiligman tells us. I think she's makin' him look good for the kids.
A 4 is considered a really low (i.e., poor) Erdos number. I think mine is be about a 28, and I'm pretty okay with that. ...more
Cute story in fairy tale fashion that tells the story of how the foot came to be the standard measure of distance. While the story is funny and isn't Cute story in fairy tale fashion that tells the story of how the foot came to be the standard measure of distance. While the story is funny and isn't true, it's based on truth, as it was the practice in some countries to base the unit of measure upon the length of the king's foot. In those countries the standard would change with the change of monarchs to reflect the length of the new king's foot. Pretty interesting.
This would be fun to use in a class on measurement. Read it, and ask the kids how they think that would work, basing standards on the king's foot length. Then have them do some research on countries that used that rule as their standard. Could provide some interesting discoveries!...more
A magpie collects interesting items and brings them to his nest. A field mouse brings him a pretty marble, and then he has something. He finds a Lego A magpie collects interesting items and brings them to his nest. A field mouse brings him a pretty marble, and then he has something. He finds a Lego block and a coin, adds them to his nest, and then he has a few. The addition of some keys and beads give his "more". And more, and more, and lots, and plenty. Soon he has too much and the branch bearing the weight of his nest gives way. Now mapgie has less. But enough. Yes, he has just enough.
I love this simple, beautiful book for helping our littlest littles gain an understanding of quantities and number sense. The beautifully-detailed illustrations full of humor are a bonus. I do have a question that remains unanswered: what is the significance of the band around the magpie's leg? Obviously, he has been banded by scientists somewhere--the number on the band is even clear--but there is no explanation. I'm curious....more
Zero feel like a great big, fat nothing. Well, he is a great big nothing, but that doesn't mean he's worth nothing. Okay, he is worth nothing, but....Zero feel like a great big, fat nothing. Well, he is a great big nothing, but that doesn't mean he's worth nothing. Okay, he is worth nothing, but....
So you can see Zero's problem. No one values him. No one thinks he's of any worth whatsoever. So Zero hits the road.
But when the other numbers need to count to ten, what will they do without Zero???
This book is the companion to Tom Lichtenheld's E-mergency!, about what happens when the letter E is injured and cannot do his job. It's absolutely perfect for use in the classroom when talking about the "power of zero" in subtracting, adding, and multiplying....more
I've been a fan of Pete the Cat since I met him. Kids love Pete. Little kids, big kids, all kids. He's a snappy dresser, he sings, and he uses the worI've been a fan of Pete the Cat since I met him. Kids love Pete. Little kids, big kids, all kids. He's a snappy dresser, he sings, and he uses the word "groovy". What's not to love? Now, we have this third book in the series, and it is absolutely perfect for PreK kiddos. I'm pretty excited for the chance to read this with our 4-year-olds when school starts back.
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons not only teaches kids how to count backward from 4, it also teaches them to not sweat the small stuff. Pete loves his yellow shirt with the four groovy buttons, but someone isn't too good at sewing on buttons, because one by one all of Pete's buttons pop off that yellow shirt. He doesn't let it get him down, though, and readers get to repeat that favorite Q&A from the first Pete book: Did Pete cry? Goodness, no!" (a phrase I'm thinking should become a part of my everyday vocabulary for those "things-didn't-go-as-planned moments") . Instead, he shrugs it off with a "buttons come and buttons go" then sings his newest song: My buttons, my buttons, my fourthree two groovy buttons....
But when that last button pops off, can Pete still maintain that terrific attitude? Little ones are sure to laugh out loud at Pete's reaction to the loss of the very last button. That Pete...you just can't get him down. Another strong winner from the team of Litwin and Dean. Let's hope their ideas for Pete keep coming. He's just too groovy.
*One caveat which does not affect the quality of the book: I loved the video online of Litwin reading the first Pete book. It taught me the tune for Pete's song before I read it aloud, which is extremely helpful for me. I always appreciate having a firm tune in my head before reading aloud a book with a song in it. The video trailer for the second book did the same. I was excited to see the trailer for this book so I'd be ready with a tune for this song. But I HATED this one. Not because there is anything wrong with the tune. It's perfectly acceptable. This video literally (and I do actually mean "literally") made me cringe because of the way the performers pronounced the word "buttons". IT HAS A "T" IN IT. In fact, it has TWO of them. The word is not "buh-uns". For the love of Pete, please, PLEASE pronounce the "T". It's all I ask....more
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