Stuart J. Murphy - MathStart Books (Visual Learning)

(alphabetical by title):

Level 1 Books
Level 2 Books
Level 3 Books

Beep Beep, Vroom, Vroom!
(Patterns)
The Best Bug Parade
(Comparing Sizes)
Bug Dance
(Directions)
Circus Shapes
(Recognizing Shapes)
Double the Ducks
(Doubling Numbers)
Every Buddy Counts
(Counting)
The Greatest Gymnast of All
(Opposites)

Henry the Fourth
(Ordinals)
A House for Birdie
(Understanding Capacity)
It's About Time
(Hours)
Jack the Builder
(Counting On)
Just Enough Carrots
(Comparing Amounts)
Leaping Lizards
(Counting by 5's and 10's)
Mighty Maddie
(Comparing Weights)

Missing Mittens
(Odd and Even Numbers)
Monster Musical Chairs
(Subtracting One)
One� Two, Three�
Sassafras!
(Number Order)
A Pair of Socks
(Matching)
Rabbit's Pajama Party
(Sequencing)
Seaweed Soup
(Matching Sets)
3 Little Firefighters
(Sorting)

Beep Beep, Vroom, Vroom!

(Patterns)

From Kirkus Reviews - This rambunctious introduction to visual patterns and sequences is a strong addition to the MathStart series. Carefully lining up his dozen blue, red, and yellow toy cars in an unstated but visible order, Kevin orders Molly to keep her hands off, which she does, at least until he leaves the room. Drawn by Molly's ensuing honks and crashes, a mother, father, and a dog enter in succession, each one leaving the cars differently arranged. Can Molly replace them in their initial sequence before Kevin comes back? In fluid, energetic cartoons, Demarest makes it easy for children to help Molly solve her problem by giving each group of cars a bright color and distinctive shape, and Murphy appends suggestions for ways to continue the pattern-making with silverware, toys, and other household items.Used with permission of Kirkus Reviews. Copyright �� Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal - This fine offering introduces the concept of patterns. Kevin has red, yellow, and blue cars that he always lines up in a special way on his shelf. His little sister Molly wants to play, but is told that she is too young. Of course, she takes a turn the second Kevin leaves the room. Overhearing the "vrooming, crashing and beeping," Dad and Mom remind her that she must put the cars back on the shelf exactly the way Kevin left them. This allows several opportunities to arrange the vehicles in different ways. This clever book not only gives young readers an opportunity to identify color patterns, but also has the added bonus of a repetitive story, complete with sound effects. Whenever the children play with the cars, some variation of the refrain "VROOM VROOM zoomed the red cars. CRASH CRASH banged the blue cars" ensues. Primary color cartoon illustrations depict the family, a playful pooch, and plenty of toy-car action. Two concluding pages provide discussion questions and activities to reinforce the math as well as a few suggestions for further reading. However, many children will enjoy the book simply for the story and the colorful pictures.
By Jackie Hechtkopf
Rose Ruth Freudberg Memorial Library, Washington, DC Used with permission from School Library Journal. Copyright Cahners Business Information, Inc.

The Best Bug Parade

(Comparing Sizes)

From Horn Book - A polka-dotted bug compares itself to other insects with positive, comparative, and superlative adjectives. The rhyming text teaches how to compare and order differently sized items and concludes with two resource pages, including discussion questions and follow-up activities. Lighthearted, colorful drawings of the not-at-all creepy-crawlers are rendered in pen and ink, watercolors, and pastel.Reprinted with permission from The Horn Book, Inc., Boston, MA.
From School Library Journal - A parade of bugs introduces size relationships in this playful approach to beginning math concepts. Comparisons of big (bigger, biggest), small (smaller, smallest), and long and short are presented by an assortment of cheery insects marching through a colorful environment of flowers and grass. Some of the insects, such as a ladybug, are easily identifiable, while others are more fanciful. A spacious format with large print and brief text gives Keller's expressive creatures lots of space to enliven the concepts. A double-page section of suggested activities for adults to share with children is included. Early childhood teachers and parents will all find this a useful book, and youngsters will be attracted to the lively illustrations. A good choice to pair with Bruce McMillan's Super, Super, Superwords (Lothrop, 1989)
By Diane Nunn
Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, Glen Rock, NJ. Used with permission from School Library Journal. Copyright Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Bug Dance

(Directions)

From Children's Literature - The "MathStart" series has been created by a visual learning specialist with an interest in teaching math. Each of the books tells a story with the purpose of teaching a specific math concept. Bug Dance is a Level 1 book, exploring the concept of direction. Knowledge of direction is critical to map skills and geometry. Centipede loved gym class, but wasn't very happy the day the coach said they were going to dance. "I always trip over all my feet," he said. The coach demonstrated the dance for the students. Two steps to the left, then two steps to the right. The cricket and the fly were excited and ready to go. As they practiced, centipede had problems at firsts, but gradually caught on with repetition. The insect characters are particularly engaging, and the illustrations are a real plus. Each book in this series has instructions for parents and students at the end, including related activities; in this case playing Hokey Pokey and having the children do the dance with the insects on a second reading.
By Kristin Harris
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com

Circus Shapes

(Recognizing Shapes)

From Montgomery County-Norristown P.L. - This is a solid effort from the "MathStart" HarperCollins series. Bold, engaging illustration with plenty of examples to talk about with your favorite preschooler. This kind of "make learning fun" book is a welcome addition to any library. At the back are tips for adults and kids. For example, "Encourage the child to retell the story using the names of the shapes," or "Go on a shape hunt in your neighborhood." Recommended.
By Megan McCaskey
From Children's Literature - The bright primary colors of these computer generated pictures help to center attention on the various shapes associated with familiar circus sights. The pictures are arresting, completely covering the pages, which have only a line or two of text so that it's easy to spot the triangles, circles, squares and rectangles among the wagons, lions, clowns and the rest. The book ends with elementary counting questions to cement the lessons learned and an activity section for more fun.
By Judy Chernak
Reprinted with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com

Double the Ducks

(Doubling Numbers)

From Kirkus Reviews - An adorably freckled farm boy caring for his five little ducks teaches young children what is involved when the five suddenly become ten. With a simple format that keeps the youngest of readers in mind, the newest in the MathStart series is sure to be a hit with both adults and children. The tale follows a young boy as he feeds and cares for his flock of ducks. Along the way, children count the objects in the pictures, with help from a bubble in each corner that visually represents the correct number of objects and the numeral. There is one boy with two hands, three sacks of food, four bundles of hay for a nest, and five ducks. When they go for a walk and return with five new friends, the boy must double everything. He now needs six sacks of food to feed the ten ducks, and eight bundles of hay for their nest. But he is confused as to how he can have four hands, until he also realizes that he must double himself-he needs a new friend, too. Murphy includes and afterward to help readers get the most from the concepts presented. The section includes activities to help youngsters learn the concept, suggestions for extending the learning, and a reading list of other books that deal with similar concepts. Petrone's illustrations are simple cartoons with bold colors: the subjects are kept large enough to draw and hold children's attention. Readers will delight in all the fun they're having on the farm while they're learning some new math.Used with permission of Kirkus Reviews. Copyright �� Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Every Buddy Counts

(Counting)

From Horn Book - To shake off her sad mood, a young girl counts all of her friends. The simple rhyming text helps young readers develop their number sense, with each double-page spread displaying visual representations of a number (e.g., six slinky fish), as well as the numeral and word for each number. Crayon illustrations cover the pages with warm, friendly characters. Suggestions for follow-up activities are included.Reprinted with permission of The Horn Book, Inc., Boston, MA
From Children's Literature - One hamster, two sisters, three kittens: Murphy and Dunbar have combined snappy narrative and friendly pictures into a nice level one counting book in the "MathStart" series—picture books created to encourage mathematics practice in everyday activities. Every Buddy Counts is not revolutionary in concept or delivery, but is engaging and sound and does conclude with two pages of suggestions for additional activities to support the concepts included in the book. There has been a real need for easy-level mathematics books, and the MathStart appears to be a good addition for this subject area.
By Donna T. Brumby
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com

The Greatest Gymnast of All

(Opposites)

From Booklist - This title in the MathStart series presents spunky, redheaded Zoe performing in a gymnastics competition. As she executes each of the movements in her routine, the rhyming text describes a variety of opposites. These concepts of opposites are visually captured in the energetic illustrations. Rich and brightly colored, whimsical illustrations portray Zoe's high-spirited enthusiasm asshe jumps inside and outside, flips high and low, swings on and off, and cartwheels backward and forward. Adults and children will enjoy engaging in the various activities, which are listed at the end of this work. This concept book is a fun-filled way to introduce young children to the important world of opposites.
By April Judge, 12/1/98
Used with the permission of Copyright �� 1998 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Henry the Fourth

(Ordinals)

From Kirkus Reviews - In this entry in the MathStart series, Murphy uses an engaging tale about an amateur dog show to present the concept of ordinal numbers and how they are an integral part of daily life. Readers observe as each dog is called forth for its particular feat; seamlessly woven into the text are the first, second, third, and fourth ordinals. ```Today, you will see tricks performed by the most talented dogs on the block,' announced Jeremy. `Maxie, you're first.' '' When a new ordinal is introduced, Nash provides a diagram that has each of the four numerals situated below a mug shot of the dog they represent and highlights the featured digit in red. His vividly hued, lively illustrations humorously depict the antics of the intrepid canines and their proud owners. The combination of written and visual reinforcement effectively provides a firm foundation of understanding for beginning learners. (Picture book. 4-8)Used with permission of Kirkus Reviews. Copyright �� Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

A House for Birdie

(Understanding Capacity)

From Booklist - Murphy's latest title in the popular MathStart series uses a simple friendship story and clear, colorful paper-cut art to explore the concept of "capacity." As the weather becomes cold and wet, small Birdie needs shelter, and he asks his friends to help him find a house. They find a tall, thin, narrow house that's just right for tall, thin, narrow Spike. Then they find a tall, fat, wide house, just right for tall, fat, wide Queenie. There's a house to fit short, fat, wide Goldie and also one for short, thin, narrow Fidget. Finally, the friends make a house that's tiny all around—just right for Birdie. Preschoolers will enjoy the friendship story as they absorb the idea of volume and three-dimensional shapes, and adults who read this to kids will be pleased by the suggested activities at the end that will help children explore the concepts in everyday life.
By Hazel Rochman
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2004 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

It's About Time

(Hours)

From Teaching Children Mathematics -
It is never too soon to learn to tell time, and this book serves as a great introduction to young children ages 3 and up. The book is just one in the MathStart series, which focuses on a mathematics concept in the context of a fun story to which children can relate. The story is about a busy day in the life of a young boy. As the story goes along, each hour of the day is displayed in both an analog and a digital clock. The illustrations are colorful and show what the boy is doing each hour of the day.

