Just Enough Carrots by Diana De Leon

Title: Just Enough Carrots

Author: Stuart J. Murphy

Illustrator: Frank Remkiewicz

Recommended Grade Level: Grades K-1

Common Core Standards Addressed:

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC. C.6

Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another group, e.g., by using matching and counting strategies.

Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice:
CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP1: Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.

Summary: This book is about elephants, rabbits, birds and other animals who go shopping at the Super Star Market. They shop for carrots, worms and peanuts. As they walk through the supermarket purchasing their favorite items, they are also trying to figure out who has more, the same or fewer of the grocery items. After the rabbits get home from their grocery shopping they wait for elephant and bird since they will be joining them for lunch.

Rating: ***** This book is an amazing book. The illustrations and colors are very appealing for young readers. The book introduces the abstract mathematical concepts of more, fewer and same amounts through visuals and character dialogue. Furthermore, lessons can be interactive through think-pair-share activities.

Classroom Ideas: This book can be used to teach the mathematical concept of more, fewer and same amounts. Students would be provided with various classroom items (pencils, crayons, glue sticks, scissors, blocks, etc) and 2 graphic organizers. The first graphic organizer will ask the student to display “more” and “less” groups of the same objects. The second graphic organizer will ask the students to display two groups of one object to show the “same” amount. This work will be conducted in small groups.