Lollipop Logic: Grades K-2, Book 1 [Paperback]

Bonnie Risby (Author), Robert K. Risby II (Author)

Book Description

Release date: January 1, 2005 | ISBN-10: 1593630921 | ISBN-13: 978-1593630928

What a tantalizing treat for young minds! Seven different thinking skills--relationships, analogies, sequences, deduction, inference, pattern decoding, and critical analysis--are presented in a format designed to appeal to the pre-reader. Lollipop Logic employs visual and pictorial clues to introduce and reinforce high-powered thinking. This one-of-kind tool gives wings to pre-readers and non-readers. This unique book introduces complex thinking skills without the fetters of lexical meaning. Lollipop Logic is the perfect instrument for many young learners. It is simple to use and simpler for youngsters to understand. Best of all, it alleviates the encumbrances of reading ability for young minds ready to soar into the stratosphere of thinking skills far beyond their reading levels.

For more advanced logic activities, refer to Logic Countdown, Logic Liftoff, Orbiting with Logic, and Logic Safari Books 1, 2, and 3.

Grades K–2

Editorial Reviews

Review

Lollipop Logic for grades K–2 and Primarily Logic for grades 2–4 are critical thinking resources. They provide worksheets that introduce and reinforce skills such as analogies, syllogisms, relationships, sequencing, deduction, inference, and others. The pages are clean and attractive to make these high-level thinking skills seem like fun. You'll be pleased with the connections your child makes and the excitement that these books produce. --Cindy West, The Curriculum Choice - December 14, 2009

About the Author

Bonnie Lou Risby grew up in the Illinois woodlands atop the limestone bluffs across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. These woods were her playground where she and her siblings camped out, played detective, and enjoyed the beauty of the outdoors in every season. After attending college at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, she taught school in Columbia, IL, for 13 years. She has taught elementary school, middle school, and high school, concentrating on the subjects of French, English, and gifted education. When Bonnie helped write the grant to establish Columbia's Gifted Program in the early 1970s, there were few materials readily available that fit well with a one-period per week pullout program.

After the birth of her son, Bonnie retired from teaching and joined a family and marriage counseling practice for 12 years, continuing to write and create logic books in her spare moments. Retired from her therapy practice, Bonnie now works in a family business with her husband and son. Her office is in her home in Ballwin, MO, where Bonnie and her faithful pug dog, Francy, can be found most days. Bonnie has continued to write classroom books, chapter books, magazine articles, and books for young adults.

Besides writing, Bonnie loves taking float trips down Ozark streams, biking, long walks with Francy, gardening, family history, and travel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Prufrock Press (January 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593630921
• ISBN-13: 978-1593630928
• Product Dimensions: 0.2 x 8.5 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Logic & Brain Teasers

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Love Book 2, Book 1 was Okay too! January 28, 2012

By Thai4U n BBQ2

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

We didn't try this book 1 initially; we had bought the newer version which at the time was Book 2 Lollipop Logic, Book 2 (Grades K-2). After we finished book 2, I really wished that the author had created more of these books. I would have preferred one 50-page book for each age group (e.g. K, 1st, 2nd, etc.). The enjoyment and the learning that this book created with a fun environment prompted me to order book 1 right away.

While some mention that book 1 is pretty easy, there are a couple more difficult areas in the book for deduction and critical analysis that I suspect most preK's and K's would certainly not get without parents help. I also disagree with the reviews that say this is better suited for preschoolers. I think it is age appropriate for most K and 1st graders, and some 2nd graders. The only area that might be pushing 2nd grade with a challenge is the critical analysis. Sadly, critical analysis was only 3 pages (one problem/page). I would have loved to see 50 pages of these, they were very fun puzzles to try to solve. These critical analysis exercises are at the very end of the book. Please NOTE: I did find an error in the answer section for lesson 51 (detailed later).

Yes, this book 1 was still fun and it kept my son's attention. Yes, we got through it in only a few sittings. However, it was very similar in structure to book 2, and we preferred Book 2.

The first 8 pages are ordering SEQUENCES (i.e. cubes being stacked, heart puzzle being assembled, fruit being picked from a tree, birds hatching in a nest, pumpkin being carved, snowman being built, glasses being filled, cookies being eaten). Children are to number the order of the sequence from 1st to 6th....

