Fractions = Trouble!

May 15, 2011

Third-grader Wilson Williams knows he'll never learn fractions: "Multiplication was hard enough," he tells his pet hamster, Pip. 

Worse, his parents have arranged for a math tutor. Just the idea of a tutor is embarrassing, but sympathetic Mrs. Tucker uses his love for hamsters to help him understand the math, and soon he's quite clear about the difference between the Nice Numerator and the Dumb Denominator. At the same time, Pip becomes the basis for a successful science-fair project. Not only does Wilson have some academic success, he makes his little brother happy. Though only in kindergarten, Kipper has a science-fair project too. In the process of Kipper's investigations, one of his favorite stuffed animals disappears. Big brother Wilson comes to the rescue. Most satisfying of all, he discovers that others—even his very best friend—are tutored, too. The short chapters have believable dialogue and plenty of reader appeal. In one, Wilson tries to teach his hamster to shake hands; in another, his friend Josh experiments with blowing up a pickle. Karas' scratchy grayscale drawings, one to a chapter, support the story. This sequel to 7 x 9 = Trouble (2002) follows logically but also stands on its own.

Familiar school concerns, nicely resolved, make this another excellent selection for early chapter-book readers. (Fiction. 7-10) 

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June 1, 2011

Gr 2-3-In this sequel to 7 x 9 = Trouble! (Farrar, 2002), Wilson is struggling with fractions. When his parents decide to hire a math tutor, the third grader is embarrassed to be the only kid at Hill Elementary to have this extra help. He is determined to make sure nobody finds out, especially his friend Josh. Meanwhile Wilson, his younger brother Kipper, and Josh are all working on their science-fair projects. Wilson's project involves his pet hamster, Kipper's tests camping tents, and Josh is trying to figure out at what temperature a pickle explodes. As Wilson starts his math tutoring, he is surprised to find that he is allowed to draw hamsters as a method of learning fractions. Can he pass the fractions test and finish his project? Will keeping his tutoring sessions a secret ruin his friendship with Josh? All ends well as Wilson learns that he isn't the only student struggling at school. Short chapters and several full-page illustrations make this title perfect for new chapter-book readers. In addition, students having difficulty with math will relate to this lighthearted story.-Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH

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