I found this book to be helpful in teaching second graders about a.m. and p.m., as well as elapsed time. The suggestions and activities offered by the author at the back of the book are useful and were enjoyed by my students. As always, the author lists other similar books to reinforce the concept of time.
By Barbara Hosey
Beauvoir Elementary School, Biloxi School District, Biloxi, MS
From Kirkus Reviews - In this entry in the MathStart series, Murphy uses an engaging tale about an amateur dog show to present the concept of ordinal numbers and how they are an integral part of daily life. Readers observe as each dog is called forth for its particular feat; seamlessly woven into the text are the first, second, third, and fourth ordinals. ```Today, you will see tricks performed by the most talented dogs on the block,' announced Jeremy. `Maxie, you're first.' '' When a new ordinal is introduced, Nash provides a diagram that has each of the four numerals situated below a mug shot of the dog they represent and highlights the featured digit in red. His vividly hued, lively illustrations humorously depict the antics of the intrepid canines and their proud owners. The combination of written and visual reinforcement effectively provides a firm foundation of understanding for beginning learners. (Picture book. 4-8)Used with permission of Kirkus Reviews. Copyright �� Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
From Booklist - PreS-Gr. 2. This simple picture book relates the time on a clock to the pattern of a young child's day. Each page shows an analog clock and a digital clock displaying the time, from seven o'clock one morning through the day and night to seven the next morning. The illustrations show the child's activities and, in the night, his dreams. The text consists of a simple phrase or sentence, for example, "Wake-up time--a great big stretch." Very young children will enjoy watching others playing, bathing, eating, and going to bed, while older ones may begin to grasp the concept of time and the techniques of telling time. Soft pencil drawings delineate the rounded forms of children engaged in their daily activities. The rich colors of the washes glow against the white backgrounds, which give the pages a clean look. The last double-page spread suggests a few other books as well as activities and discussions. An appealing, practical choice from the MathStart series.
By Carolyn Phelan
Used with permission. Copyright �� 2005 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Jack the Builder

(Counting On)

From Booklist - PreS. Like Murphy's Beep Beep, Vroom Vroom! (2000), this entry in the MathStart series makes arithmetic a part of imaginative play. Jack stacks 2 blocks taken from a big pile. Turn the page, and a wild, colorful double-page spread shows what his simple stack becomes with the addition of a little imagination--a robot. A third block makes a hot-dog stand in an uproarious circus, and 2 more build "a ferryboat out on the sea." Eight blocks become a lookout tower, and, using 17, Jack creates a rocket ship, which soars across two pages. Then the stack falls down, leaving "nothing but a pile of blocks... so Jack can start again!" As always, Murphy begins and ends with simple hands-on activities for adults to help bring the math into kids' everyday life. Rex's bright illustrations will encourage even young preschoolers to point at shapes and colors as they count and add on.
By Hazel Rochman
Used with permission. Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Just Enough Carrots

(Comparing Amounts)

From Horn Book - While shopping for groceries with his mom, a young rabbit complains about the contents of their cart and compares their bunches of carrots, bags of peanuts, and cans of worms to the amounts piled in other shoppers' carts. The whining bunny's droll facial expressions and the rhyming text's final plot twist will amuse young readers. Follow-up activities dealing with math concepts are appended.Reprinted with permission from The Horn Book, Inc., Boston, MA.
From Children's Literature - A trip to the grocery store with Mother Rabbit turns into a math lesson. As the young rabbits spot all the different vegetables and fruits that the store offers, they also learn all about comparisons and numbers. Horse has more carrots than Mother Rabbit does, Bird has the same amount and Elephant has fewer. Each page offers children an opportunity to comprehend the concept of more, fewer, and same. The author uses bright colors, familiar characters and repetition to entice young children back to this math lesson again and again. Level one of the "MathStart" series of books for young readers, this is an excellent book for reading with preschoolers.
By Joyce Rice
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com

Leaping Lizards

(Counting by 5's and 10's)

From School Library Journal - Using brilliant colors, a variety of transportation modes, and plentiful lizards, Lizards demonstrates counting by 5s and 10s. Murphy’s rhyming text is short and simple and children can add up the reptiles on each spread. The final striking “lizard show” spread is jubilant, resembling fireworks on the page.
By Erlene Bishop Killeen, Fox Prairie Elementary School, Stoughton, WI
Used with permission from School Library Journal. Copyright © 2006 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist - PreS-K. Part of the ongoing MathStart series, which offers math concepts in picture-book format for a variety of levels, this book introduces the multiples of five, as lizards of different colors travel through the pages on unicycles, a hot-air balloon, an airplane, and other modes of transport, while a green snake looks on. Finally, the number 50 is reached, and lizards explode in all directions. Written in short couplets, the simple text describes the ever-increasing number of lizards, but the highlight of the book is the effective design. An intelligent blending of white space and colors make each double-page spread visually stand out. A box on one side of each page helps children keep track of multiplying lizards, and a closing section offers adults a few more ideas for easy math education.
By Todd Morning, 9/15/05
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright © 2005 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Mighty Maddie

(Comparing Weights)

From Teaching Children Mathematics -
Aimed at children in grades pre-K to about second grade, this wonderful book is about a little girl who compares heavy objects and light objects while she cleans her room. The detailed illustrations are very colorful and the type is large. The comparisons and objects are described well.

I read the book to my second-grade students and they loved it. They all rated it as a good book but thought it would be better suited for K-1. When we later discussed comparisons and weights in class, the children referred to the book.

I recommend this book to any primary teacher who wants a fun way to compare weights.
By Jill Breslin
Shasta Union Elementary School, Shasta CA
From Children's Literature - As part of the "MathStart" series, this book introduces the concept of light and heavy through the dynamic main character, Maddie. Maddie is asked to pick up her toys in preparation for her birthday party. Her father offers to help with the heavy things, while Maddie is responsible for the light objects. Objects are presented for comparison and the words light and heavy are used on every page. These words may be used for sight word work for those readers ready for such lessons. Maddie realizes that large objects are not always heavy objects and that similar objects may differ considerably in weight. Maddie must pick up her room by herself and at a super-hero pace. Donning her cape, she races to finish before guests arrive. The colorful and somewhat comical illustrations match the spirit of the main character. Resources with related concepts are listed in the back of the book, as well as extension activities for parents and children. This series assigns a level to each book, depending upon the complexity of the concept presented. This particular book is considered to be a "Level One," out of a possible three.
By Andrea Sears Andrews
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com

Missing Mittens

(Odd and Even Numbers)

From Booklist - Ages 4-7. Farmer Bill is missing a mitten, leaving him with one "odd" mitten instead of an "even" two. His cow is also missing one of her four mittens, leaving her with an odd three. His chickens and horses have the same problem. Finally, they discover the thief, recover their mittens, and dry them by the fire. The awkwardly rhymed text is true doggerel, but it does invite participation and introduces the concept of odds and evens in an amusing way. Karas' delightfully droll illustrations not only clarify the concepts but also they give personality to Farmer Bill and his barnyard crew. An appended list, directed to adults, suggests follow-up activities and books. More successful as a teaching tool than a story, this will enhance math lessons at home and in the classroom.
By Linda Perkins, 2/15/01
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2001 American Library Association. All rights reserved.
From Children's Literature - This is the latest book in the "MathStart" series of math concept books, all written by this talented author. In this attractive picture book, dealing with the concept of odd and even numbers at level 1, snow is in the air. Dressing for the cold day, Farmer Bill is surprised to discover that he can find only one mitten. A chart labeled odd and even shows the outline of the missing member of the pair. The plot thickens. There are only three mittens to keep his cow's udder warm. Again a chart shows the missing mitten needed to make the even set. Three chickens each have one missing mitten. Clearly five is odd and one more is needed to make an even six. Two horses require eight mittens, but there are only seven to be found. Just in time, Farmer Bill catches the mitten thief. It is the goat. This story will amuse young readers as well as teach them. Two pages suggest activities through which adults and kids can explore the odd/even concept together.
By Margarette Reid
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com
From Kirkus Reviews - Murphy's newest addition to the MathStart series introduces readers to the concept of odd and even numbers. Farmer Bill is shivering in the snowy air, but the barnyard needs tending. To his confusion and consternation he finds that, though he is snuggled warmly into his long underwear, hat, coat, scarf, and earmuffs he's sadly short of one mitten. Here the reader sees the first example of odd and even. This concept is stated in the rhyming text as well as illustrated plainly on the adjoining page. As Farmer Bill visits his farm animals, he discovers that not only does the cow have only three, not four mittens, but his two horses have only seven mittens—not enough for eight hooves. One by one it becomes clear that each animal is short one, each being stuck with an odd number of mittens. Who's the rascal behind this mischief? Well, let's just say that when all the mittens are retrieved each has a few mouthfuls munched away. The book closes with two pages of activities for parents to share with their readers from discussions stemming directly from the book to activities drawn from daily life. Karas's distinctive and confident artwork is a flurry of snowy landscape and snuggly barn. Once the culprit is revealed, readers will want to go back and find him in each scene.Used with permission from Kirkus Reviews. Copyright �� Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Monster Musical Chairs

(Subtracting One)

From Booklist - Ages 3-5. Lovable monsters provide a fun way for youngsters to learn subtraction in this latest entry in the MathStart series. The lively text and animated artwork are a good match for the young audience. Murphy uses bouncy rhymes and simple sentence structure to describe how the musical chairs game works: "Six fuzzy monsters want a seat—see them rock to a monster beat. Five monster chairs all in a line. Sit in one and you'll be fine!" Meanwhile, Nash's silly pictures show the monsters in action, taking care to clearly depict the correct number of monsters and chairs for counting practice. Youngsters will love to join in the rollicking refrain: "Stomp, stomp, SNORT. Shake shimmy, SHOUT! When the music stops, one monster is OUT!" Faces of the monsters remaining after each round are pictured in a narrow column on the far right side of each double-page spread. Two pages of simple extension activities are also included.
By Lauren Peterson, 10/15/00
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2000 American Library Association. All rights reserved.
From Horn Book - Fuzzy, gumball-colored monsters scamper for seats in a game of musical chairs. Sidebars feature headshots of the players remaining after each round, and a blunt X marks the loser—a helpful visual aid for readers learning to conceptualize the subtraction process. Lighthearted rhymes and a finger-snapping rhythm make this math story a good choice for reading aloud. Simple activity suggestions are included.Reprinted with permission of The Horn Book Inc., Boston, MA.

One� Two, Three� Sassafras!

(Number Order)

From Kirkus Reviews - Murphy sets up this beginning-level, math-concept outing to give readers a sense of numerical order, leading them down the road to place value. He buries the math in his typical good humor-even if the repetitive nature of the story line does begin to pale by the end-and sends words like "sassafras," "fiddlesticks," and "great galloping gillywhoppers" zinging through the pages. The plot revolves around Uncle Howie's desire to get family snapshots of a burgeoning group of cousins: first a handful, then a small gathering, then an entire company. He has them arrange themselves by age, though he throws in a kicker when a 13-year-old girl is shorter than an 11-year-old boy, giving readers the idea that the kids might be arranged in different orders, like height or alphabet. His notes at the end give suggestions on how the ideas can be expanded upon by readers to further develop their familiarity with numbers. Though Wallace puts more of a scowl on Uncle Howie's face than might be warranted, his cartoon art has a pleasurably unruly character that fits the story well.Used with permission from Kirkus Reviews. Copyright �� Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

A Pair of Socks

(Matching)

From Booklist - Perhaps the only picture-book story told from the point of view of a sock, this details the search for the other half of the pair. The striped sock searches laundry bag, washer, and dryer in vain, finally discovering its mate in the dog's basket. Short, snappy rhymes and Ehlert's brilliantly colored collage illustrations combine to make this tale from the MathStart series an entertaining book. Teachers and lesson-minded parents will appreciate the activities and books suggested to extend the learning about pairs, patterns, and differences.
By Carolyn Phelan, 10/1/96
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 1996 American Library Association. All rights reserved.
From Science Books and Films - Finding a pair of socks means matching the pattern (including color) on two socks. This is the story of a little person looking for a matching sock—in the laundry, in the washing machine, in the dryer, in the drawer, and in the puppy's bed, where it is found with a hole and has to have a patch. The little person is never shown; mostly, socks are. The end of the story has two pages of illustrations of socks that need to be paired up. As is appropriate for the level, there is no overt emphasis on any mathematical ideas, but pairing is emphasized throughout. There is no other counting or arithmetic. A section at the end discusses how to enhance learning and suggests other experiences. It would have been interesting to include a tear-out copy of the page with all the different socks that appears at the end of the book. Then the young reader could cut out each individual sock and physically put the socks in pairs. From the MathStart series. Highly recommended.
By Dr. Donald E. Myers
Used with permission from SB&F, a publication of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Rabbit's Pajama Party

(Sequencing)

