One Hungry Cat »

Tom the cat tries to evenly divide the snacks he has baked for himself and two friends, but after gobbling up a few treats, Tom is faced with a new division problem. Includes ...

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3A simple, funny story combined with some basic math concepts that are so well integrated into the narrative that most readers won't even notice they're there. Tom the cat likes "to bake yummy things," and he begins by making a dozen chocolate cookies. He invites two of his friends over to enjoy his treats, but this weak-willed feline devours the cookies before they arrive. The story proceeds in a predictable way as Tom continues to bake goodies, which he carefully divides to share fairly, and ends up eating them also. Throughout the story, subtle math problems arise. How does one divide eight cookies onto three plates, or cut a square cake into three equal pieces? How much time does Tom have before his friends arrive? Youngsters do not have to solve these puzzles while reading the story; they are presented at the back of the book. Simple hands-on activities reinforce the concepts (for the cookie example, it is suggested that the child count pennies onto drawn plates). The text is appropriate for independent reading, although it could be used as a one-on-one read-aloud as well. The zany cartoon art will no doubt appeal to children; Tom wears a large bow tie, striped apron, and shorts with stars on them. This solid easy reader has a lot to offer on many levels.Dina Sherman, Brooklyn Children's Museum, NY