Great Math Tattle Battle

June 1, 2006
Gr 1-3 -Harley Harrison is a math whiz and a tattler. The second grader observes his classmates and then writes detailed reports filled with simple numerical evidence of their wrongdoings. The reports are shown in full-page illustrations that incorporate numbers, objects, and childlike printing: -Erwin chewed the erasers off 8 pencils on Monday 3 pencils on Tuesday...=21 erasers. - The adults deal with the boy -s disclosures as his classmates complain. Then a new student arrives, and Harley finds his match. Emma Jean corrects his mistakes and begins to tattle in an oddly familiar manner, using calculations to prove her points. The two tell on one another until their teacher pairs them in a math challenge. After working separately and losing time, they cooperate, and the results are rewarding -extra time at recess. They inform their teacher that they will be -too busy playing - to write any more reports. The striking color cartoon art in soft pastel tones depicts children with expressive faces. The math is cleverly woven into the story and used effectively. Back matter includes a half-dozen -Math Tattle Battle Teasers - and their solutions. The book is a winning combination of math problems and a true-to-life story." -Erlene Bishop Killeen, Fox Prairie Elementary School, Stoughton, WI"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2006
Gr. 1-3. In this unabashedly numbers-driven tale, a second-grader with a habit for counting up his classmates' infractions and reporting them to the teacher gets his comeuppance from a new arrival, who not only tattles on " him" but also corrects his arithmetic. Zollars' illustrations alternate pages of notebook paper with accusatory tallies ("Erwin chewed the erasers off 8 pencils on Monday, 3 pencils on Tuesday . . .") with static scenes featuring multicultural groupsof children and teachers. Closing with a reconciliation between the rivals and a half-dozen extra word problems, the episode may find a small number of readers among fans of Stuart Murphy's MathStart series, despite its pointedly pedagogical purpose.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)