Mmmm...Cookies!: Simple Subtraction (Frimble Family Adventure) - Softcover

PreSchool-Grade 1-- These may be exciting adventures to this family, but readers and listeners will find them tedious. Cookies! shows simple subtraction as a tray of freshly baked cookies keeps decreasing as each family member walks through the kitchen. Border prints show the mathematical problem being illustrated in the story (e.g. 9-1=8, 6-1=5, etc.) In Scoop! the simple addition comes from the children supposedly taking turns adding fish to the bowl. Anna cheats by having her imaginary friend take a turn, and Charlie lets her get away with such nonsense until the end. (It is strange that only nine fish are added to the bowl, but the border prints always show ten.) In both books, the Frimble family are bright green frogs with human clothing and characteristics. They are all totally unappealing. Both have common situations that could be used for teaching math, but neither title distinguishes itself by making the concepts any more interesting or appealing than an illustration in a textbook.
- Nancy A. Gifford, Schenectady County Public Library, NY
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.