Author and illustrator: Greg Tang and Harry Briggs

Recommended grade levels: Grades 1–2 and 3-5

This simple book of rhymes and pictures encourages kids to count without counting, which in my school days, was frowned upon.  We were taught to simply memorize our facts and do the same boring math problems computations.   Problem solving skills and subitizing are emphasized, and kids learn that there may be any number of ways to solve a simple arithmetic puzzle. This book offers just the right number and simplicity of hints so that kids can figure out the puzzles on their own without counting.  Puzzle presents an array or grid of items (bugs, fruit, eggs, etc) and a catchy little rhyme that asks for the answer to a "how many" question but specifically notes that the point is not COUNTING the seeds on the strawberries, but using other methods (grouping, adding to subtract, repetitive adding or "counting by x 's", etc) to solve. It’s a fun way to look and solve math in a different way.

CCSSM Standards: CCSSMath.Content.K.CC.B.4

Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality.

Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction.

CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.A.1

Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.1

Solve word problems that call for addition of three whole numbers whose sum is less than or equal to 20, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

 Summary: It's pretty much little rhyming stories that give you hints on how to come up with the answer they ask. Its illustrated beautifully and the rhyming is done with short little stories that guide you to best solve the math problem.

Rating:  I would rate this book 5 stars because of its beautiful illustration and the fun rhymes that help you solve the math problems.

Classroom ideas: This book is used to teach mathematical counting strategies without using the same old counting by one method. I feel that you can do read aloud in the classroom and form groups were each group will come up with the answers collectively.