This book is a family favorite! It teaches basic math and counting skills, manners, problem solving, morals, and deductive reasoning. The story begins with one sad, lonely guinea pig who doesn't have anyone to play with. She meets another guinea pig and they become friends. Each page introduces a new guinea pig, which quickly adds up to ten. Each new friend helps the former friends out in some manner, whether by helping them to construct a sand castle, picking up the money they dropped, even by breaking up a fight! As the book has limited words, the illustrations tell more of the story than does the narration. For example, the third character to enter the story is described as "one silly guinea pig". The illustration however shows her with a feather skirt, leaves tied to her feet, paperclips on her ears, balloons in her hand, and a paper cup full of crayons balanced on her head. By the end of the story, the characters have all resolved their conflicts, and have gone home to see their parents, whom have some identifying feature that children can connect the kid to. This book is easy to read for young readers and helps with math comprehension.
This book sounds like a great way to make math accessible to children by connecting it with something every child wants...a pet guinea pig! It is always good when you can find a book that is fun, and incorporates basic skills that children need for when they start school. Since your placement is with Kindergarten this year, are you thinking about using it as a possible read-aloud to the class?
ReplyDeleteWow I wish I had this kind of book that reinforced positive ideas about math when I was younger! I think this book provides a great example of how learning can be fun for children without them even realizing it! Is this a book your girls love?
ReplyDeleteMy girlfriend was just asking me tonight if I knew of a good math read-aloud for kindergarteners. I think you've found it for me! This books looks like it does a great job of bringing to life a subject that is boring to some younger (or older) students.
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