From Booklist - In this entry in the excellent MathStart series, Rabbit invites his friends over for a pajama party. They eat pizza and ice cream, tell ghost stories, and eventually fall asleep. The story introduces the concept of sequencing simply by recounting a series of happenings. Words such as about, then, when, and so gently clue children in to the proper order of events. The story and lively watercolor illustrations of animals eating ice cream and telling ghost stories are so entertaining that children will hardly know they're getting a lesson in math. The back pages contain exercises and games kids can use to help reinforce math.
By Marta Segal, 12/1/99
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 1999 American Library Association. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal - A group of animals meet at Rabbit's house for dinner and a sleepover. The friends eat pizza, make ice-cream sundaes, get into pajamas, act a little silly, tell scary stories and go to sleep. This is a very simple approach to the concept of time sequencing. Young children can identify with food, clothing, animals, and colors; and there is just enough familiar activity (sharing a meal, getting ready for bed) for them to understand. The colors are bright and appealing, the cartoon artwork is simple and uncluttered, and the print is large and clear for beginning readers. The last two pages provide suggestions "For Adults and Kids" who want to explore the math concept presented here.
By Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City
Used with permission from School Library Journal. Copyright Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Seaweed Soup

(Matching Sets)

From Kirkus Reviews - The talents of Murphy and Remkiewicz add up to a humorous tale about sweet-natured Turtle, a charming host who invites a succession of sea creature friends to enjoy some of his fresh seaweed soup. Turtle's friends think the "thick and green, gooey and slimy" soup looks suspect, but don't want to hurt their kind friend's feelings. For each additional guest, Turtle sets a place at his table with a cup, spoon, napkin, and bowl-the elements of the mathematical sets (also called one-to-one correspondence) that is the story's theme. As the number of guests increases, Turtle finds that he has to make do with a variety of tableware that doesn't always match but that serves the same function. The guests find to their surprise that the soup is delicious, and their polite manners and Turtle's touching hospitality provide life lessons beyond math concepts. A chart near the end shows all the tableware sets in rows, offering additional opportunities for counting and matching subsets.Used with permission from Kirkus Reviews. Copyright �� Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal - Murphy's humorous text indirectly teaches about sets as Turtle sits down to enjoy his thick green, gooey seaweed soup. Each time unsuspecting friends come by, they are invited to lunch and Turtle goes to his shelf to find extra place settings. When he runs out of an item, he makes another set with substitutes. For instance, a jelly jar serves for a cup, a toy shovel becomes a spoon, etc. Children will enjoy the story and its surprising ending while learning about the concept. The bright watercolor cartoons by the artist of "Froggy" fame lend a deft and humorous touch to the proceedings. The last pages have tips for further fun with math, suggestions for activities around the house, plus a short list of other stories with similar concepts. Well worth considering.
By Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Used with permission from School Library Journal. Copyright Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist - In this level 1 MathStart book, Murphy introduces the concepts of matching sets, or one-to-one-correspondence. On a sunny beach, Turtle makes a batch of seaweed soup and invites his friends Crab, Sandpiper, Seagull, and Clam to join him for lunch. One by one, his friends come to the table, requiring Turtle to produce an additional place setting. The lunch is a success, and at the close, Turtle produces another whole pot of the savory stuff. Adults will want to read through this book before sharing it with children so that they can guide discussion about Turtle's table-setting dilemma. A graph will help children review what they've learned, and two pages of ideas for extending the book are appended. Remkiewicz's appealing illustrations encourage children to match sets and count items in each set.
By Kathy Broderick
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2001 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

3 Little Firefighters

(Sorting)

From Teaching Children Mathematics -
Getting ready for a parade is what this book is all about. The firefighters discover that all the buttons from their coats are missing. With the help of their dog, Ink Spot, they find twelve different buttons. The parade is about to start and they have to hurry. Each firefighter needs four matching buttons. They begin sorting them by shape. When that does not work they try sorting by color, which almost works. They finally succeed when they sort by size, just in time for the parade.

From the start of the story, the level of anticipation increases page by page as parade time draws near and the firefighters are still sorting their buttons. Relief comes on the last page as the sorting problem is solved. The story is told in rhyme, making it fun to read. I find the suggested reading level for this book, age 3 and up, to be very appropriate. The book can easily be used in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. The buttons are geometric shapes (triangles, circles, and squares) that are appropriate to that level of learning. The pictures are very colorful and do not have a lot of background clutter. The book really focuses on the concept of sorting by attribute and is an excellent addition to Harper-Collins's MathStart series.

The last two pages of the book have additional suggestions for sorting, extensions that children can do at home with parents, and a list of other books that include similar concepts. I recommend adding this book to your bookshelf.
By Patricia Hohensee
Lewiston-Altura Public Schools, Lewiston, MN
From Children's Literature - Part of the popular "MathStart" series, this Level 1 picture book is aimed at the youngest mathematicians, and its aim is to teach sorting skills while enjoying a good story. Here, three little firefighters are getting ready for the big parade. But, uh-oh! Their firefighter coats are missing all the buttons. They search the firehouse and find 12 buttons, which they sort into three sets of four in various ways: by shape, size, color, and so forth--with some help from Ink Spot, the firehouse dog. Eventually, they come up with a set of buttons that will keep each of their coats closed and their belly buttons unexposed, just in time to join the parade. Kids will enjoy learning sorting skills while enjoying Bernice Lum's illustrations. The book includes additional learning activities that parents can use with the book as well as other sorting activities they can share with their child.
By Dianne Ochiltree
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com
From Heart of Texas Reviews - This is a cute story that can be an exciting introduction to the math skill of sorting by attributes (color, shape, size). Three small firefighters are getting ready for a parade when they realize the buttons to their coats are missing. They cannot show their bellies in the parade, so they search for buttons around the firehouse, with the help of their dog, Ink Spot. The little firefighters find 12 buttons, but how should they sort them so they each have four buttons that match? They can sort by color, shape, or size. The soft illustrations and simple rhyming text of this story make for an enjoyable adventure.

Animals on Board
(Adding)
The Best Vacation Ever
(Collecting Data)
Bigger, Better, Best!
(Area)
Captain Invincible and the
Space Shapes
(Three-dimensional Shapes)
Coyotes All Around
(Rounding)
Elevator Magic
(Subtracting)
A Fair Bear Share
(Regrouping)

Get Up and Go!
(Time Lines)
Give Me Half!
(Understanding Halves)
Let's Fly a Kite
(Symmetry)
Mall Mania
(Addition Strategies)
More or Less
(Comparing Numbers)
Pepper's Journal
(Calendars)
Probably Pistachio
(Probability)

Racing Around
(Perimeter)
Same Old Horse
(Making Predictions)
Spunky Monkeys on Parade
(Counting by 2's, 3's, and 4's)
The Sundae Scoop
(Combinations)
Super Sand Castle Saturday
(Measuring)
Tally O'Malley
(Tallying)
100 Days of Cool
(Numbers 1 - 100)

Animals on Board

(Adding)

From Booklist - From the MathStart series, this story in rhyme lays out five simple addition problems. A truck driver, Jill, watches as a series of trucks—all pulling different animals—pass her by. The math gets worked into the story as Jill adds, for example, the six swans on one truck to the one swan on a second truck (6+1=7 is imbedded in the text). Using this pattern, the reader is able to practice addition while guessing the trucks' final destination. The last line of the story reads "Can you find 5 tigers, 7 swans, 8 frogs, 10 horses, and 9 pandas?, and Alley's watercolor shows a giant carousel. Two pages of activities are appended, but an obvious omission is asking children to calculate the total number of animals on the carousel.
By Kathy Broderick, 11/1/98
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 1998 American Library Association. All rights reserved.
From Children's Literature - Murphy has written several math stories for young children, and this entry in the "MathStart" series features addition equations. Rhymed couplets set up an addition equation that is solved in a brightly-framed space within a full-page illustration. The premise is engaging—a trucker is passed on the road by many open flatbed trucks carrying all sorts of wild animals. The math really does take a front seat without overpowering the slight story or the appealing illustrations. The only problem is that the whole book leads up to a predictable climax. The series has been very successful; and this is a worthwhile addition to it.
By Judy Katsh
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com

The Best Vacation Ever

(Collecting Data)

From Horn Book - A young girl collects data and creates charts to determine where her family should go on vacation—Mom and Dad would like some rest, but Grandma and the two kids think fun place would be best.The simple rhyming story succeeds in showing how math can be used to solve real-life problems. Cheery illustrations accompany the text, and follow-up activities are included.Reprinted by permission of The Horn Book Inc., Boston, MA.
From Children's Literature -
This book is part of the "Math Start" series. As such, its intention is more to showcase a math skill than to tell a good story. However, it manages to do both—thanks in large part to the comical illustrations supplied by Westcott. The math skill is collecting data, and the data being collected here has to do with where the family should vacation. It's a real issue, studied by applying real math skills. What a great message to give young readers! And what a great way to inspire young mathematicians to pursue such investigations themselves—whether they're at school or at home.
By Judy Katsh
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com

Bigger, Better, Best!

(Area)

From Kirkus Reviews - The MathStart title entwines the basic geometry concept of area, with an engaging family story of sibling rivalry. Jenny and Jeff argue about everything. When the family moves to a new house, each child selects a bedroom, and then they argue about which room is best: " 'Ha! I told you my room is better,' Jenny said. 'Look how big my window is.' 'I've got a window, too,' said Jeff. 'Bet mine is bigger.'" Since one window is long and narrow and the other is square, it's not easy to tell which is bigger. Long-suffering mom encourages them to solve the problem mathematically, suggesting they cover each window with sheets of paper and count the sheets to determine which window is bigger. When they discover the windows are the same size, though one window is four rows of three and the other two rows of six, they next argue about the size of the rooms. Now dad helps, suggesting they measure the area of each room with a newspaper. Once again they measure to a draw. Parents and teachers will be relieved these argumentative kids are fictional, but they are an excellent vehicle for practical math concepts. The author concludes with follow-up for parents and children, suggesting additional activities and a short book list. Sprightly pen-and-wash illustrations show a tag and tumble family with enough spunk and sass to keep them from becoming saccharine.Used with permission from Kirkus Reviews. Copyright �� Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal - Jeff and Jenny are always fighting about who has something bigger or better, while Jill just ignores them. When the family moves to a bigger house with a separate room for each child, the two start arguing about whose room and windows are bigger. Mom then has them measure the windows with sheets of paper, and the floor with newspaper. Ignoring her older siblings, Jill declares her room the best since it is the farthest from the other two and near the cat's nook. This realistic story involves sibling rivalry with a resourceful solution to a common problem. It carefully incorporates math without being overwhelming. The colorful and humorous illustrations add to the story, which comes to a satisfying ending with a slight twist. Follow-up activities and a reading list are included.
By Nancy A. Gifford, Schenectady County Public Library, NY
Used with permission from School Library Jounal. Copyright Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Captain Invincible and the Space Shapes

(Three-dimensional Shapes)

From School Library Journal - An excellent tool for introducing a unit on three-dimensional shapes. After conquering galaxies, Captain Invincible and his space-dog, Comet, prepare for an adventurous return to Earth in their spaceship Hawk. Using the Space Shaper panel, with its three-dimensional buttons that include a cube, a cone, and a pyramid, the captain and the pup wage a battle against a meteor shower, poison gas, a flying saucer, and a galactic beast. Just as the two are about to land safely, a beam of light floods their spaceship, and an open bedroom door reveals the true source of this journey-a child's late-night, wondrous imagination with the help of paper, scissors, and Scotch tape. The bold cartoon art in deep, bright colors draws readers into this fun and exciting story that is a vehicle for learning to recognize and define geometric shapes. The concluding reinforcement strategies and activities are very good. A good choice as a read-aloud or for independent reading.
By Wanda Meyers-Hines, Ridgecrest Elementary, Huntsville, AL
Used with permission from School Library Journal. Copyright Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews - Captain Invincible is a sandy-haired boy astronaut, off on a space mission with his sandy-haired space-dog, Comet, in this addition to Murphy's popular MathStart series. Boy and dog are trying to return to Earth in their spaceship with the help of a control panel that contains six buttons in different three-dimensional shapes. They encounter some deep-space dangers (a meteor shower, a cloud of poison gas, a flying saucer, a galactic beast) and activate the three-dimensional buttons in turn to produce special effects to fight off the various threats. Each 3-D shape is described within the text, and the special effect or weapon incorporates a similar shape (for example, the cone-shaped button activates a large cone that sucks up all the poison gas). Finally the last button, a rectangular prism, releases the rectangular landing gear, and Captain Invincible and Comet crash-land in the center of the captain's bedroom, where he returns to being a regular boy named Sam. The first-person text is told in speech balloons (except for the last page), in divided panels that coordinate with Simard's cartoon-style illustrations. Teachers who are looking for stories that incorporate math concepts will use this space adventure with primary-grade students, and the comic book-influenced format will also appeal to older, more reluctant readers.Used with permission from Kirkus Reviews. Copyright �� Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
From Children's Literature - Captain Invincible and his trusty space companion dog, Comet, have just conquered the galaxy and are on their way back to earth. They know that there will be trouble returning home and that they will need to rely on their space shape control panel to help them get home. The comic book layout and bright, action packed illustrations will draw kids in and give them a math lesson at the same time. Cubes, cylinders and pyramids make up the space panel and each one saves the day for Captain Invincible and Comet. As each shape is called upon to destroy the enemy, its mathematical properties are simply described. This book makes learning geometrical shapes fun. At the end of the book are further suggestions for extending the math concepts byengaging the kids in activities related to the book.
By Melissa A. Caudill
Used with permission from Children's Comprehensive Literature Database, www.childrenslit.com

