Mathematics - Sets, General Topology, & Categories, Fiction - Animals - Mammals, Fiction - Games & Activities, Mathematics & Measurement, Fiction - Family Life

Rabbit's Pajama Party

Name: Rabbit's Pajama Party
Author: Stuart J. Murphy; illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
ISBN: 9780060276164

by Stuart J. Murphy; illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

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Overview

Rabbit and his friends have lots to do at his pajama party. First they eat pizza. Then they get into sleeping bags. And last Mom turns out the light. Learning about sequencing—understanding what happens first, next, and last—is all part of the fun!

A group of animal friends have fun at a pajama party while demonstrating activities that happen in a particular order or sequence.

About the Author, Stuart J. Murphy; illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

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 Boston.

Frank Remkiewicz illustrated the MathStart Books Rabbit's Pajama Party and Just Enough Carrots. He lives in Sarasota, FL. In His Own Words...

"I was the kind of kid who was always reading or drawing. Since I was drawing well before I started school, I always considered art to have seniority over the likes of long division and medieval history. This attitude got me into difficulties more than once. My favorite subjects were horses, cartoons, wildlife, and contraptions that rolled, floated, tooted, or flew. My heroes of the day were illustrators like Bill Peet, Robert Lawson, and Kurt Weiss. They provided me with a screenful of imagery that I'll never forget.

"Winter in kindergarten found us all painting Santas at our tables. Mine came out so good that I was asked to do it over again on a huge piece of brown paper that covered the chalkboard. Santa would be bigger than me. I was excused from the regular stuff, given larger brushes, more paint-and sure enough, here came Santa. This was only the beginning. Other teachers, seeing the mural-sized figure, 'borrowed' me to do the same for first- and second-grade classrooms. Flattered but somewhat embarrassed, I took heart, since these gigs were getting me out of a lot of tedious activities like nap time, scissors, yarn, and flash cards. 'All I ever needed to know, I learned in kindergarten' may be true. Twenty years later I found myself on Madison Avenue at Norcross Greeting Cards-yes, drawing Santa Claus.

"I've always been drawn to the field of humor. Since I'm writing and illustrating my own stories now, I try to make them funny in an outrageous or off-the-wall way. During classroom presentations, I again find myself by the chalkboard in front of the kids. Now we are seeking ways to write and draw those ideas that squeeze their way through the everyday chores of our minds. It's a thrill to watch my own book being read by a group of children, and I like it when they smile. But I love it when they laugh."

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Editorials

Children's Literature - Martha Cunningham

Rabbit invites friends over for dinner and a sleepover. The child's task, upon having the story read, is to recreate the events in proper sequence; and this is termed "math." The practice of putting elements in order is indeed an exercise in logic, and logic can be termed "math," but it is necessary, for the logic to be impeccable in order for the exercise to be worthwhile. In this story, the elements of the tale, while loosely connected, do not have to occur entirely in the sequence that they do; with the result that the child may experience failure in exact "sequencing" and the further result that the "logic" exercise is too inexact to be pedagogically sound. There is no limit to the number of good stories for children that would accomplish the same educational feat as this rather contrived story about the rabbit who apparently eats, drinks, makes sundaes, dons pajamas, poses for photos and tells scary stories (after playing shadow puppets) in what is arguably an arbitrary order. I would not recommend this book--which is not to say that others in the series are not viable. Part of the "MathStart" series, level 1.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1 A group of animals meet at Rabbit's house for dinner and a sleepover. The friends eat pizza, make ice-cream sundaes, get into pajamas, act a little silly, tell scary stories, and go to sleep. This is a very simple approach to the concept of time sequencing. Young children can identify food, clothing, animals, and colors; and there is just enough familiar activity (sharing a meal, getting ready for bed) for them to understand. The colors are bright and appealing, the cartoon artwork is simple and uncluttered, and the print is large and clear for beginning readers. The last two pages provide suggestions "For Adults and Kids" who want to explore the math concept presented here. Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

paper 0-06-446722-8 New to the MathStart series is this quick take on sequencing, although almost any story with a beginning, middle, and end would serve as well. A sleepover is the premise; Rabbit invites his friends Mouse, Giraffe, and Elephant to the party. The action is described in a few short rhyming sentences that outline the order of events. Friends are invited inside, a pizza dinner is gobbled up, juice follows dinner, and ice cream sundaes for dessert conclude the meal. At bedtime, the four friends pull on their pajamas and zip themselves into sleeping bags while Rabbit's mother takes a picture. Hand shadows and scary stories come with lights out, until Mouse is heard snoring peacefully. Just when it appears that it may be a stretch to locate the math involved, a final page asks, "What Happened at Rabbit's Pajama Party?" to prompt children to think about what happened first, next, and last. Although Remkiewicz wiggles out of showing "hot fudge" by present a bottle of chocolate syrup instead, no one will question the accuracy of his animals' zeal; they are all smiles, delightfully displaying silly expressions. Characteristically, the final spread offers tips and suggestions for adults who may want to extend the sequencing concept with follow-up activities. (Picture book. 2-4)