Reviews for Remainder of One

The average rating for Remainder of One based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2012-05-07 00:00:00 Enrico Sala This is a fun book with a math lesson about groups of different numbers woven into the tale. I love that the little beetle tries several different combinations of groups to find one that will allow him to join the formation. After three failed attempts, Joe did not give up, which by itself is a terrific lesson on perseverence and pushing on despite failure. We discussed the mathematical principles and the division and multiplication properties of each combination that he tried and I think this was a great way to help cement these concepts in our girls' brains. It's an especially effective way to teach about remainders. Our girls really liked the symmetry of the final combination, especially with the different bug colors. The only gripe I had was a personal one. At first, when the story mentioned "squadron," I was hoping that the beetles would be aviators (they do have wings, after all.) But later on, the book mentions that they are marching infantry for the Army Corps. I looked up the word squadron and discovered that it can be used for all the different services and types of military units with either troops, aircraft or naval vessels. So the word is used appropriately; I just wanted them to be a bunch of fliers, like me. Still, the lovely rhyming narrative and colorful woodcut illustrations worked very well together and we really enjoyed reading this book together. We will certainly look for more books by Elinor J. Pinczes at our local library.

Review # 2 was written on 2012-04-16 00:00:00 David Mcknight "A Remainder of One" is a story about a bug named Joe who is struggling to fit in with the marching infantry. He is constantly the remainder or odd one out of the crowd, which the queen does not fit. The book is more squared shaped than other picturebooks, and has bright yellow endpages to represent the vibrant determination of Joe. The book jacket features a short description of the bug Joe and the problems he encounters in the storyline. The illustrations blend well together as they are a pattern of mostly purples, blues, and greens. The medium used seems to be some type of matte paint, with a tendency to use thick black lines to add texture to the story, which is perfect for illustrating the grass and plants. The typeface is classic bold black against white background and the illustrations are bordered. Joe eventually learns to fit in as he uses his problem-solving skills to do the math, and he is no longer considered a misfit. I think the book would be a perfect way to start a math lesson on remainders as it can give a child motivation to gradually understand a concept that can be somewhat difficult to them.