Author/Illustrator: Danny Schnitzlein/Bill Mayer
Plot Summary: A monster shows a young boy that math really isn't so bad after all. First offering to do the homework for the boy, the boy realizes that although his homework is perfect, he hasn't learned anything about math. He is angry at the monster and goes on to prove to himself, and to the shrinking monster, that he can do it himself.
Comments: By the author of "The Monster Who Ate My Peas," the monster comes back to teach another life lesson. The boy learns that math really isn't so bad after all. He also learns from the wise monster that "If you don't pay up front, you'll pay later instead." The book was brought to my attention by a second grade teacher who uses it at the beginning of the school year when she begins teaching math. It would make a great gift for a math teacher's classroom.
Extensions:
1. As mentioned above, read the book prior to starting math lessons for the school year. As the book introduces an important lesson about math, it can be referred to again and again throughout the year.
2. Although these are lesson plan ideas for "The Monster Who Ate My Peas," they could be adopted for use with this book. http://www.dannyschnitzlein.com/Lesson%20Plans.htm
Themes/keywords: math anxiety, mathematics, monsters, humor, rhyme
Age/Reading Level: Interest Level - Second grade and up; ATOS/Follett - 2.7
Standards:
1. Any math standard from second grade and up. It could even be used in middle school
Publisher's Info: Peachtree Publishers, Atlanta, Georgia 2007
ISBN: 13 - 978-1-56145-420-4
10 - 1-56145-420-6
Awards/Review Sources:
School Library Journal 09/01/07
Horn Book 04/01/08
Library Media Connection 01/01/08
Science Books & Films (A.A.A.S.) 01/01/08
Genre/Dewey: Picture book, Easy
Websites:
Author's website: http://www.dannyschnitzlein.com/
Notes for Booktalk:
Vocabulary:
Comments