Give Me Half! (MathStart 2) [Paperback]

Stuart J. Murphy (Author), G. Brian Karas (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 27, 1996 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: MathStart 2

Splitting things in half may seem like an easy thing to do, but when two siblings and a pizza are involved, things can get messy. Children learn about fractions at school but fractions are also an important part of everyday life outside the classroom.In this riotous book, Stuart J. Murphy and G. Brian Karas introduce the simplest of fractions, 1/2.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3?The concept that "_ and _ is 1" is presented using two bickering siblings who cannot share anything without parental intervention. Finally, the situation degenerates into a food fight, and the kids decide that if they each clean up half, they'll be done a lot sooner. Although the presentation of the math concept is clear and straightforward and the acrylic, gouache, and pencil illustrations are colorful and quirky, the singsong rhyme and lack of any real plot make this a less interesting choice than Pat Hutchins's The Doorbell Rang (Greenwillow, 1986). A list of suggestions for adults using the book with children follows the story.?JoAnn Rees, Sunnyvale Public Library, CA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 4^-8. A little boy sits down to enjoy a pizza, saying, "I have one whole pizza. . . and it's all for me!" When his sister comes home the sparring begins: "I'm going to get some pizza--just you wait and see." Sure enough, their parent intervenes to insist that they share the food equally. Then Sister brings out the last can of juice, and later a package of two cupcakes, and the cycle repeats. Each time, bold black numbers point out that xba +xba = tates a food fight that ends in the children willingly sharing cleanup duties (with a little help from their dog). The nicely executed large-scale illustrations express every nuance of the kids' feelings, from greed to righteous indignation. One of the few math concept books with realistic dialogue, authentic emotions, and genuine humor. Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (March 27, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064467015
• ISBN-13: 978-0064467018
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 10 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,010 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science > Mathematics > Popular & Elementary > Arithmetic
  • #9 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Math > Fractions

More About the Author

Stuart J. Murphy is a visual learning specialist. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, he has a strong background in design and art direction. He also has extensive experience in the world of educational publishing. Drawing on all these talents, Stuart J. Murphy brings a unique perspective to the MathStart series. In MathStart books, pictures do more than tell stories; they teach math. Stuart J. Murphy and his wife, Nancy, live in Evanston, Illinois.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully simple look at fractions, December 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Give Me Half! (MathStart 2) (Paperback)

This book is an accurate description of how children react to sharing. As the brother and sister learn to share the food each of them have, they are also learning about fractions. Each child is reminded by their parents to divide the pizza, juice, and cupcakes in half to share equally. The children's first instinct is to share unequally. The book introduces new terms (i.e. divide) and gives the reader a fun introduction to fractions and getting along with each other.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Concept good but actual text not respectful, February 5, 2009

By 

K. Barnard (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Give Me Half! (MathStart 2) (Paperback)

In theory the concept of helping children understand fractions at a basic level is great. I liked the visuals with a dividing line down on the pizza showing half, or dividing a package of 2 cupcakes. I also liked that the author included on some pages the math equations like 1/2 + 1/2 = 1.

What I really did not like is the tone and the words the children and the mom (whom you do not see) in the story use. They are not very respectful to each other. I looked past the title "Give me Half" hoping the rest of the book would not be that sassy but I was wrong. Things like "I know you want some pizza, sis...you only get one slice" then "you'd better give me more than that", later on "you'd better give me some". Doesn't sound so terrible when you are reading it to yourself but when you read it to children (in my case, 4 year old twins) it sounds really sassy and rude, even my children noticed it and commented about the rude words on almost every page.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to introduce fractions, April 26, 2008

By 

Paula J. Anderson "Kindergarten Teacher" (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Give Me Half! (MathStart 2) (Paperback)

I like this book as an introduction to fractions. I use it with my kindergarten students. They can all relate to having to share with siblings or friends..... and they love the food fight at the end of the story!