Amanda Bean's Amazing Dream (Marilyn Burns Brainy Day Books) [Hardcover]

Cindy Neuschwander (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Marilyn Burns Brainy Day Books

Amanda Bean loves to count everything, from the books in the library to the popcorn in her bowl. If only she could count faster! Her teacher tries to persuade her of the virtues of multiplication, but Amanda remains unconvinced--until she has an amazing dream. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-The advantages of multiplication are introduced in a simple story about an African-American girl who loves to count things, both in and out of school, but is unsure how multiplication will speed up the process. After counting the tiles on the kitchen counter and the books on the library shelves, she falls asleep and begins to dream of a calm bike ride in the country. Then, eight sheep on bicycles come zooming by and stop at a barn to get five yarn balls apiece to give to seven grandmothers knitting sweaters. Amanda is overwhelmed by trying to tot up bicycle wheels, sheep legs, knitting needles, and sweater arms-until the sheep and the grandmothers begin shouting, "Multiply!" She awakes, convinced that she wants to learn how. Large, lively, ink-and-watercolor cartoons in cheerful colors are filled with objects to count, from lollipops to windowpanes. A comprehenive guide for adults on the usage of the principles and pictures in the book is included.
Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 6^-8. Known to her friends as Bean Counter, young Amanda Bean happily counts "anything and everything" by ones, twos, fives, and tens. Although her teacher tells her that learning multiplication is important, Amanda remains unconvinced until a strange dream presents her with arithmetic challenges that overwhelm her counting skills. She awakens (in both senses) and learns to multiply "anything and everything." The purpose of the tale could have sunk this picture book with its pedagogical weight, but the light tone of the first-person text and the deft drawing, bright hues, and buoyant good humor of Woodruff's ink-and-watercolor illustrations keep it afloat. The book ends with suggestions for using the book to teach multiplication. Carolyn Phelan

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1st edition (August 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590300121
• ISBN-13: 978-0590300124
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Cindy Neuschwander is a mathematics educational specialist. A native Californian, Cindy has lived all over the world. She received a B.A. in International Studies and an M.A. in Education at Stanford University. She currently teaches third grade. Cindy was inspired to write Sir Cumference while living and traveling in England. Besides the Sir Cumference series, Cindy is the author of Amanda Bean's Amazing Dream, 88 Pounds of Tomatoes, The Chocolate Champs.

Cindy lives in California with her husband and two sons.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amanda Bean's Amazing Dream: A Mathematical Story, April 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Amanda Bean's Amazing Dream (Marilyn Burns Brainy Day Books) (Hardcover)

This is one of a genre of books wherein the beauty and elegance of a mathematical concept is revealed to the main character in a dream (others notables inlude MATH CURSE by Jon Scieszka and THE NUMBER DEVIL by Hans Magnus Enzensberger). This book is a marvelous way to integrate literature with mathematics and I have found it useful to aid in the introduction of multiplication to students in my 3rd grade.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the concept book I was looking for, May 16, 2008

By 

Stanley Cup "Hockey Mom" (Holly Springs, NC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Amanda Bean's Amazing Dream (Marilyn Burns Brainy Day Books) (Hardcover)

After I read the reviews for this book, I immediately checked it out of our local library. My son loves anything that has to do with math, and we are always looking for books about the subject. I have to say I was disappointed in the book, and my son was bored with it. It is rare that he is not glued to a math concept book, but this one just did not do it for him. The repetitve verse, "...I am Amanda Bean and I count everything..." started to grate on his nerves to the point he said, "why does she keep saying that?" I am not sure exactly how this introduces children to multiplication because you never actually see Amanda figure out a problem that shows how to compute that type of problem. It would have been nice if the author had shown at least one problem being solved using multiplication so that it tied her "concept" to real world math. Much better books on the subject are Math Curse by Jon Sciezska (I have reviewed that one as well) or books by Greg Teng. My advice is go to your library and get the book before you make the investment in your own copy. I just can't imagine a child wanting to read the story over and over again.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, February 8, 2008

By 

K. Bishop (Cleveland, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amanda Bean's Amazing Dream (Marilyn Burns Brainy Day Books) (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book. It is a wonderful way to introduce multiplication to children. As a 1st year teacher I used this book to introduce a lesson on multiplication with my 3rd grade class. They loved it and it was very interactive. We stopped to talk about and solve the various problems throughout the book. Every teacher needs a copy.