Coyotes All Around

(Rounding)

From School Library Journal - Grade 1-3—Taking a fun approach to math, this book introduces the concept of rounding to estimate the sum of several numbers. A group of coyotes stands in front of a desert ranch and wonders how many roadrunners live in the area. They split up, and each one counts the ones that he or she sees. When they are ready to add their numbers, Clever Coyote rounds each figure to the nearest 10, adds them together, and quickly comes up with a close approximation of the actual total. The procedure is repeated with lizards and grasshoppers. Humorous watercolor cartoons depict the action and clarify the concept. Charts help to illustrate how each number is rounded. Factoids about coyotes and other desert creatures appear throughout, so readers learn not only math, but also get their fair share of science sprinkled into the mix. A section entitled "Adults and Kids" includes math games, book suggestions, and ideas for turning grocery shopping into an estimating experience
By Sandra Kitain, Abrams Hebrew Academy, Yardley, PA
Used with permission from School Library Journal. Copyright Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Teaching Children Mathematics (NCTM) -
This MathStart book focuses on the development of rounding and estimating skills for children 6 years old and up. In this entertaining story, a pack of coyotes wants to determine how many roadrunners, lizards, and grasshoppers are roaming around their ranch. While her friends do the actual counting and adding, a hungry Clever Coyote uses rounding and estimation. Her friends are amazed by how close she is to getting the right answer – and she can do the mathematics very fast! However, Clever Coyote is not as good a hunter as she is a mathematician.

The illustrations in Coyotes All Around enhance the story line. Factoids are ingeniously interwoven in the illustrations, relating information about coyotes and some of the plants and animals in their environment. The end of the book has quite a few extensions for adults and students to have fun estimating. The author also includes four titles of mathematics books that feature estimation as a theme.

My third-grade students enjoyed rounding and estimating with Clever Coyote and learning about coyotes from the factoids. I also shared the book with a second-grade class. The students and teacher had fun rounding and estimating with Clever Coyote.

This book is in the second level of the three-level MathStart series, for age 6 and up. All the book topics tie in nicely with mathematics and many of the science curriculum offered in the early elementary grades.

I intend to acquire some other titles from the MathStart collection to enhance my professional library of children’s books. I like the way mathematics is tied into everyday activities and science in one readable, enjoyable, and affordable book.
By Maxine E. Pincott, Oliver Ellsworth School, Windsor, CT

Elevator Magic

(Subtracting)

From School Library Journal - The plays on words make this book about subtraction amusing as well as informative. Like other titles in the series, it uses a common daily activity to teach some math basics. A boy meets his mother on the 10th floor of a high rise. On the way down, Mom needs to do some errands. The first stop, two floors down, is to cash a check at the Farm Bank and Trust, which is (lo and behold) filled with horses, barns and hay fields. Farther down is the Hard Rock Candy Store, which is not only full of candy but also of the sounds and lights of a heavy metal band. Karas's zany illustrations support the main concept being taught, while picking up on the humor in the word play. The repeated image of the elevator controls, the child's monologue, and numerical equations that display his figuring further enhance the understanding of how subtraction works. The book concludes with several easy-to-apply activities to extend this presentation.
By Stephani Hutchinson, Pioneer Elementary School, Sunnyside, WA
Used with permission from School Library Journal. Copyright Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Children's Literature - Ben meets his mom at work on the 10th floor of her office building. On the way down in the elevator they make several stops. Ben needs to subtract the number of floors to determine which number to push on the elevator button. The magic begins when their errands include a stop at Farm Bank and Trust (with live farm animals), and the Hard Rock Candy store that features a live hard rock band! This is part of a series of "Math Start" books that use every day situations to teach math concepts. The text is simple and fun to read, and the illustrations are large and colorful. The last two pages list activities parents and teachers can use with this book to present math concepts to children.
By Cheryl Peterson
Used with permission from Children's Comprehensive Literature Database, www.childrenslit.com
From Science Books and Films - This nicely illustrated text makes use of a visualization of the number line in the form of an elevator going up and down and stopping at various floors. Basic subtraction is shown as the youngster moves from floor to floor with his mother. Each stop has a light touch of humor, to which are added unexpected scenarios: farm animals, speedway cars, music, and candy. These things should catch the attention of younger children. The text offers a few helpful ideas at the end of the book, so youngsters can have even more fun with these early subtraction concepts. From the MathStart Series. Recommended.
By Victor Mastrovincenzo
Used with permission of SB&F, a publication of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

A Fair Bear Share

(Regrouping)

From Children's Literature - Another in the series of "MathStart" books, this one deals with regrouping. Mama Bear tells her four little cubs to go into the woods and gather enough berries, nuts and seeds to make her famous berry pie. If all the cubs help, they will all receive a share of the pie. As usual, one bear is lazy and gathers nothing, but that clever Mama Bear gives her one more chance to come up with her share. As the cubs gather the various ingredients, Mama Bear adds and regroups, using illustrations, to come to the right proportions. A nice introduction to this concept. "MathStart" books come in three levels, and this one is at level two.
By Meredith Kiger
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com
From Cooperative Children's Book Center - Mama Bear promises to make her special Blue Ribbon Blueberry pie for her four cubs, provided they go out and gather enough nuts, berries and seeds. When each one brings the ingredients, Mama divides them into groups of ten and adds them up to see if she has enough. While the book is compelling enough to share as a read-aloud, the story does not detract from the introduction to the concept of tens and ones, and the appealing illustrations are designed to support and reinforce the concept.Used with permission from the CCBC.

Get Up and Go!

(Time Lines)

From Children's Literature - Part of a new, multi-level math series, Math Start, this story teaches time management and simple addition. The morning rush hour for families with young children happens before parents get to the car. Lagging leads to nagging and five more minutes can mean everybody is late. This story tackles that problem by showing how those wasted minutes can add up each morning. Electrified art, simple rhyme and a color-coded timeline become effective tools for explaining time management.
By Deborah Zink Roffino
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com
From Science Books and Films - The story presented in this book is about a little girl getting ready to go to school with the help of her dog. There are several stops and delays along the way: snuggling with her teddy, washing her face, eating her breakfast, giving a snack to her dog, brushing her teeth, playing a game, finding her school things, and hugging her dog. The illustrations are very good and quite appropriate. The story should be appealing even without placing any emphasis on the mathematics. Three ideas are woven into the story line: time, counting, and addition, shown by the use of the number line and adjoining line segments. The story provides an opportunity for repetition of all the addition steps with a summary at the end. At the end are suggestions for enhancing mathematical learning that include various activities and experiences. From the MathStart series. Highly recommended.
By Dr. Donald E. Myers
Used with permission from SB&F, a publication of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Give Me Half!

(Understanding Halves)

From Booklist - A little boy sits down to enjoy a pizza, saying, "I have one whole pizza. . . and it's all for me!" When his sister comes home the sparring begins: "I'm going to get some pizza—just you wait and see." Sure enough, their parent intervenes to insist that they share the food equally. Then Sister brings out the last can of juice, and later a package of two cupcakes, and the cycle repeats. Each time, bold black numbers point out that ½ + ½ = 1. Finally, a stack of cookies precipitates a food fight that ends in the children willingly sharing cleanup duties (with a little help from their dog). The nicely executed large-scale illustrations express every nuance of the kids' feelings, from greed to righteous indignation. One of the few math concept books with realistic dialogue, authentic emotions, and genuine humor.
By Carolyn Phelan, 5/1/96
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 1996 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Let's Fly a Kite

(Symmetry)

From Booklist - Siblings Bob and Hannah find plenty to argue about, but their babysitter Laura acts as a peacemaker. Using her lines of symmetry, her secret weapon, she settles their arguments by evenly dividing their disputed kite, picnic basket, sandwich, and the backseat of her car. Meanwhile, in cartoon-style thought balloons, Laura's amiable dog Ralph ponders the concept of symmetry in each situation. The light tone and brightly colored ink-and-watercolor illustrations bring out the best in this lively dramatization of geometry in everyday life. The last double-page spread suggests activities and books that reinforce the concept. A strong addition to the long-running MathStart series.
By Carolyn Phelan, 9/1/00
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2000 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Mall Mania

(Addition Strategies)

From Booklist - K-Gr. 2. The lively mall setting will draw children to this Murphy's MathStart series entry, which deals with addition strategies, as Andriani's lively line-and-watercolor illustrations depict kids who hate shopping (like glowering Brandon) and those who love it (like Brandon's sister, Brooke). The 100th person to enter Parkside Mall will get lots of promotional gifts, and four kids from Wilson Elementary School's chess club are on hand to count up the shoppers and add the numbers together. Tension mounts as the numbers get closer to 100, and the unexpected winning shopper gets all the gifts. The counters use a variety of addition strategies and activities, as always, Murphy adds greatly to the math lesson by making it seem a part of daily life. Suggestions for follow-up activities, both complex and easy, and a brief bibliography are appended.
By Hazel Rochman
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2000 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

More or Less

(Comparing Numbers)

From Booklist - The concept of comparing numbers gets Murphy's signature MathStart treatment - by turns it amuses and teaches. In this story, Eddie works the "guess the age" booth at the fair. Blindfolded, he listens to a contestant's voice and if he guesses a person's age after "three questions or less," he wins. The contestant gets a prize if Eddie has to ask four or more questions. If Eddie hasn't guessed after six tries, he gets dunked in a pool. The way Eddie progresses (he arrives at his answers by narrowing his guess to a number more than or less than another number) leads children in to the world of logical, educated guesses. A subplot about a girl trying to win a prize cleverly tied into the main story. Youngsters who need to understand the math concept in more depth will find several activities at the conclusion of the book. These are meant to be done with help from adults, to whom the back matter is directed. Sprightly watercolor artwork makes math look like fun.
By Ilene Cooper, 2/15/05
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2005 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Pepper's Journal

(Calendars)

