Pigeon math
(Book)

Pity the poor narrator. As the story begins, there are 10 pigeons sitting on a wire on a bright and sunny day. This situation lasts for exactly one page, and then a series of events cause pigeons to either fly away or come back, so that, just as it's time to turn the page, there's a new math equation for readers to solve. And it's not just an attack of bees or the attraction of a cheese sandwich that disrupts the narrative; the day turns gray and cloudy, and then it's afternoon, and then there's seven pigeons and one very large cat, and so on until the narrator gives up. The dismayed pigeons ask if the narrator could at least end the story, so there's a final night-time attempt: 10 pigeons snuggle together and go to sleep. The goofy illustrations are large enough to be seen from a distance, and the single-digit math problems are simple and align perfectly with the bright illustrations. This is a charming way to reinforce basic math concepts.--Kathleen McBroom Copyright 2019 Booklist

A one-to-10 counting book featuring a cast of active pigeons."One bright and sunny morning, ten pigeons" sit on a wire when along come some bees and throw them all into a tizzy. A handful of the pigeons take offreaders can count their tails in the margins of the pagesso "OK. Let's try that again. Um, ten minus six is four." Readers can see right on the wire there that if six pigeons fly off, that leaves fourmath at its most accessible. Well, there are four until one finds a sandwich that lures four of the dispersed birds to return. That adds up to eight. And there they are, that now gray and cloudy morning, when it starts to rain and six pigeons fly away to seek shelter. Again, readers can count the birds to arrive at the new number, or they can work the equation that is provided: "Let's seeeight minus six is"? On the counting game goes via interruptions into the twilight, when the narrator gives upthese pigeons won't stay still long enough to introduce themuntil it comes time to go to bed and end the story. Citro's exasperated text works hand in glove with Watson's comical birds to make this counting game a joy rather than a task. The narrative text expresses equations in words, and corresponding number sentences are tucked into the scenes.Good fun for early counters. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Pity the poor narrator. As the story begins, there are 10 pigeons sitting on a wire on a bright and sunny day. This situation lasts for exactly one page, and then a series of events cause pigeons to either fly away or come back, so that, just as it's time to turn the page, there's a new math equation for readers to solve. And it's not just an attack of bees or the attraction of a cheese sandwich that disrupts the narrative; the day turns gray and cloudy, and then it's afternoon, and then there's seven pigeons and one very large cat, and so on until the narrator gives up. The dismayed pigeons ask if the narrator could at least end the story, so there's a final night-time attempt: 10 pigeons snuggle together and go to sleep. The goofy illustrations are large enough to be seen from a distance, and the single-digit math problems are simple and align perfectly with the bright illustrations. This is a charming way to reinforce basic math concepts. Preschool-Grade 1. Copyright 2019 Booklist Reviews.