Arctic Fives Arrive - Softcover

Elinor J Pinczes

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0590769731 ISBN 13: 9780590769730

Publisher: Scholastic, 1998

Synopsis

As groups of Arctic animals gather on a hilltop to view the northern lights, this lively picture book demonstrates how to count by fives. "The concept of counting by fives gets visual treatment in a satisfying story that also introduces children to one of nature's most beautiful mysteries. . . . The singsongy text adds sparkle and the rainbow-colored spread depicting the northern lights is a fine surprise." -- Booklist

About this title

From Publishers Weekly

In verse slightly less agile than that of her 100 Hungry Ants and A Remainder of One, Pinczes enlivens another math concept, this time teaching readers to count by fives. First, five snowy owls perch upon an iceberg. They are followed by five polar bears. Next, five ermine show up, and then five walrus, five arctic hares and five musk oxen join the crowd. All the animals settle in for a grandstand view of the Northern Lights. Then, "Their order reversed, the watchers dispersed:/ thirty, twenty-five, twenty, fifteen, ten, and five./ The small snowy owls, all satisfied fowls,/ were last, since the first to arrive." The numerals, unfortunately, just don't cooperate with Pinczes's musical, strictly metered poetry. Meanwhile, Berry's (Market Day; Busy Lizzie, see p. 85) clean-edged linocuts-their icy white, blue and violet areas separated with angular black outlines-invite readers to identify the six species and 30 individuals who jostle for space atop the small platform. Author and illustrator convey the intended lesson, in spite of the arrhythmic subjects. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 1-Rhymed text describes six different kinds of animals as they arrive in groups of five atop a flat-topped iceberg to view the northern lights. Five snowy owls make room for five polar bears-5, 10-who make room for 5 sly ermine-5, 10, 15-and so on until there are 30 creatures crowded together. After the light show, the groups depart in reverse order and "Perhaps one day, at another display,/they would gather again in the snow." Stylized illustrations have broad black outlines and alternate double pages are black bordered with numerals appropriate to the number of animals in situ. Acceptable for reinforcing the idea of counting by fives as a precursor to multiplication.
Virginia Opocensky, formerly at Lincoln City Libraries, NE
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholastic
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0590769731
• ISBN 13: 9780590769730
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 28