Synopsis
Splitting things in half may seem like an easy thing to do, but when two siblings and a pizza are involved, things can get messy. Children learn about fractions at school but fractions are also an important part of everyday life outside the classroom.In this riotous book, Stuart J. Murphy and G. Brian Karas introduce the simplest of fractions, 1/2.
Author Biography:
Stuart J. Murphy is a visual learning specialist. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, he has a strong background in design and art direction. He also has extensive experience in the world of educational publishing. Drawing on all these talents, Stuart J. Murphy brings a unique perspective to the MathStart series. In MathStart books, pictures do more than tell stories; they teach math.
Stuart J. Murphy and his wife, Nancy, live in Evanston, Illinois.
School Library Journal
Gr 1-3The concept that "_ and _ is 1" is presented using two bickering siblings who cannot share anything without parental intervention. Finally, the situation degenerates into a food fight, and the kids decide that if they each clean up half, they'll be done a lot sooner. Although the presentation of the math concept is clear and straightforward and the acrylic, gouache, and pencil illustrations are colorful and quirky, the singsong rhyme and lack of any real plot make this a less interesting choice than Pat Hutchins's The Doorbell Rang (Greenwillow, 1986). A list of suggestions for adults using the book with children follows the story.JoAnn Rees, Sunnyvale Public Library, CA