Chimp Math

September 1, 2002
Gr 1-5-Frail and ignored by his mother, baby Jiggs is kept in an incubator at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, KS, and then moved to the Denver Zoo, where he is raised by veterinary assistant and coauthor Bickel. The details of the chimp's young life will fascinate readers. His funny and touching relationships with Bickel's dog, his ability to communicate, and his playful nature are well documented via clear, full-color photos. The book is set up so that one can read the text on the right-hand pages and simply learn Jiggs's story. The left-hand pages offer explanations of the time lines, charts, clocks, and calendars that were used to measure and record the animal's growth and development, and teachers will be able to use them to enhance math units. The time lines, in particular, illuminate the narrative and can lead to classroom projects. Youngsters will smile all the way through this engaging story that has many practical applications as well.-Ellen Heath, Orchard School, Ridgewood, NJ

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2002
Gr. 2-5. Born in the Wichita zoo and then abandoned by his mother, chimp Jiggs was raised by humans. This engaging account follows him from infant to toddler, using specifics of his growth and development to introduce time measurement devices such as clocks, calendars, time lines, and charts. The right-hand pages relate Jiggs' experiences and escapades in descriptive, lively prose accompanied by heartwarming, often humorous color photos; the left-hand pages introduce different timekeeping methods, charting information about Jiggs' daily activities or skills as compared with those of wild chimps. Most of the concepts are effectively conveyed, though one or two, such as the age/weight graph, may confuse, as the visual doesn't clearly reflect the explanation. The cute photos and Jiggs' story will win an audience, though, and children will still come away with some sense of how timekeeping can be of use and some of the ways it's done. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)