Beanstalk: The Measure Of A Giant (A Math Adventure) [Hardcover]

Ann McCallum (Author), James Balkovek (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: A Math Adventure

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY.

--This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5–This fractured fairy tale tries to squeeze in a math lesson about ratios, but it isnt successful. Jack wakes up to discover a beanstalk outside his window, climbs up, and befriends a lonely giant boy at the top. The two go off to play but quickly realize that the difference in their size is going to make most games difficult. Trying to play hoop ball, for example, proves to be impossible until Jack realizes that I need a hoop thats as high for me as your hoop is for you. A few measurements later, the boys realize that Rays hoop is three times his height, so they figure out how tall Jacks should be, and fashion one for him. Once home, Jack decides to make a checker set for Ray and figures out what size to make it. The story ends with the two friends eating lunch outside with Jacks mother, who wishes for a word to describe the relationship between the size of two things, since the boys dealt with their differences so wonderfully. Jack decides that they should call it a Ray show, since Ray showed Jack that their things were the perfect size for each of them. The author sums the story up by explaining that today it is spelled ratio. The illustrations are colorful but flat. Teachers wishing to jazz up their lesson plans can utilize the original story and plug in their own numbers for students to create ratios, or they can introduce the topic with David M. Schwartzs If You Hopped Like a Frog (Scholastic, 1999).–Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY
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About the Author

Ann McCallum Author Ann McCallum spent several years teaching abroad. She now lives in Kensington, Maryland. This is her first book. James Balkovek Illustrator James Balkovek has illustrated over 150 books. His work has also appeared in magazines such as Children's Digest and Cobblestone Magazine. He lives in Unity, Maine.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (February 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570918937
• ISBN-13: 978-1570918933
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,013,511 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ann McCallum is the award-winning author of four children's books, including two math fairytales and her newest book "Eat Your Math Homework: Recipes for Hungry Minds". She is currently a high school teacher in Maryland, though she started her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse in northern Canada. She also taught in the English Department at an American-style university in the United Arab Emirates for five years. Ann enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and walking through leaves. Her two wonderful children and her better half, Rich, keep her busy and happy. Find out more math and fun on her website: www.annmccallumbooks.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jim and the Beanstalk, April 7, 2008

By 

Teresa Fields (Piketon, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beanstalk: The Measure Of A Giant (A Math Adventure) (Paperback)

The k-3 children from my school loved this book. It is easy to tie it to the original Jack and the Beanstalk and to kinds of measurement. The very young children realized that Jim had to measure the Giant's head with a measruing tape because a ruler couldn't go around it. They had fun measuring each other with standard and non standard measuring tools after they heard the story.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique addition Home Schooling curriculums, November 5, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beanstalk: The Measure Of A Giant (A Math Adventure) (Paperback)

Written with imagination and humor by Ann McCallum and nicely illustrated throughout in full color by James Balovek, "Beanstalk: The Measure Of A Giant" is a clever picturebook twist on the classic fairy tale of a young man who exchanges the family cow for some magic beans and climbs into a cloud kingdom where he tricks a giant and steals a goose that lays golden eggs. But in "Beanstalk", young Jack befriends the giant. But how can a 20-foot giant and a 4-foot boy get along together? Part of the fun is the use of mathematics to figure out the ratios of human-to-giant sized fun. The illustrations help young readers with understanding the math concepts employed as Jack and his new giant friend solve their seemingly conflict height problems. Also available in a hardcover edition "Bean Stalk" is very highly recommended reading for children ages 7 to 10, and a unique addition Home Schooling curriculums, as well as elementary school and community library collections for young readers.

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than "Pythagoras and the Ratios", October 14, 2011

By 

M. Heiss (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beanstalk: The Measure Of A Giant (A Math Adventure) (Paperback)

This book is entertaining, with a story that helps young readers understand ratios and proportions. The story is actually readable as a story, which puts it in a better category than "Pythagoras and the Ratios" by Julie Ellis.