From Kirkus Reviews - This entry in the MathStart series investigates the concepts of calendar time through the events of a kitten's first year. Lisa's agreeable, first-person journal keeps track of important dates the birth of the litter at Grandma's, Lisa and younger brother Joey's first visit to the week-old kittens, permission to keep a newborn kitten when it is ready to leave its mother, selecting and naming a kitten at when it is one-month-old, taking Pepper home at two months, and so on to Pepper's first birthday. These milestones appear in attractively busy spreads that show the progression of Lisa's family life on the left and Lisa's journal of Pepper's progress on the right. Many scenes will provoke smiles: Thanksgiving in November finds Pepper under the family's table, tugging at an eight-month-old cousin's blanket, while Lisa's journal drawings show her reading Pepper his favorite book, Puss in Boots, as he rests on her quilt. The recurring monthly calendar highlights important dates; in this well-done book, readers also learn harder facts about what a growing cat needs and does integral, everyday, and useful information presented in a way that reinforces notions about the passing of time as well as the functions of a calendar.Used with permission from Kirkus Reviews. Copyright ��2000, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal - The excitement begins when Grandma's cat, Snowy, gives birth to three kittens. One will soon belong to her grandchildren, Joey and Lisa. To prepare herself, Lisa goes to the library and checks out every book on kittens. She learns that when newborn, these creatures weigh three ounces. One week later, the kittens open their eyes. Two months must pass before the children can take Pepper, the chosen animal, home. In an entertaining journal format, readers observe Pepper's growth over the next year and learn all of the important details of cat care and cat behavior. The concept of time is fully integrated into the story. A monthly calendar appears on each double-page spread showing the progression of days, weeks, and months. Winborn's full-color animated paintings give readers lots to examine and enjoy. A unique complement to most collections.
By Jackie Hechtkopf, University of Maryland, College Park
Used with permission from School Library Journal. Copyright Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist - This useful, appealing MathStart book sets out to conquer calendar time, and as it does, it skillfully covers the care and development of kittens, too. Grandma's cat has had three kittens. Lisa and Joey pick one they name Pepper, and Lisa begins a journal to record the kitten's first year. Each month she makes an entry containing facts the family has learned about kittens and cats, as well as drawings, stickers, and funny stories about Pepper. Superimposed on Lisa's journal is a small cat calendar with a stamp on the date of Lisa's entry and major holidays marked as well. Teachers start familiarizing kids with calendars in preschool, and this book handles the concept in a suitable and special way. Winborn's illustrations of a loving, single-parent household are warm and reveal the shared experiences of holiday celebrations, trips to the vet, school life, and summer vacations. End papers contain activities for extending the concepts.
By Kathy Broderick, 6/1/00
Used with permission from Booklist Copyright �� 2000 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Probably Pistachio

(Probability)

From School Library Journal - Jack is having a bad day. Everything goes wrong, from his alarm clock not going off in the morning to his futile hopes of pizza for dinner. The word "probably" is used several times, along with related possibilities, like "usually" and "sometimes." Even though the coach "nearly always" chooses teams a certain way, today he changes his method, and Jack and his friend are separated. With an "even chance" that Mom brought home his favorite ice cream, she pulls out his sister's favorite (but she also had his favorite in the bag). The cartoon illustrations extend the narrative, showing some activities not mentioned in the text, such as Jack spilling milk on his homework. Characters react to the action in dialogue balloons, and the protagonist's thought processes are shown as well. Winborn's characters have excellent facial expressions and Jack's dog has a personality of its own. While Judith Viorst gave readers the classic version of a truly bad day with Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (Atheneum, 1972), Murphy uses it to illustrate probability instead.
By Sharon R. Pearce, Geronimo Public School, OK
Used with permission from School Library Journal. Copyright �� 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist - "With Mom, Mondays mean it's probably pastrami. And pastrami is my favorite food in the whole world." Unfortunately for Jack, it's Dad's turn to fix lunch, and that's just the beginning of a bad day. In this MathStart entry, Stuart introduces the concept of probability. As Jack moves through his day, he makes a series of predictions based on good reasoning. As he thinks through the likelihood of each situation turning out in his favor, his thoughts appear in a cloud-shaped bubble above his head. Winborn's watercolors playfully depict Jack's misery as things go from bad to worse, until his bad luck finally ends when Mom brings home his favorite dessert, pistachio ice cream. As in Missing Mittens and other series titles, a closing section has follow-up activities to extend and enrich the lesson, as well as a short list of books with related themes.
By Lauren Peterson, 2/15/01
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2001 American Library Association. All rights reserved.
From Kirkus Reviews - Jack is having a bad Monday morning in this MathStart (Level two) title, which painlessly slides probability into the story. Jack's late for school; his dad is fixing lunch, which means he may get something he doesn't like; and he gets milk all over his math homework. Finding out lunch is tuna fish (which he hates), Jack dreams of trading with Emma, a girl in his class who had pastrami four days last week (Jack's favorite). He trades sandwiches with Emma without asking, and gets liverwurst, something even worse than tuna. Then he is off to after-school soccer, where he tries to decide where to stand in line so that he and his friend will be on the same team. Jack figures, based on past sessions, the coach will probably have them count off by twos, but again he is fooled as the coach has them count off by threes. Other probability opportunities include which snack he will get, what's for dinner, and what's for dessert. The day ends pleasantly as Jack's mother brings his favorite pistachio ice cream. The author includes an afterward with questions for adults and kids to reinforce the concept of probability. He also suggests games and activities to extend the concept. Colorful pencil and watercolor illustrations show an appealing group of interracial young children, parents, and teachers. Children will enjoy the story whether or not it helps their understanding of probability. The popular author of other MathStart titles ("Missing Mittens", see above, etc.) will find a ready audience for this effort.Used with permission from Kirkus Reviews. Copyright ��2001, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Racing Around

(Perimeter)

Same Old Horse

(Making Predictions)

From School Library Journal - While children may find Horse fairly predictable, it’s likely they will enjoy it. The watercolor cartoon horses and farm setting are appealing and light. The easy-to-read charts in the illustrations provide teaching tools for lessons on predictability as Hankie always does the same thing at the same time. Prior work with telling time is necessary for understanding the text. Beyond the math concept, this gentle story could offer reassurance to children.
By Erlene Bishop Killeen, Fox Prairie Elementary School, Stoughton, WI
Used with permission from School Library Journal. Copyright �� 2006 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist - Gr. 1-3. The latest in Murphy’s excellent MathStart series is a lively story that encourages kids to work with numbers to find out what happens next. Björkman’s clear, funny ink-and-watercolor pictures show horses in a barnyard acting just like children on a school playground. A horse named Hankie is the target, and the other horses tease him for being predictable and boring. They know exactly when he will come out the barn and the color of the saddle pad he’ll have – red one week, blue the next. But Hankie is determined to surprise them, and with the support of his best friend, he gets revenge and show that predictable does not mean boring. Notes for adults and kids about finding patterns and making predictions in everyday life round out the story.
By Hazel Rochman, 9/1/05
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2005 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Spunky Monkeys on Parade

(Counting by 2's, 3's, and 4's)

From Booklist - Stretched boldly across a double-page spread and dressed in a vibrant, fire-engine red uniform, the marshal steps off the Monkey Day Parade. Behind him come monkey cyclists popping wheelies in pairs of two. Monkey tumblers follow, cart-wheeling in groups of three, before a monkey band marches into view in rows of four. The vividly costumed, energetically parading animals progress to a snappy rhymed text that wraps this lesson in skip counting in zany fun. Imaginative ideas for introducing additional pre-multiplication exercises into everyday life conclude this rollicking installment in the MathStart series.
By Ellen Mandel, 12/1/99
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 1999 American Library Association. All rights reserved.
From Children's Literature - Today's the "Monkey Day Parade" and so begins the telling with a series of monkeys in various wonderful costumes cycling, tumbling, and performing as a band, all behind the marshal. The marshal is, of course, one. The cyclists are in twos, the tumblers in threes, and the band members march in fours. So the lesson here is gentle: count by ones, twos, threes, and fours. The numbers are given below each set, to help children learn these times tables as counting units, up to ten sets of each. Charming colorful cartoon monkeys with contagious smiles march along ahead of the monkey float bringing the Monkey Queen and King, who throw bananas to the crowd. There are suggestions at the back for reinforcing the "counting by...." This is part of the "MathStart" series.
By Candace Deisley
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com

The Sundae Scoop

(Combinations)

From Kirkus Reviews - More math that kids-and not a few adults-can relate to, from the master of math concepts. Here he tackles combinations via a story of kids making sundaes at a school picnic. First the kids discuss the number of ice creams, sauces, and toppings they will use, drawing a chart to illustrate the possibilities aptly rendered in the playful pastel, disheveled artwork that looks just like a sundae. Murphy plays the concept like a slide trombone: Up, up the number of potential combinations mount, and then, as the kids commence to dish out the goods at the picnic, the options start to drop down, down as the sprinkles tip over and the chocolate ice cream melts and the caramel gets spilled. The chill that the words "combinational analysis" send through the bones is chased away by the clarity of Murphy's diagramming, flow charts that show just how many different sundaes might be ordered. As always in the MathStart series, Murphy supplies a number of activity ideas that extend and embellish upon the concepts being introduced as well as a short bibliography. Be prepared to head for the freezer.Used with permission from Kirkus Reviews. Copyright ��2002, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
From Booklist - The latest addition to the MathStart series presents the concept of combinations in a story about a group of children who host and ice cream booth at their school picnic. With two flavors of ice cream, two sauces, and two choices of toppings, the children are surprised that eight different sundaes are available. But when Lauren spills all the sprinkles, the group is down to four possibilities. Then James spills the caramel sauce, and only two sundae choices remain. Murphy easily folds the math concepts into a lively story that will capture young readers, and Jabar reinforces the lesson with colorful, whimsical drawings of delectable ice cream scoops. The book closes with follow-up activities that will be useful for parents and teachers who want to encourage children to create stories using this concept.
By Helen Rosenberg, 1/1/03
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2003 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Super Sand Castle Saturday

(Measuring)

From Kirkus Reviews - This entry in the MathStart series explores the hazards of measuring in nonstandard units. Eager to win prizes from Larry the lifeguard for the tallest tower, longest wall, and deepest moat, Juan, Sarah, and Laura compare their sand castles; they discover that Sarah's castle is three shovels tall while Juan's is but two, Laura's moat is one spoon deep while Juan's is two, and Laura's wall is five steps long to Sarah's seven. However, as observant viewers will note, Sarah's spoon is longer than Juan's, her shovel and feet shorter. Wielding a tape measure, Larry explains why inches are more reliable units than spoons, etc. People and objects in Gorton's simple air brushed cartoons stand out distinctly against the green ocean and sun-drenched sand, and lines of measurement are laid out for viewers to compare. With the small type activity notes at the end, this makes a pleasant, painless way for children (and dare we say adults?) to pick up some basic math methodology. For those who resist Larry's strict notions, bring out Loreen Leedy's blithe Measuring Penny for a more generous examination of non-standard measurements.Used with permission from Kirkus Reviews. Copyright �� Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal - Under Larry the Lifeguard's watchful eye, three friends compete to see who can build the tallest sand castle, the deepest moat, and the longest wall. When they start to measure the results, trouble begins because each contestant uses a different non-standard unit of measurement. Sarah's tower is three shovels tall; Juan's is only two shovels tall, but Sarah's shovel is much smaller than Juan's. And voila-the concept of measurement is aptly and creatively presented. Murphy does a good job of imparting the math lesson while delivering a natural story. Gorton's stylized air-brushed acrylics add a whimsical touch. The multi-ethnic cast frolics on the beach with energy. The illustrations clearly show the comparisons while the children are measuring and complete the picture of how a moat that's two spoons deep could be more shallow than the moat that's one spoon deep. Pair this with Loreen Leedy's Measuring Penny (Holt, 1998) for a complete picture of measurement and comparison. And remember Larry's advice, "Spoons and shovels and people's feet can all be different sizes…but and inch is always an inch."
By Jane Claes, T.J. Elementary School, Irving, TX
Used with permission from School Library Jounal. Copyright Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Tally O'Malley

(Tallying)

From Teaching Children Mathematics (NCTM) -
Children’s literature is a powerful way to get students excited about mathematics. More or Less, part of the MathStart series, is about a boy who runs a booth at the school picnic guessing people’s ages. As the book progresses, people try to outsmart Eddie, who must guess their age in less than six questions or get dunked in the water tank. Eddie uses several strategies to guess ages and is quite successful until Mr. Shaw, the principal, gets the best of him and finally he is dunked!

When I first read this book, it reminded me of an activity I do with my students: I put a penny under one of twenty cups that are numbered 1 – 20. If the children can determine which cup I placed the penny under in four guesses or less, they all get a treat. This book provided us with a great lead-in to this fun activity. It also helped my students make logical guesses because they are used available information and therefore asked better questions.

The author provides suggestions on how to read the book to get students involved with the story as well as several follow-up activities that reinforce the mathematics concepts of “greater than” and “less than.”

