What's the Difference?

June 1, 2010
Gr 1-3-More than math concepts are explored in this picture book that combines subtraction with animal facts. Each spread features rhyming text about an endangered animal, a math problem, and a useful paragraph explaining why the featured animal is/was endangered. "Six silly prairie dogs/frolic most the day. One guards the colony./How many dogs at play?" is matched with "6-1 = ?" Twelve animals are explored in this fashion, and the text culminates with the explanation that it is up to "kind, caring people" to help the creatures survive. In fact, each muted watercolor illustration features a person somewhere on the spread. The book concludes with a "For Creative Minds" section that contains "Endangered Animal Vocabulary," "Food Chains & Webs," "Missing Links in Food Chains," and questions that can be answered by reading the text."Stacy Dillon, LREI, New York City"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2010
Preschool-G Similar in format to its companion book Whats New at the Zoo? An Animal Adding Adventure (2009), this picture book introduces a dozen endangered, threatened, and recovered species while offering practice in subtraction. Each double-page spread includes a simple subtraction problem (6 - 1 = ?); a related rhymed couplet about a group of animals (Six silly prairie dogs / frolic most the day. / One guards the colony. / How many dogs at play?); and a paragraph of information about threats to the species and its current status of endangerment. An intriguing feature on the appended pages is a chart showing what happens to an ocean habitat when one species, sea otters, disappears from the areas food chain. The paintings clearly depict the animals and settings, although there is occasional awkwardness in figure drawing as well as the scale. Though not a necessary purchase, this blend of math practice and science facts may be useful to supplement classroom units in either area.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)