June 1, 2014
PreS-Gr 1-An adorable mouse and his sister deliver a lesson about ordinal numbers as they bake oatmeal muffins. Oddly, the book excludes specific measurements in the recipe that Albert uses, but the ordinal-number theme is thoughtfully constructed, and each ordinal (e.g., 11th, 12th) is presented in bold and with a matching visual icon. At the end of the book, additional follow-up discussion questions and a recipe for playdough cookies (this time with measurements) provide useful extension activities. Although the theme of ordinal numbers is prominent, young readers will not feel overly instructed; Melmon's endearing mice, created with soft watercolor and pencil, are enough to carry the story.-Nora Clancy, Teachers College Community School, New York City
Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
March 15, 2014
Ordinal numbers are featured in this delightful entry in the Mouse Math series starring brother-and-sister team Albert and Wanda. With his sunny, polka-dot apron on, Albert is excited to make muffins. But then Wanda informs him that they are out of flour. Dismayed, Albert points to the recipe list. "But flour is the first ingredient!...I can't make muffins without flour." Wanda suggests that Albert do what their mother does when she is missing an ingredient: Ask the neighbors. And so starts Albert's enthusiastic quest for the 10 ingredients--all of which he ends up borrowing from friends, neighbors or relatives who are happy to share. At the bottom of the page, readers can see a picture of each ingredient, with its ordinal number, as Albert acquires them. He makes a daring dash from his mouse hole for the last thing--milk--snatching a mouse-sized bottleful from the cat's bowl. After the muffins are baked, Wanda leads Albert by the paw with their basket of hot muffins as they deliver one to each contributor (even the cat), another opportunity for May to reiterate the ordinals. The colorful drawings are delightfully expressive, each mouse endowed with a defined and individualized personality. Exercises appended reinforce the lesson. An enjoyable, instructive story with humor, heart and a pair of adorable mice. (Picture book. 4-7)
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July 1, 2014
Mouse Albert sets out to make muffins ("By myself!"). He finds he's fresh out of the first ingredient, then the second, third, and so on, but thanks to his neighbors' generosity, the baking project is a success. Softly illustrated, friendly-looking mice welcome readers to the contrived but effective primer on ordinal numbers (with a bonus lesson on sharing). Two activity pages are appended.
(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)