As a resource mathematics teacher of grades 2-5, I found this book to be one that all grade levels enjoyed. I vary the follow-up activities to accommodate various levels.
By Barbara Hosey, Beauvoir Elementary School, Biloxi School District, Biloxi, MS
From Teaching Children Mathematics (NCTM) -
In this book, part the Mathstart series, the O’Malley family is going on a trip. Each time the three kids begin to squabble, their parents suggest playing a tally game. They tally the colors of cars, T-shirts, and train cars. The youngest child, Nell, always chooses to tally red, her favorite color, and in the end it pays off.

Following the story, the author suggests activities to reinforce the concepts of tallying, collecting data, and grouping by fives. He also lists several related books.

The book might be used in the classroom to provide a context for introducing activities related to data collection and tallying. This book seems most appropriate for use in first grade. The illustrations are clear, and, in the case of the T-shirt tallies, students could actually count and get the same results as the kids in the story. This book would best be part of a teacher resource library that teachers might use once, rather than as part of a classroom library of high-quality children’s literature.
By Susan Cook, Stoner Elementary School, Madison, WI
From Children's Literature - From the enormously popular and valuable series, "MathStart," this title introduces the concept of making and bundling tally marks to count items, and secondarily, learning to count by fives. The O'Malley family heads out on a summer vacation to the beach and it looks to be a long car trip with three kids and a dog. However, Mom's got a bright idea to count things and suggests the children use tally marks to keep track of cars on the road, T-shirts at lunch, and train cars as the family stops by at the railroad crossing. The competition goes well and works out fairly. Merry, animated pictures, simply drawn and bursting with color convey the restlessness of children locked in the seatbelts for hours. Suggested reinforcement of the tally concept appears at the end of the book.
By Deborah Zink
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com
From Kirkus Reviews - Murphy takes on the ancient and deeply gratifying concept of tallying in this Level 2 entry in his MathStart series. You can almost imagine a shepherd counting sheep as they enter the fold for the night, but here it's the O'Malley family making a game out of tallying to help ease the hours demanded by their car trip to the beach. First, they decide upon something to count, then they pick a color. Tally sheets are passed out on which they can make tally marks. The mood in the car instantly improves - especially for the winner, not to mention the parents (total groovesters in Jabar's zippy, flower-power artwork), enjoying the whine-free environment. The kids get both distraction and a dose of learning how to collect numerical data over time, grouping them into bundles of five (giving the fives table a boost), which look, curiously, like sheaths of wheat that shepherd might have seen as he drove the sheep through the fields.Used with permission from Kirkus Reviews. Copyright �� Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

100 Days of Cool

(Numbers 1 - 100)

From Booklist - Murphy once again uses a lively classroom scenario to dramatize important math concepts. Here a group of kids come to school dressed "cool" in sequins and sunglasses for the "first days of school," and their cool teacher challenges them to keep it up for 99 more days. The next day the kids wear cool socks. On Day 5 they decorate their bikes. One Day 25 they dye their hair. A number line from 1 to 100 across the top of each double-page spread shows the passing time, and one carping kid always comments on how far the class has to go ("They're only 1/10th of the way there"). The colored-pencil pictures show the kids in all their costumes and at play and at work. The play and socializing dramatize the math, and, as always in the books in the fine MathStart series, there are suggestions to help adults talk about the concepts and relate them to a child's daily life.
By Hazel Rochman, 4/1/04
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2004 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Betcha!
(Estimating)
Dave's Down-to-Earth Rock Shop
(Classifying)
Dinosaur Deals
(Equivalent Values)
Divide and Ride
(Dividing)
Earth Day�Hooray!
(Place Value)
Game Time!
(Time)
The Grizzly Gazette
(Percentage)

Hamster Champs
(Angles)
Jump, Kangaroo, Jump!
(Fractions)
Lemonade for Sale
(Bar Graphs)
Less Than Zero
(Negative Numbers)
The Penny Pot
(Counting Coins)
Polly's Pen Pal
(Metrics)
Ready, Set, Hop!
(Building Equations)

Room for Ripley
(Capacity)
Rodeo Time
(Reading a Schedule)
Safari Park
(Finding Unknowns)
Shark Swimathon
(Subtracting Two-Digit Numbers)
Sluggers' Car Wash
(Dollars and Cents)
Too Many Kangaroo Things to
Do!
(Multiplying)
Treasure Map
(Mapping)

Betcha!

(Estimating)

From Kirkus Reviews - Playing with numbers—that's what this book from Murphy (The Best Vacation Ever, 1997, etc.) is all about. Part of the MathStart series, this entry introduces the art of estimation. Two boys are engaged in the project, one estimating, the other counting. Their ultimate goal is to try to figure out how many jelly beans are in a big glass jar and win tickets to a sporting event, but the storyline bows deeply to the emphasis on estimation as a process. As the boys head downtown to the toy store and the jelly beans, they estimate the number of people on the bus, the numbers of cars in a traffic jam, the total prices of goods in a window, all the while demonstrating both rounding off and how to count a small number and apply that to the great, uncounted whole through the use of multiplication, fractions, and simple geometry. Murphy's success is in beveling the sharp, unforgiving reputation of math and in showing how numbers can be toyed with. Readers may come away with the sense that they are not slaves to numbers—it's the other way around.Used with permission from Kirkus Reviews. Copyright ��1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal - On their way to a store sponsoring a contest that involves guessing the number of jellybeans in a jar, two friends encounter situations that involve numerical determinations: e.g., how many people are on the bus, the number of cars in a traffic jam. One boy counts one by one to obtain the answers, whereas the other one uses simple techniques to come up with near estimations. The easy-to-read picture-book format with only one or two sentences per page will appeal to reluctant readers, and the boys' urban environment provides common situations to which many students will easily relate. The uncomplicated drawings show how the boy's brain is processing data and the skills he employs to arrive at an educated guess. The last two pages give suggestions and ideas for adults to help children further their understanding of the concept. A short list of similar concept books is included. This title will be especially useful for classroom use as it provides many possibilities for related activities.
By Stephani Hutchinson, Pioneer Elementary School. Sunnyside, WA
Used with permission from School Library Journal. Copyright Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Dave's Down-to-Earth Rock Shop

(Classifying)

From Booklist - Murphy turns his considerable talents to the concept of classification in this MathStart title. When Josh receives a strange rock from his uncle, he consults an expert, shop owner Dave, to learn about his gift. He also notices the store's display window, which features stones arranged by size. As Josh's interest in and knowledge of geology grows, the window display changes, with the classification scheme becoming more complex—from size to color to type, and finally to hardness. Murphy's forte is explaining complex topics in a down-to-earth manner, and that's just what he's done here. Along the way, he also includes a good deal of information about rocks, minerals, and the scientific method. Smith's full-color illustrations capture the excitement of rock hunting and include many geological and equipment details. A good introduction to primary geology units or lessons on classification. Activity suggestions for adults and kids are appended.
By Kay Weisman, 5/1/00
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2000 American Library Association. All rights reserved.
From Horn Book - When Amy and Josh begin a rock collection, their friend Dave shows them way to organize their rocks: by size, place of origin, color, the process that formed them, or hardness. Although the unsuspecting will think they are learning only about rocks, the topic of classification is thoroughly explored and is extended with activities for adults and children at the end of the story. Loose color cartoons keep the tone light.Reprinted by permission of The Horn Book Inc., Boston, MA.

Dinosaur Deals

(Equivalent Values)

From Kirkus Reviews - Murphy continues to amuse with math-quite a trick considering the amount of anxiety the subject manages to generate. Here he tackles the concept of comparative value by working it into a story of trading cards. Mike and his brother Andy are dinosaur trading card enthusiasts. It's Andy's birthday and as a special treat he is getting to accompany older brother Mike to a trading fair for the first time. Mike is in hot pursuit of a Tyrannosaurus rex card, but he has to wheel and deal to get the cards the owner of the T. rex wants in trade. As the story progresses, small boxed items on the page allow readers to see the action in terms of equations-two Pterosaur cards equals one Stegosaurus card, four of which equal one Tyrannosaurus card-and also learn a few facts about the dinosaurs. And sweetly, at the end of all the furious trading Mike gives Andy the card for his birthday present. O'Malley's color-shocked artwork is a real plus to Murphy's story, which easily takes the mystifying sting out of comparatives. A guide is included to help kids get the most out of the book, and a few games are suggested enjoyably extend the math lesson.Used with permission of Kirkus Reviews. Copyright ��2001, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Divide and Ride

(Dividing)

From Children's Literature - The carnival setting for this book provides a fun way to learn math skills. The story teaches kids how to divide by filling seats on each ride. Beginning with a group of eleven friends, the fun starts when each ride requires a certain number of kids to fill the seat. How many are left over once you divide up the group? Each ride opportunity provides the setting for division. The concepts are presented in text and figures on each page. A special graphic box allows readers to count and follow numerical concepts. Bright illustrations re-enforce the mathematics. The book includes an end section that offers adults and kids other suggestions for incorporating math concepts into the story and real life situations.
By Wendy Mann
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com

Earth Day�Hooray!

(Place Value)

From Kirkus Reviews - A level 3 in the much-loved-by-teachers MathStart series, Murphy's latest focus in on place value. The members of the Maple Street School Save-the-Planet Club are working to fix up the park for Earth Day festivities. After the trash is picked up, though, the park could still use some beautifying. The club decides to recycle aluminum cans to make money to buy flowers. The text follows their efforts at collecting the cans and bagging them in groups of 1,000, 100, and 10. As they post their totals in the school hallway, readers see the bags and the way the numbers add up to make a grand total. Flyers, posters, and even the teacher's blackboard feature facts about recycling and the beginnings of Earth Day. Excellent activity suggestions follow the text, allowing parent and children to spend time together while learning. A marvelous additions to the series…and to any primary teacher's bookshelf.Used with permission of Kirkus Reviews. Copyright �� Kirkus 2004 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.
From Booklist - In this latest addition to Murphy's growing MathStart series, the Maple Street School's Save the Planet Club decides to clean up Gilroy Park and plant some flowers to celebrate Earth Day. To raise the necessary funds to purchase plants, they hold an aluminum-can drive, with the goal of collecting 5,000 cans. Keeping track of the daily totals is somewhat of a challenge until the kids begin to sort-using bags of 10, 100, and so forth-allowing Murphy to explain the concept and use of place value. Adriani's cheerful illustrations fairly teem with information about recycling and add humor and human interest to the story. Appended notes suggest extension activities for parents or teachers and also point children to related books. Funny anytime, this will also be a good choice for jazzing up a routine math lesson or as a springboard for Earth Day activities.
By Kay Weisman 1/1 & 15/04
Used with mission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2004 American Library Association. All rights reserved.
From Science Books and Films - The first Earth Day celebration was on April 22, 1970. Today, many people are still worried about the environment and all the waste that is either burned or sitting in landfills. Many state and local governments have instituted mandatory recycling. Earth Day -Hooray! is one in a series called MathStart books. Each book in this series builds a story around a particular math concept, in this case, place value. Three children in a local elementary school, members of their schools Save the Planet Club, are cleaning up their local park, site of this year's Earth Day celebration. In order to raise money to plant flowers in the park, they decide to collect cans they can take to a recycling center for money. Their teacher tells them they will need to collect 5,000 cans. They begin a school drive to collect aluminum cans and then print up flyers to distribute throughout the community in order to reach their goal of collecting $5,000 cans. Along the way, they bag the cans in amounts of 100 to a bag, 10 to a bag, etc., which reinforces the concept of place value. They put up a sign in the hallway to update the total cans collected each day. In the end, they reach their goal and are able to have the flowers planted in the park for the Earth Day celebration. The children have learned the math concept of place value, as well as how to organize an activity and encourage everyone to work together to achieve a common goal. Throughout the book, facts about recycling are presented. The illustrations are very colorful and well done. The text is easily understood. This particular book is appropriate for ages 7 and up and lends itself very well to being used in the classroom. It would also be a nice addition to a child's personal library. C.I.P. Recommended, Grades 1-4.
By Carol April
Used with permission from SB&F, a publication of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
From Children's Literature - The students from the Maple Street School Save-the-Planet Club were cleaning up Gilroy Park on Earth Day when they realized that if they took the cans to the recycling center they could use the money to purchase flowers for the entrance to the park. They bagged the cans but the park trash collector inadvertently took them to the dump. The students enlisted the entire school and the community and eventually had enough cans to purchase the flowers. This Level 3 book on "place value" is part of the "Math Start" series. By using the idea of bags containing ten cans, a hundred cans, and a thousand cans, the reader can visually see how numbers are formed. Scattered throughout the book are mini facts about recycling, such as, " In 1999, recycling and composting kept about 64,000,000,000 (64 billion) tons of trash from ending up in landfills or being burned." The cartoon-style illustrations provide a touch of levity to the math topic.
By Sharon Salluzzo
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com

Game Time!

