Children's Book Reviews
Page Two of TwoBy Nancy Littlejohn
A Dozen Dozens by Harriet Ziefert, Illustrated by Chris Demarest
Viking (Math Easy to Read Level 2), Jan., 1998.Hardcover, 28 pages.
ISBN: 0670877891.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
A Dozen Dozens is another fine example of an easy reader being
entertaining and educational at the same time. Its amusing,
colorful illustrations give visual cues on counting. Its rollicking
rhyme keeps the young reader engaged. Since this is a math
easy-to-read, part of a series that Viking is publishing, it
also has the task of making math fun, which it does very well
indeed. It alternates between counting a dozen and then half a
dozen. It starts out with the question, "What is a dozen?" and
proceeds to go from there. First, there are twelve fat piglets.
Then six (half dozen) tulips and roses, which of course if the
reader counts all together add up to a dozen. A dozen eggs are
in the barn but six of them have cracks. On this page then, not
only does the reader get to count up to six and then twelve but
look for the cracked eggs. A few pages later, subtraction is
introduced with a pizza with twelve slices. The father wants two
slices, the mother wants three, the sister wants one and that
leaves six (there's that half-dozen again) for the little boy.
After the story is over, the end of the book has suggestions for
family math fun. It asks if there are a dozen of various objects
in the reader's house and encourages her to count to find out.
Then it asks the reader to list a dozen different dinosaurs or
bugs, birds or dogs. It also has a story starter and several other
activities. This is a good interactive book. Although short, it
packs in not only many math concepts, but can make a young reader
feel successful at finishing a book because it is so brief. The
activities at the end require no special gadgets and little time
to accomplish. It's a great way to spend some moments with your
child and maybe involve the rest of the family, too.
--Nancy Littlejohn
Zack's Alligator Goes to School Shirley Mozelle, Pictures by James Watts
HarperTrophy, September 1998.Paperback, 63 pages.
Grades 1-3.
ISBN: 0064442489.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
Is there anything more exhilarating than finally learning how to
read? While many of us probably remember the days of Dick and Jane
and the constant repetition, today's young readers have a wealth of
beginning books from which to choose which are really fun and funny
to read. When my children were first learning to read, my main
criteria for selecting an easy reader was whether I could stand
to read it to them as well as have them read it to me? over and
over again. Zack's Alligator Goes to School fits that criteria to
a tee. Zack is a boy with an alligator key chain named Bridget.
Bridget is one pretty amazing key chain so Zack decides to bring
her to school for show-and-tell. Buster (a bully, of course)
laughs at Zack for bringing a girl for show-and-tell. He has
brought Negatron, the greatest robot in the world. Unfortunately,
Negatron does not live up to Buster's boasts. When it's Zack's
turn, he pulls out tiny Bridget, the alligator key chain from
his pocket. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately for the class,
Buster tries to grab Bridget away from Zack knocking her into
the aquarium. Did I mention that Bridget GROWS when she gets wet?
Into a full size 'gator from the Glades?
Ms. Pickles, the teacher, is a bit dismayed, but the children are
delighted! Bridget can talk and sing! Suddenly, Negatron, Buster's
robot, starts to work with a WHIRRRR! Bridget goes after the
monster even after Zack tells her to stop. Chaos ensues. OF COURSE,
even more chaos ensues to the great delight of Zack's class when
Bridget tries out a skateboard, knocks over the ant farm and the
radio, pops a dinosaur balloon, dances and plays basketball on
Ms. Pickle's desk and generally trashes the classroom. All good
things must come to an end, though, and Bridget starts to shrink
all the way back to her key chain size. Just in time, too,
because Mr. Turnip, the principal, arrives on the scene. When
he wants to know about an alligator being in the classroom,
they show him Bridget. He leaves in disgust when he sees what
he thinks is ONLY a key chain. The kids pass Bridget around to
tell her good-bye before handing her over to Zack. Bridget
contentedly falls asleep in Zack's hand as he promises that he
will water her again soon and tells her, "See you later,
alligator." Bridget the 'gator makes this book special with her
zany antics. It's imaginative and exciting. Kids love books
about wacky things that can happen at school. It's a sure thing
any young reader would pick this book to read for him/herself.
You couldn't go wrong either by picking it for them. Enjoy --
but watch out for key chains!
--Nancy Littlejohn
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