From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3A bat band demonstrates the concept of multiplication by marching in formations from 1 majorette to 2 groups of 2 piccolo players to 10 columns of 10 sousaphonists. Lighthearted watercolor illustrations and rhyming text describe each group: Up marched the saxophones,/all 25/sopranos and altos,/they came five by five. Some of them are displayed in clear rows and columns but others appear more randomly massed. At the end of the parade, the bats fly off and the total number of marchers is added up. The book develops a certain sense of excitement and the uniformed bats provide humor, but there is no real story. However, the illustrations do show the dramatic increases that occur when numbers are multiplied and may provide some reinforcement for children familiar with the concept.Adele Greenlee, Bethel College, St. Paul, MN
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Ages 5^-8. Sweet had her hands full illustrating this lively story of a bat parade, which doubles as an introduction to basic multiplication. "Let the good times begin, / the Grand Marshall cried / and a bevy of bats dropped out of the sky." One drum majorette leads the band, followed by "piccolos piping in twos," flautists marching three by three, and so on, until 385 bats are assembled, carefully grouped to show the sum of the products of 1 x 1, 2 x 2, 3 x 3, and on through 10 x 10. The numerical problem is pictured in a separate illustration in the corner of the page. Little ones will enjoy this for the spunky rhyme, and the peppy illustrations will give them opportunities to practice counting; older children can use it to help them visualize what happens during the multiplication process.
Stephanie Zvirin
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
