The Reindeer Remainders review

 

A perfect picture book for back-to-school or any time of year, this clever, rhyming story shows how working together and including others are important parts of friendship.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

Twelve reindeer are excited for the big showcase night and rush to class to finish things up.  But when a new student joins, this now makes them thirteen making the class an uneven number.  Whenever they pair or group up, there is always a "remain-deer-one".  No matter how they divide into groups one reindeer is always alone making everyone worried and unsure what to do. They do not want to leave anyone out for the big event. 

Learning math can be so complicated but having fun books such as this is always a help! A picture book story about math concepts such as prime numbers and remainders engages kids to understand them better.  The illustrations are charming and it cleverly rhymes making this easy for reading aloud.  I loved the reindeer's worried expressions for their friends and even though they all looked alike, they each had their own colored bandana giving them personality.  In the end, the deer problem solved their showcase dilemmas happily.  On the back pages the author talks more about remainders and prime numbers. Also included is another page dedicated to feelings when someone is left out and how to make sure all in a group feel included.  Another wonderful concept of this terrific story.  It is written easily for young readers to understand and enjoy as well.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5-8.~

 

Title: The Reindeer Remainders

Author: Katey Howes, illustrated by Marie Hermansson

Pub. date: July 2024, Sourcebooks Explore

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs.

How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin review

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"How many seeds are in a pumpkin?" Mr. Tiffin asks his class as they gather around the big, medium, and small pumpkins on his desk. Robert, the biggest kid, guesses that the largest one has a million seeds; Elinor, sounding like she knows what she's talking about, guesses the medium one has 500 seeds; and Anna, who likes even numbers better than odd ones, guesses that the little one has 22. Charlie, the smallest boy in the class, doesn't have a guess. (goodreads summary)


This will make a wonderful addition to the Fall Harvest parties this upcoming week. It is just the kind of book that is great for the math or science unit!  Mr. Tifflin has three different sized pumpkins and asks his class to guess "how many seeds are in a pumpkin?" Naturally, the kids think the biggest one will have the most. When they open each one and count the seeds, they discover a scientific surprise!

This book will reinforce concepts on size and prediction, as well as estimating and counting in various ways such as by 2's, 5's and 10's.  To add further to the teaching moment, the kids could weigh and measure their pumpkins as well.  Pumpkins also offer a great opportunity for sensory input with their funny shaped exterior, unusual smell and mushy insides. There is even a nice lesson for Charlie, the smallest boy in the class, who learns that it is not so bad being small. The story does read aloud easily with colorful and bold pictures that add to the fun. With the interesting facts included at the back, I managed to learn several things from this educational book that I didn't know.  Hope the kids have some fun this fall experimenting with pumpkins! I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-7.~

Title: How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin
Author:  Margaret McNamara
Pub. Date: July 2007, Schwartz & Wade Books
genre: picture book
Hardcover, 40 pgs.