Henry the Fourth (Mathstart)

Welcome to neighborhood dog show! First Maxiespeaks. Second Baxter begs. Third Daisy rolls over, but will Henry the fourth steal the show? Learning ordinals with this pack of playful pooches will have readers sitting up and begging for more.

PreSchool-Grade 1-A simple story that explains ordinal numbers. Four pets are entered in a backyard dog show and are identified as first, second, third, and fourth. Following this order, they each do a trick as planned, except for Henry, the last dog to be introduced. He is reluctant to perform until he sees the dog biscuit the young master of ceremonies pulls out. The audience cheers as Henry knocks the boy down and gives him "a big sloppy kiss." Some children may wonder why Henry is crowned "king" of the show, since the other dogs obeyed. However, the numerical concepts are sequential and simple enough for young children to follow. The watercolor cartoons fill the pages with action. Suggestions for parents to help children focus on math concepts while reading this book are included along with the titles of three other picture books that present the same concept. A good choice for school libraries to support the math curriculum.
Joan Zaleski, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

PLB 0-06-027611-8 In this entry in the MathStart series, Murphy (Lemonade For Sale, p. 1711, etc.) uses an engaging tale about an amateur dog show to present the concept of ordinal numbers and how they are an integral part of daily life. Readers observe as each dog is called forth for its particular feat; seamlessly woven into the text are the first, second, third, and fourth ordinals. `` `Today, you will see tricks performed by the most talented dogs on the block,' announced Jeremy. `Maxie, you're first.' '' When a new ordinal is introduced, Nash provides a diagram that has each of the four numerals situated below a mug shot of the dog they represent and highlights the featured digit in red. His vividly hued, lively illustrations humorously depict the antics of the intrepid canines and their proud owners. The combination of written and visual reinforcement effectively provides a firm foundation of understanding for beginning learners. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.