Apple Fractions [Paperback]

Jerry Pallotta (Author), Rob Bolster (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2003 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years | Lexile Measure: 490L (What's this?)

Best-selling author Jerry Pallotta turns his talents to teaching fractions to kids by using a healthy snack food: apples!

Author Jerry Pallotta and illustrator Rob Bolster use a variety of different apples to teach kids all about fractions in this innovative and enjoyable book. Playful elves demonstrate how to divide apples into halves, thirds, fourths, and more. Young readers will also learn about varieties of apples, including Golden and Red Delicious, Granny Smiths, Cortlands, and even Asian Pears.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jerry Pallotta is an award-winning author of children's books, including WHO WILL GUIDE MY SLEIGH TONIGHT?, APPLE FRACTIONS, and THE HERSHEY'S MILK CHOCOLATE MULTIPLICATION BOOK. His combination of interesting facts, detailed research, humor, and realistic illustrations have mesmerized countless children across the United States. You can visit him at www.jerrypallotta.com.

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Cartwheel (August 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439389011
• ISBN-13: 978-0439389013
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 10.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

My full name is Gerard Larry Pallotta but my mom always called me "Jerry". I was born on March 26, 1953 in Boston, Massachusetts. My mom's name is Mary, and she came from a family of ten children. My dad's name is Joe, and he came from a family of five children. My grandparents were immigrants of Italian descent. I have the nicest parents in the world. They were always unselfish and ready to help me. I have four brothers and two sisters: Joey, David, Andrew, Danny, Cindy and Mickey. I have seventy-two first cousins. When I was growing up, there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!

My family moved to Medford, Massachusetts when I was young. I went to elementary school at Mt. Trinity Academy, not far from where my publisher is located in Watertown, Massachusetts. I never wrote a book in elementary school, and we never kept journals. In the neighborhood where I grew up, almost every family had seven to nine children. I guess that you could say that there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!

I went to high school at Boston College High School, a Jesuit all-boys school in downtown Boston. The priests and other teachers were really wonderful. I played football and ran track. I had a great high school experience and I think later it made my studies in college much easier. My sons Neil and Eric graduated from Boston College High School in 2001 and 2003. Neil was named after a teacher I had, Fr. Neil Callahan, S.J. I never wrote a book in high school, and I never wrote for the school newspaper. I was too shy and was afraid of what other kids would think.

After high school I went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. I majored in business, a subject that would help me later in life when I decided to publish my first book. At Georgetown, I met my wife, Linda. In college I was an average student and was captain of the Georgetown University Rugby Team. I never wrote for the college newspaper, and I never imagined writing books. A couple of years later, Linda and I got married and I started to work at an insurance company in Boston. During the first six years of being married, we had four kids. It seemed like there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!

Today, we sometimes spend time with my 31 nieces and nephews...again...KIDS EVERYWHERE!

I learned valuable skills while talking to people, selling insurance and collecting money. When I came home from work, Linda would ask me to "read to the kids!" I loved reading to my kids and I learned to appreciate children's books. The first few books that we bought were alphabet books and counting books. "A" was always for Apple and "Z" was always for Zebra. One day I decided, "Hey, I can do this!" I had an idea. I would write an alphabet book about the Atlantic Ocean. I spent every summer at Peggotty Beach in Scituate, Massachusetts. I have great memories of lobstering, fishing, mossing, clamming and rowing in my dory.

I wrote my first book in 1985 when I was 32 years old. I came up with the idea, wrote it, designed it, researched it, edited it and my cousin illustrated it. I published it myself under the name of Peggotty Beach Books. What fun! It was first printed on July 7, 1986. I'll never forget that day. The book eventually became the #1 best-selling book at the New England Aquarium. I was afraid that only my mother would like it. Teachers and kids told me they really liked my book.

While speaking in schools, teachers also told me they were looking for simple non-fiction nature books. It gave me the confidence to write more. My next book, "The Icky Bug Alphabet Book", has sold more than 1 million copies. My third book, "The Bird Alphabet Book" was voted one of the best books of the year by Birders World Magazine. I now have over twenty alphabet books, more than twenty math books, also the Icky Bug books, a holiday series, a U.S. Military series, Who Would Win? books, a biography and a few stories. My goal has always been to write interesting, fact-filled, fun to read, beautifully illustrated color children's books. Thank you to all my illustrators: Ralph Masiello, Frank Mazzola, Jr., Rob Bolster, Edgar Stewart, Leslie Evans, Mark Astrella, David Biedrzycki, Bonnie Gee, Shennen Bersani, Tom Leonard and Howard McWilliam. I now visit more than 150 schools per year. Guess what? There are still...KIDS EVERYWHERE!

I love writing books and I love visiting schools all over the United States. I think I have the best job in the world!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Angie Hogan--Asst. Prin.--Elementary School July 22, 2003

By TeacherMommy

Format:Paperback

This is a great book for any teacher/person teaching young kids about fractions. It gives fractions not commonly found in other "teaching" books. It also give facts about apples and the various types. Great book to be used for a "hands-on" lesson.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Kids love this book August 6, 2005

By C. Elliott

Format:Paperback

I have had this book for at least a couple years and both my children (currently ages 5 and 8) love it. It is always a favorite at bedtime reading, and they love to look at it on their own too. It is really well thought out and beautifully illustrated. I don't know how much of the fractions concept they are getting from it (we won't know that until the subject comes up in school) but I have to think that by introducing the concept in a fun form and early on cannot hurt. I'd definitely recommend it!

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Helpful Book! November 26, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I like the way it teaches fractions and doesn't use candy!