(Time)

From School Library Journal - In one week, two girls' soccer teams will test their skills during the championship game. Told from the Huskies's point of view, the story builds tension as the big day approaches. During the game, the Falcons appear to be winning but, with nine seconds to go, the Huskies score. Designed to teach time measurement, the book introduces weeks and hours. The match lends itself to an explanation of quarter hours, which coincide with the periods of play. The scoreboard, shown on almost every page, has a countdown while an analog clock on the refreshment stand gives the time of day. The action is fast paced, and the soft-colored, pencil-and-watercolor cartoons pack plenty of action. The book concludes with an excellent list of time-study activities. Pair this with Teddy Slater's Just a Minute (Scholastic, 1996) to establish the feeling of time's passage.
By Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, NJ
Used with permission from School Library Journal. Copyright Cahners Business Information, Inc.

The Grizzly Gazette

(Percentage)

From Kirkus Reviews - Teachers will cheer to learn that Murphy has added percentages to his entertaining and educational series dealing with math concepts. The famous Grizzly Parade tops off the last week of Camp Grizzly. Sophie and Daniel are in a race for the honor of leading the festivities as camp mascot, when Corey decides that she would also like to run. As the three campaign throughout the camp, handing out candy, printing t-shirts, cart-wheeling, and finding out what the campers want from a mascot, the camp's Grizzly Gazette periodically polls all 100 campers and reports their findings in a pie graph. The pie pieces are labeled with percentages, while the margins show the number of campers who believe they will vote for each candidate. With 100 campers, the numbers of voters and the percentages are equal, making the concept easier for young learners. Social studies teachers should not feel left out, though; this could easily belong to a CitizenStart series, if one existed. Along with the share of votes going to each of the candidates, the pie graph shows the percentage of campers who are undecided. While Daniel and Sophie are busily bribing campers with favors and fancy tricks, Corey comes up with a campaign that will improve Camp Grizzly, and steals the show on Election Day. Murphy includes his standard afterward to help readers get the most from the concepts presented. The section includes activities, suggestions for extending the learning, and a reading list of other books that deal with similar concepts. Bjorkman's cartoon-like illustrations add to the camp feel and keep young readers searching throughout the pages for easily missed details. Especially delightful is the way he includes the camp critters in the elections. This is not one to be left off elementary bookshelves.Used with permission from Kirkus Reviews. Copyright ��2002, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Hamster Champs

(Angles)

From Booklist - Gr 2-4. This title in the long-running MathStart series couches a lesson about measuring angles in an entertaining story about three dare-devil hamsters who outwit a skeptical cat. With their humans away, Pipsqueak, Chuckles, and Moe want out of their cage, but not if the feline Hector is going to chase them. The cat agrees to back off – if the hamsters can come up with a stunt that pleases him. With a toy car, some blocks, and a protractor, the little champs set to work measuring an angle for a ramp, the revving up the car to fly. Alas, Hector is not impressed – until the hamsters gradually increase the angle to 180 degrees. The humorous cartoon-like characters are fun, and plenty of good-natured banter between the hamsters and the cat help makes the concept clear. Supporting material includes some adult-kid activity ideas and reference to three other children’s books that make math fun. An entertaining supplement to math curricula.
By Shelle Rosenfeld, 10/15/05, 9/1/05
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2005 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Jump, Kangaroo, Jump!

(Fractions)

From School Library Journal - In this picture book based on math principles, Kangaroo and his friends divide themselves into teams to compete in Field Day exercises. Readers will easily follow the concept of fractions when the 12 campers divide into 2 teams of 6 for tug-of-war, then 3 teams of 4 for swimming relay race, and 4 teams of 3 for a canoe race. Finally, each camper is on his or her own for the long jump. O'Malley shows eagerness on the smiling faces of Kangaroo and his cheerful Australian buddies. Colorful scenes run across double-page spreads. Fractions are visualized both pictorially and in numerals to explain the concept. An appendix lists other books with the same focus as well as ideas for talking about fractions. An accessible and fun math story.
By Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA
Used with permission from School Library Journal. Copyright Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Lemonade for Sale

(Bar Graphs)

From Kirkus Reviews - This lively entry in the MathStart series introduces elementary bar graphing, plus some rudiments of marketing, as the members of the Elm Street Kids Club refill their depleted piggybank by opening a lemonade stand. Their graph reflects steadily rising sales—until Thursday, when traffic suddenly slows to a trickle, diverted by Jed, a new juggler working the comer. When the children invite Jed to work next to their stand on Friday, sales rocket off the chart. In vigorously drawn watercolors, Tusa adds loads of funny detail, from the club members' lemon-shaped headgear and assorted customers to the squads of lemons partying across the endpapers. A winning way to make some basic concepts and techniques less intimidating. Starred review.Used with permission from Kirkus Reviews. Copyright ��1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
From Children's Literature - The young members of the Elm Street Kids' Club are depressed. Their clubhouse is falling apart and their piggy banks are almost empty. What to do? Matthew suggests a lemonade stand. Everyone pitches in to help. Sheri makes a bar graph so that the club can track how their sales can bring them closer to their financial goal. How the club resolves a threatening setback provides a surprising twist to the story. Lemonade for Sale is another installment in the "MathStart" program, designed to teach math concepts in an appealing storybook format. Tusa's quirky watercolor and ink illustrations inspire smiles and chuckles. Activity suggestions directed at both children and adults extend the range of the story beyond a simple reading.
By Wendy Keen
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com

Less Than Zero

(Negative Numbers)

From Teaching Children Mathematics (NCTM) - This book is a primary picture book that introduces the concepts of negative numbers and line graphing with Perry the Penguin, who has the task of earning enough clams to purchase his own ice scooter. I read this book to my class of fourth graders prior to working with negative numbers and found it to be a great introduction. My students were entertained by the silly nature of the story, and they even did the mental math involving negative numbers along with Perry. The context of the story gave my students a way to understand how we could work with numbers less than zero before confronting these ideas on paper. The story does not include any instances in which Perry needs to subtract negative integers, however. It does discuss how to save money in addition to the mathematics concepts. This book could serve as a great introduction to negative numbers or line graphing with primary students. The back of the book also includes several of the author's additional extension ideas.
By - Robert Buyea, Bethany Community School, Bethany, CT
From Science Books and Films - When I was a child, learning math was very difficult for me. The teacher would have us talk about a concept and then have us do exercises in our workbooks. It wasn't until I was an adult and had to use math in my job that the concepts finally clicked for me. Stuart J.Murphy , in his book Less Than Zero, part of the MathStart series, has found a wonderful way to teach math concepts: by telling a story. In this volume, the concept is negative numbers, and the story is about Perry the Penguin. Perry needs nine clams in order to buy an ice scooter. All his friends have one, and so he wants one, too. His parents tell him that if he wants a scooter, he will have to find a way to earn the clams. The story then follows Perry as he earns money, spends money, loses money, and borrows money. He uses a simple line graph to demonstrate the concept of negative numbers. This book goes beyond explanation of negative numbers to teach children the beginning concepts of saving, spending, and budgeting for the things that you want. It also illustrates the consequences of what happens when you are tempted to use the money that you were saving for one thing to buy something else that is ultimately not as important. It is an invaluable lesson that should be taught when children are young. The color illustrations by Frank Remkiewicz are delightful and will definitely hold children's interest. The graphs help illustrate how Perry's money fluctuates as he earns, saves, borrows, and spends. The last two pages of the book have a section called, "Adults and Kids." This section provides suggestions for activities that will reinforce the concept of negative numbers, both with respect to the story presented and in the child's everyday life. This book is a Level 3 book in the MathStart series and is geared to readers ages 7 and up. It is a great teaching tool to be used by parents with their children and would be an excellent asset to a school library. (from the MathStart Series) C.I.P. Highly Recommended, Grades 1-2.
By Carol April
Used with permission from SB&F, a publication of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
From Children's Literature - Perry the Penguin learns the concept of negative numbers in this colorful book by keeping track of the number of clams he needs to buy a scooter. After earning four clams by trimming ice for his mother, he decides to go to the ice circus. But he needs five clams for a ticket. He borrows one clam from a friend. That leaves him with minus one clam. Perry graphs the number of clams he has (or does not have) on a line graph each day. His graph goes up and down as his stash of clams changes. He earns clams, he spends clams, he borrows clams, and he loses clams. He finally learns not to borrow clams if he wants to get enough to buy his scooter. This is an enjoyable way to help children learn about negative numbers and reinforcing graphing concepts. This could be used in the classroom. This is part of the "MathStart" series.
By Sally Niezgoda
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com
From Heart of Texas Reviews - Perry the penguin needs nine clams to buy an ice scooter, but he does not have a clam to his name. And he is not very good at saving money. As Perry earns, spends, finds, loses, and borrows clams, he makes a simple line graph to demonstrate the concept of negative numbers. Young readers will find the challenging concept of negative numbers as clear as a sparkling winter day. Murphy is a visual learning specialist and brings storytelling into teaching the concept of negative numbers. This will make a good addition to the usually small math section of most libraries. (MathStart).
By Leta Tillman

The Penny Pot

(Counting Coins)

From Booklist - Counting coins is the topic of this Level 3 book in the MathStart series, which introduces youngsters to math concepts in a picture-book format. Jessie wants to get her face painted at the school fair, but it costs 50 cents and she has only 39. Fran, the art teacher who is doing the face painting, puts out a penny pot for people to put their extras coins in, and Jessie sits down to wait. Each of Jessie's school-mates who visits the table counts his or her coins. The coin combinations for each transaction are clearly pictured, with numbers below the coins showing the addition. The math concept is nicely woven into the lighthearted plot, and Cravath's colorful cartoon illustrations match the story's playful tone while successfully conveying the counting concept. Besides being instructional and fun, this book, like others in the series, demonstrates real-life applications for math concepts.
By Lauren Peterson, 2/15/98
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 1998 American Library Association. All rights reserved.
From Children's Literature - Jessie would love to have her face painted at the school fair but it cost 50 cents. All she has in her pocket are three dimes, one nickel, and four pennies, only 39 cents in total. Fran, the face-painter, tells her to wait and see what extra change people will pu in her penny pot. As the afternoon wears on, Jessie watches the coins in the penny pot accumulate until there is just enough to make up the remaining 11 cents. Each time Fran has a customer, the coins that are paid are shown in the illustration in life size sothe reader can count along with the characters in the book. This math story has a light tone, fun illustrations, and the fair setting will entice young mathematicians to solve the coin problem.
By Sally J. K. Davies
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com

Polly's Pen Pal

(Metrics)

From Teaching Children Mathematics (NCTM) -
Polly’s Pen Pal is a great and fun way to help children realize that measuring is something we do all the time in our daily lives. Part of the MathStart series, this book focuses on metric measurement.

In the story, Polly exchanges letters with her pen pal, Ally, from Canada. Ally writes about height and weight in metric units, which Polly is not familiar with. Her dad helps her understand what these measurements mean by using common items such as a baseball bat for the approximate length of a meter. While planning a trip to Canada, Polly and her father discuss where Canada is located and the distance in kilometers they will have to travel to get there.

The books in the MathStart series are leveled 1 – 3. This book is level 3, which is appropriate for ages 7 and up. I read this book to children in grades 2 – 5 and they all enjoyed the story. The students could relate to this story because many of them have had a pen pal before or wanted one.

