A Dozen Dozens (Easy-to-Read,Viking) [Hardcover]

Harriet Ziefert (Author), Emily Bolam (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1998 | Age Level: 4 and up | Series: Easy-to-Read,Viking

Children will not only improve their reading skills with these lively new books, but also begin to recognize basic and important math concepts. A Dozen Dozens' rhyming text and bright illustrations show that a dozen is always made up of twelve things, no matter how large or small.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3?Many samples of creative dozens and half dozens, from roses to socks to eggs, are presented in a simple, sing-songy rhyme. The cheery, cartoon illustrations serve well in providing children with context clues and the short sentences and repetitive text will help assure a successful reading experience. A brown dog happily scampers from page to page. Geared toward children with newly acquiring reading skills as well as to novice math students, this book is a good bet to use with eager young learners. Supplementing the text at its conclusion is a double-page spread of simple math ideas for children to explore on their own, such as counting chairs, spoons, pots, or pictures in their home, as well as prompts to write stories or begin collections of a dozen things such as stamps, new pennies, etc.?Amelia Kalin, Valley Cottage Library, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670877891
• ISBN-13: 978-0670877898
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,309,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Harriet Ziefert was born in New Jersey. She grew up in North Bergen, New Jersey, where she attended the local schools. She graduated from Smith College, then received a Masters degree in Education from New York University. "About twelve years ago," says Ziefert in a 1995 interview, "I tried to get a job as an editor, but no one would hire me as a trade editor. So I decided to write my own books." Since then, she has written several hundred books, mostly picture books and easy-to-read books. "I write books very quickly," she says, "in about twelve hours. I rewrite them three times over three days, and then they're done." She writes about twenty books a year. Ziefert's picture book A New Coat for Anna is about a girl in a bombed-out European city during the months just after World War II. Anna has outgrown her old coat, and her mother trades her few surviving treasures--a watch, a lamp, a necklace, and a porcelain teapot--in order to obtain wool and have it spun, woven, and finally sewn into a fine red coat for Anna. A Horn Book Magazine reviewer stated, "the simple text, based on a true story, carries the narrative along effectively." The book, which was illustrated by Anita Lobel, was chosen as one of ten books to be read aloud by former First Lady Barbara Bush as part of a program promoting reading. Ziefert was invited to the White House for the occasion. The reason Ziefert began writing easy-to-read books was that she felt "they were getting too hard for kids to read in the first grade." She says that she wrote easy-to-read books with seventy-five or fewer words, even ones with fifty or fewer words, "to see how much of a story" she could produce with that limit. She enjoyed the challenge, and cites her book Sleepy Dog as an example. "Sleepy Dog is the most successful book I've ever done, in terms of number of books sold." She's also been working on a developmental program with publisher Dorling Kindersley, made up of books for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Her book Pete's Chicken, which was illustrated by Laura Rader, was reviewed in the New York Times Book Review as "a simple, sweet 'Song of Myself' for children . . . [which] applauds the specialness of every child as it reminds parents of the healing power of just being there for children." Among her other books is a series of easy-to-read books, such as Trip Day and Worm Day, about an inventive science teacher and his rambunctious class of students. Ziefert's book Let's Get a Pet was named an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children by a joint committee of the National Science Teachers Association and the Children's Book Council. . Ms. Ziefert lives in Maplewood, New Jersey and Lincoln, Massachusetts. She has two adult sons.