Sunday, February 17, 2013

"Full House An Invitation to Fractions" by Dayle Ann Dodds & illustrated by Abby Carter (Review & Giveaway)

What a colorful book that is sure to capture the sit-down attention of children. It will be enjoyed by children ages 3 and up. It will be comprehended as a conceptual book on fractions by beginning elementary students.  As parents we begin early to show our children fractions by speaking of cutting an apple in half or in fourths (quarters).  That is a beginning.

Full House brings us into the guest house or boarding house of Miss Bloom and she has six rooms in her house.  Each guest (entirely different in personality which adds to the adventure) occupies one room = one/sixth = 1/6.  So when the second guest arrives, he is in room two and 2/6 of the house is occupied.

The text is my favorite style for capturing tickle-bone-funny interest of kids:  rhyme.  And the vocabulary used will expand word understanding for the young child as words uncommon in young children's books are used.

Then into the kitchen Miss Bloom went to make
a scrumptious dinner for all to partake.
There were chicken and peas, potatoes au gratin,
but the very best part --
Miss Bloom had forgotten!
We see on the bottom of the right page of each spread, the fraction concept is explain as it pertains to that guest's arrival.

Toward the end of the book, the guests have found the "very best part" that Miss Bloom had forgotten and they have divided it into "fractions" for one each or 5/6 leaving the last part for Miss Bloom who was number six.

Brightly illustrated by Abby Carter, the facial expressions and cheerful mood of the watercolors will win over parent, teacher, and child.  I highly recommend this as another way to entertain as you teach your child.
 

GIVEAWAY:   And to help a child with his or her introduction to fractions, Candlewick Press is providing a copy for one of Chat With Vera's readers.  Enter using the Rafflecopter form below (please be patient as it loads. GIVEAWAY begins February 17 and ends March 5 at 12:01 a.m. EST. Open to USA addresses only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway  
DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy of Full House was provided in exchange for my honest review by the publisher, Candlewick Press, on behalf of the author without obligation for a favorable review. Opinions expressed are solely my own.

19 comments:

  1. I have not been able to teach a child fractions yet.. However, I remember we were taught with the pie chart, and cake after dinner, starting at a very young age!
    Crystal Gibson
    mrs.gibson24@yahoo.com

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  2. Would love to get The Great Divide for the same child I spoke about in my first entry!
    Crystal Gibson
    mrs.gibson24@yahoo.com

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  3. I show the kids how to slice a pizza in half, quarter, etc., the same for apple and the there is the orange that has many slices.

    Fact or Fiction: An organic Oranges have 11 slices of orange.

    Patricia
    mamaw1050[at]att[dot]com

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  4. I found peaks my interest!
    The Great Divide: A Mathematical Marathon
    author: Dayle Ann Dodds
    illustrator: Tracy Mitchell

    mamaw1050[at]att[dot]net

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  5. I have not been teaching fractions yet but I had started addition and subtraction with you have a cupcake with a cherry on it and then you take away the cherry, what do you have?

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  6. My daughters would also enjoy Maisy's Fairground from Candlewick Press. I would like to mention that they have Ladder to the Moon and I bought a case of that book and another book for Christmas and handed them out as Christmas gifts at my daughter's school and the kids love that book. For some of the kids, that was their first book that they ever owned (or so they told me).

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  7. When the kids/grandkids want to share something, such as a sandwich, one child gets to cut it in half, then the other gets to pick which half they want first - it help encourage the 'cutter' to make sure each piece is as equal as possible.

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  8. Teacher's Pets - I love the idea of the pets coming for a visit but ending up staying in the classroom.

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  9. What a fun way to teach fractions! Nice to meet you, too.

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    1. Nice to meet you, too Julia Dweck. Come back often & visit.

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  10. Sounds like a neat book. Always love to see mathematical concepts in literary form! I found you through the Kid Lit Blog Hop, and I'm your newest follower. I hope you'll return the favor and check out my site as well at http://teachwithpicturebooks.blogspot.com.

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    1. Agreed on the use of books that entertain being used to teach mathematical concepts. But then, educating is what reading is all about, basically, isn't it. Thanks for following, I returned the favor with GFC.

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  11. Fabulous book Vera, thank you again for linking it to the kidlit blog hop, its going on the to read list. Cheers Julie Grasso

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  12. I have helped my children learn fractions with food, recipes and basic measurements. We work together hands on in the kitchen and I show them how fractions are a part of everyday life.

    april yedinak

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  13. I would also like The Great Divide: A Mathematical Marathon book

    april yedinak

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  14. Stopping by as part of the Kid Lit Blog Hop. This is sure to make maths interesting and fun :)

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  15. What a great way to learn about fractions! Fabulous. Tweeting about your giveaway!

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  16. great divide! and by using food - it made it easier!

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