M and M's Brand Counting Book

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

This insignificant addition to the crowded shelves of counting books encourages children to use M&M candies--in specific color configurations--to practice counting from one to 12, and then to form the various sets of 12 (six groups of two; three groups of four, etc.) as well as the shapes of a square, circle and triangle. From its opening lines (``Pour out the candies. Get ready, get set. / This counting book is the tastiest yet!''), the rhymed text is rather banal, and the art--which consists entirely of depictions of these small round candies--is limited and monotonous. Finally, the book ends with a lesson in subtraction, in which youngsters are encouraged to eat the pieces, color by color, until none remains. Perhaps the sugar will give them a kick; unfortunately, this slim book doesn't offer much food for thought. Ages 3-8. (July)

Children's Literature - Susie Wilde

M&M's are a secret ingredient for loving math in McGrath's counting book. It uses children's favorite candy as a math manipulative to teach counting, sets, shapes, and best of all, eating your way to an understanding of subtraction. The book is bright and colorful, and unites a scrumptious sensory experience with early math learning. Young children will enjoy using M&Ms to duplicate patterns of colors they find in strings of beads, cubes, and other common classroom objects. Extend these activities by challenging children in groups to develop their own patterns, gluing M&Ms in patterns on popsicle sticks, (e.g., three yellow, three green). Then bring together two groups and ask them to estimate and then multiply to discover how many M&Ms of each color will be needed for their groups to reproduce each pattern.