This book, as well as the others in the MathStart series, helps in the endeavor of learning in an interdisciplinary way. Polly’s Pen Pal not only brings reading into mathematics, but also social studies. I would love to have all the books in the series in my classroom library.
By Barbara Hosey, Beauvoir Elementary School, Biloxi School District, Biloxi, MS
From Science Books and Films - This book provides a mathematical story line by utilizing a writing adventure through a discussion between pen pals. The major focus is on metric units. The book makes lots of interesting connections across the academic curriculum: Students have the opportunity to broaden their geography skills for subsequent travel, increase their writing abilities by way of technology through e-mail, and improve their measuring skills by using metrics (for weight and distance, for example). The focus on metrics is via a mathematical adventure approach that provides examples and a real-life connection to learning. Each page of the story seems to accompany every other. The story line encourages the student to visualize and think critically. The book could be used in grades 2-3. The story itself is grade appropriate and will enhance the content and knowledge base of each learner in the area of metrics in mathematics. Overall, this is a great book to use as a supplement to enrich mathematics teaching.
By Charles Mercer, Burrville Elementary School, Washington DC
Used with permission from SB&F, a publication of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Ready, Set, Hop!

(Building Equations)

From Horn Book - A smaller frog needs two additional hops to cover the same distance as a bigger frog. Addition and subtraction are derived from this disparity. However, an equal distance measured by different length units, small hops and big hops, will appear intuitively at odds for the young learner who has recently come to grips with the idea of equal units of measure on number lines.Reprinted by permission of The Horn Book Inc., Boston, MA.

Room for Ripley

(Capacity)

From Children's Literature - Carlos and his sister discover the simplicity of volume through learning how to care for their goldfish. As they measure the amount of water needed to contain the fish, they are also learning equivalent measurements, such as two cups equals one pint and four pints equals two quarts. By setting the story in a realistic situation with tangible experiments that they can duplicate at home, this book becomes a treasure for both teachers and parents. Many of the new math curriculums teach math concepts through children's literature. This book certainly correlates with those whole language approaches to teaching arithmetic. By using diagrams that are drawn in a child-like hand, the book is inviting and uncomplicated. As children tend to view things in very concrete terms, this book neatly begins with a problem and ends with a solution, and does not leave anything unfinished.
By Lori M Saporosa
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com

Rodeo Time

(Reading a Schedule)

From School Library Journal - Kindergarten-Grade 4-Katie and Cameron are at the rodeo, not only to watch, but also to help their uncle, Cactus Joe, the best bull rider in Texas. They must water the horses, catch loose calves, and hand out winning ribbons. At first, they don't get things done on time, but, through trial and error, they learn to create a schedule that enables them to perform their tasks and still watch the events. Math concepts are neatly integrated into the story as the two kids to learn to manage their time and see their uncle win the Bull Riding Championship. Wenzel's lively color cartoons create an authentic environment and enhance the excitement and suspense of the story.
By Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR
Copyright �� Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission from School Library Journal.

Safari Park

(Finding Unknowns)

From School Library Journal - Using dinosaur trading cards as a theme, Murphy explores the concept of equivalent values. Mike and his brother, Andy, go to a trading fair in hopes of finding a Tyrannosaurus rex card. By making various trades they are successful in getting the coveted item. The story contains just the right amount of tension as well as tidbits of dinosaur facts interspersed among the math concepts. Colorful pictures of enthusiastic traders in dinosaur masks and hats add interest. A concluding page gives suggestions of various math activities that correlate with the book. Teachers and students alike will find this one a winner.
By Anne Knickerbocker, Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX
Used with permission of School Library Journal. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist - From the MathStart series, this story begins with Grandpa taking his five grandchildren to the opening of Safari Park. Though each child starts out with 20 free tickets for rides, Paul promptly loses his. Grandpa decrees that each cousin must take Paul on a ride, which might take 2, 4, or 6 tickets. Other treats, such as food and games, cost 1 ticket. As they go through the day, intense mathematical calculations ensue as the kids figure out what they have spent, how much is left, and how they can spend it. The math is worked out visually on the pages, illustrated by lively, colorful ink-and-wash drawings. Younger children may enjoy this picture book as one of the few taking place at an amusement park; older students are more likely to take on the mathematical challenges presented. As Murphy notes in the two appended pages of complementary activities and suggested reading, this book offers experience in finding a missing element, "an important step in the development of algebraic thinking."
By Carolyn Phelan, 2/1/02
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2002 American Library Association. All rights reserved.
From Kirkus Reviews - Murphy's introductory math concept endeavor is tailor-made for the picture book format. In this case readers are asked to find the unknown element in a number sentence, which works along the lines of a simple algebraic equation. Murphy frames his story as a trip to the amusement park in which one of the kids loses his tickets and the other four must donate some of theirs to him. Each kid has 20 tickets and all the rides require a different number of tickets, so the kids have to add up the tickets required for their rides, then add or subtract from 20, meanwhile figuring in the ride they are donating to the ticket-loser. For example, if Alicia wants to take 5 Rhino Rides at 2 tickets each, plus a couple of Monkey Games at a ticket apiece, what unknown number does she need to make 20? As the numbers are relatively small, this can be carried out in the reader's head (nor does it hurt thatMurphy's explanations are crystal clear). The rides look like they could be a lot of fun too, as depicted in Bjorkman's whirling,caricaturish artwork.Used with permission from Kirkus Reviews. Copyright ��2002, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Shark Swimathon

(Subtracting Two-Digit Numbers)

From Booklist - Like other books in the MathStart series, this presents a mathematical concept in the framework of a story. Here, a shark swim team practices subtraction of two-digit numbers as it tries to reach a goal of 75 laps. The focus is on the subtraction, which gets progressively more difficult as the predictable story goes on. Swordfish Coach Blue explains the process in each example. Perceptive children will note that the swimmers' performance improves with practice and that one shark uses division to determine the number of laps each teammate must still swim. Lynne Cravath's illustrations, in swimming-pool hues, feature amusing details and an interesting assortment of sharks, from twin hammerheads to Tiny, the hair-bowed whale shark. An appendix suggests activities to extend the lesson and includes a list of other books with a subtraction theme. Sharks, sports, and subtraction—a winning combination.
By Catherine Andronik, 2/1/01
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2001 American Library Association. All rights reserved.
From Children's Literature - Shark Swimathon is a picture book that features a group of young sharks engaged in a contest in order to attend a large swim meet. The team has to swim 75 laps in four days. Each day the coach counts the number of laps each shark swims, adds them together and subtracts the total from the previous day's total. The story revolves around how many laps are left after each day of practice. The sharks learn they have to work together in order to swim all their laps, and they learn how to do double-digit subtraction. The book includes examples of other ways to do subtraction and games that adults and children can play together. The premise of the book and the artwork are very good, including illustrations of the coach subtracting each day's laps from the total. While it is unusual to see a picture book featuring sharks, the story and examples are solid.
By Danielle Williams
Used with permission from Childrens Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com

Sluggers' Car Wash

(Dollars and Cents)

From Kirkus Reviews - One of life's little skills-making change-gets an airing in yet another elementary math story from the indefatigable Murphy. The Sluggers are desperately in need of new T-shirts for their upcoming championship game. They decide upon the time-honored car-wash route; the crux of this lesson in adding and subtracting is in making correct change-which, of course, brings the decimal into play as well. They charge $3.50 for each washing, then contend with the many variations of change-making: "The driver gave CJ a ten-dollar bill. CJ counted. 'Hmm, 3 dollars and 50 cents plus 2 quarters makes 4 dollars, plus 1 dollar makes 5 dollars, plus 5 dollars makes 10 dollars.' He gave her back 6 dollars and 2 quarters." On the afternoon goes in an air of jollity-Saltzberg keeps the mood light with his simple, gingery artwork-with CJ toting the lucre on his clipboard. As Murphy's notes at the end suggest, lots of math/money games can be spun off from this story and the basic ability to make correct change (one that seems to have escaped many store clerks) can start on the road to becoming second nature.Used with permission from Kirkus Reviews. Copyright �� Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal - A great combination of a lesson learned while having fun. The 21st Street Sluggers decide to hold a car wash to raise money for new T-shirts for the play-offs. CJ becomes the self-appointed bookkeeper. Collecting $3.50 from each customer and making change while the rest of the team does the actual washing. Change is made in numerous ways and profits are tallied both in totals and by types of coins. In the end, the money is raised and the kids are wet. Colorful illustrations both enhance the story line and elucidate the math lesson with clear tabulations for the money counting and change. Follow-up activities and a reading list are included.
By Nancy A. Gifford, Schenectady County Public Library, NY
Used with permission from School Library Journal. Copyright Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist - The Sluggers baseball team has a car wash to earn money for new T-shirts. While most of his teammates scrub, rinse and polish the cars, CJ serves as the accountant, sips lemonade, and makes change for the customers. At the end of the day, the workers turn the hose on the one member of the carwash team who never got his hands wet. The closing pages, "For Adults and Kids," offer suggestions of activities that support the math concepts, ways to help children fell more comfortable figuring dollars and cents, and a couple of picture books to reinforce the ideas. As CJ keeps track of money in the story, readers can follow along by watching the sums on his clipboard. Some may even learn to make change, a simple activity that seems to confuse even cashiers these days. Salzberg's colorful illustrations reflect the jovial tone of the text in the appealing addition to the MathStart Series.
By Carolyn Phelan, 2/1/03
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2003 American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Too Many Kangaroo Things to Do!

(Multiplying)

From Children's Literature - Long ago, the tables were memorized with no thought to how the whole process of multiplying numbers worked. Now, parents and teachers who struggled with the rote exercises, realize that when youngsters master the concept, they can logically work the tables. Thus, this playful, simple story, another offering from the series, Math Start, is a primary introduction to the logic and necessity of multiplication. Expressive eyed creatures from Down Under plan a surprise party; the merriment multiplies rapidly. Excellent choice for laying groundwork and establishing the idea that math is essential.
By Deborah Zink Roffino
Used with permission from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com
From Science Books and Films - Kangaroo is having a birthday and goes around to all his friends to see whether they will play with him to celebrate his birthday. He goes to see the emu, the two platypuses, the three koalas, and finally, the four dingoes. But they all have too many things to do—because they are planning a surprise party for kangaroo! Each group of his friends counts the number of things it has to do, which involves not only counting, but also addition and multiplication. Both the counting and the multiplication are illustrated by using appropriate duplication of symbols. Patterns in the numbers are also used: The emu has 10 things to do, the two platypuses have 20 things to do, the three koalas have 30, and the four dingoes have 40. Additional ideas for enhancing the mathematical concepts are included at the back of the book, and other experiences also are suggested. From the MathStart series. Highly recommended.
By Dr. Donald E. Myers
Used with permission from SB&F, a publication of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Treasure Map

(Mapping)

From Teaching Children Mathematics (NCTM) -
In this book, part of the MathStart series, a boy finds an old treasure map and his friends join him in trying to follow it. When they find the “treasure,” they add to it and leave it for other children to find in the future. At the end of the story, the author suggests activities for making and using maps and lists a few related books.

A nice aspect of the story is the idea that the land changes over time, so old maps may no longer be accurate. The path on the map has since been paved, and the big old tree has been cut down, making it more difficult for the children to follow the map.

Treasure map would best be part of a teacher resource library that teachers might use once to introduce or support activities related to mapping.
By Susan Cook, Stoner Elementary School, Madison, WI
From Booklist - This entry in the MathStart series takes on beginning map-reading skills. When one of the members of the Elm Street Kids Club finds a treasure map, all the kids join in the fun to search for treasure. Several math-related concepts, such as problem solving and estimation, are modeled as the kids look at the 50-year-old map and, following directions such as "turn left," try to make it fit a present-day landscape. The mapping concepts are not presented as effectively as they could have been (the map shows a compass rose and a legend, though these terms are never mentioned in the text), but there's a lot here to build on. Tusa's watercolor-and-ink cartoon-style illustrations, while nicely done, divert from the main story line with an unexplained fantasy sideshow that may confuse some children. Companion activities and a short bibliography are included.
By Lauren Peterson, 9/1/04
Used with permission from Booklist. Copyright �� 2004 American Library Association. All rights reserved.