Super Sand Castle Saturday (Mathstart. Level 2) - Hardcover

Murphy, Stuart J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060276126 ISBN 13: 9780060276126

Publisher: Harpercollins Childrens Books, 1999

Synopsis

Introduces new readers to the concept of nonstandard measurement as three friends--Laura, Juan, and Sarah--compete in a sand castle building contest and measure their castles with spoons, shovels, and bare feet.

About this title

About the Author

Stuart J. Murphy is a visual learning specialist. A graduate for 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 Murphy and his wife, Nancy, live in Evanston, Illinois, where they love to beep beep and vroom vroom around town in their brand new silver bug.

Reviews

Grade 1-3-Under Larry the Lifeguard's watchful eye, three friends compete to see who can build the tallest sand castle, the deepest moat, and the longest wall. When they start to measure the results, trouble begins because each contestant uses a different nonstandard unit of measurement. Sarah's tower is three shovels tall; Juan's is only two shovels tall, but Sarah's shovel is much smaller than Juan's. And voil?-the concept of measurement is aptly and creatively presented. Murphy does a good job of imparting the math lesson while delivering a natural story. Gorton's stylized airbrushed acrylics add a whimsical touch. The multiethnic cast frolics on the beach with energy. The illustrations clearly show the comparisons while the children are measuring and complete the picture of how a moat that's two spoons deep could be more shallow than the moat that is one spoon deep. Pair this with Loreen Leedy's Measuring Penny (Holt, 1998) for a complete picture of measurement and comparison. And remember Larry's advice, "Spoons and shovels and people's feet can all be different sizes,...but an inch is always an inch."-Jane Claes, T. J. Lee Elementary School, Irving, TX
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

PLB 0-06-027613-4 This entry in the MathStart series explores the hazards of measuring in nonstandard units. Eager to win prizes from Larry the lifeguard for the tallest tower, longest wall, and deepest moat, Juan, Sarah, and Laura compare their sand castles; they discover that Sarah's castle is three shovels tall while Juan's is but two, Laura's moat is one spoon deep while Juan's is two, and Laura's wall is five steps long to Sarah's seven. However, as observant viewers will note, Sarah's spoon is longer than Juan's, her shovel and feet shorter. Wielding a tape measure, Larry explains why inches are more reliable units than spoons, etc. People and objects in Gorton's simple air brushed cartoons stand out distinctly against the green ocean and sun-drenched sand, and lines of measurement are laid out for viewers to compare. With the small type activity notes at the end, this makes a pleasant, painless way for children (and dare we say adults?) to pick up some basic math methodology. For those who resist Larry's strict notions, bring out Loreen Leedy's blithe Measuring Penny (p. 270) for a more generous examination of nonstandard measurements. (Picture book. 6-8) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Edition details

• Publisher: Harpercollins Childrens Books
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0060276126
• ISBN 13: 9780060276126
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Gorton Julia
• Number of pages: 40