The next 8 pages are RELATIONSHIPS. The first 4 pages are finding the best similar relationships where you are given twenty exercises (5 per page) - each with one picture object, then you pick from 3 other adjacent pictures which one has the closest relationship to the picture given. Example, one picture object is a maibox : pick either scissor, letter, or valentines. Next, there are 3 more pages of relationships with a box containing multiple objects that all have a relationship. Below the box there are 10 different objects that you must circle the objects that might belong with the objects in the box, and X the objects that do not share a relationship.

The next 8 pages are ANALOGIES. She gives you 4 - 5 exercises per page. In the first few pages there are 5 exercises per page, each with 2 objects that have a relationship, then you get a different object that has a similar relationship to one of three objects shown. You must pick one of the 3 objects that best suites the object with a similar relationship as the first 2 objects shown. Example, a harp and a trumpet are in the relationship box. To it's right is a soccer ball which is like what for the next 3 choices to it's right: (a - football, b - mittens, or c - sheep). Answer: a - football which is the same type of object Another example is a piggy bank and a penny are in the box to the left. On the right is a pillow which is like: (a - jack-in-the-box, b - feather, c - magnifying glass). Answer: b - feather is inside a pillow. Other pages have 4 exercises and the relationship is shown in a slightly different way, but the concepts are similar to the initial pages described above. Overall, the author does an outstanding job of changing the kinds of relationships of the various objects (i.e. type of object, size of object, pattern of object, use of object, etc.) that are used throughout all the pages.

The next 8 pages are for DEDUCTION where I suspect the author is expecting most 1st and 2nd graders to read the detailed paragraph describing the scene, and characters. Next, with 3 sentence clues given about the 4 objects and the 4 characters, the child must deduce what the relationship of each of the characters is to each of the 4 objects shown matching them based upon the clues.

The next 8 pages are PATTERN DECODING. Each page has 8 pattern sets. You must align one of 5 objects given on the far right to the 5 pattern sets on the page that it belongs as the next object in the particular pattern set.

The next 9 pages are INFERENCE with varied exercises. The first few excercises will be a complete drawing with a small portion missing. The child must match the missing portion with the proper picture. A couple are puzzle pieces scattered on the page. You must determine what the drawing is. A few more pages are just matching the pictures that go together. Finally, a few pages provide several partial pictures of objects and you must identify what they are.

Lastly, only 3 pages of CRITICAL ANALYSIS. Simply not enough :) One problem, one problem's answers were not correct for Lesson 51. The author provides 3 pictures of what constitutes an Ogg, then there are 3 pictures for what is not an Ogg. Then you pick from 6 pictures what are Oggs. The answer states 1, 2 and 6 are Oggs. I believe the correct answer is only 2 and 6 are Oggs. Why? If you make comparisons for Oggs and not Oggs, you see that Oggs all have tails, nose and ears where Oggs do not. Therefore, picture 1 is missing a nose, so it cannot be an Ogg. The other 2 examples were accurate - Lesson 50 and Lesson 52. In lesson 50 there are Triops. When making comparisons of Triops and non-Triops, it can be seen that Triops have one or more of the same shape inside itself with solid or hollow fill. In Lesson 52 there are Tiffs. When making comparisons between Tiffs and non-Tiffs, it can be seen that Tiffs must have 3 eyes and no body between head and legs. These 2 problems were very clear and correctly reported in the answer section.

Update: 9/3/2012 - There is a book 3 which I am ordering today Lollipop Logic, Book 3 (Grades K-2). We started going through this book 1 with our youngest who just entered Kindergarten this year, and he likes it very much. While neither of my children scored perfectly when doing this book independently as Kindergartners, it did help teach them how to look at the details, and analyze based on criteria which may include type groupings, shapes, positions (inside, outside, up, down), direction (left, right, up, down), sizes, pattern (fill or detail), and more. I don't think most children in the earlier age group (i.e. K, and 1st) which these books target will analyze with so much distinction of details initially to get all the problems correct. I respectfully disagree with some of the other reviews that say this is better suited for preschoolers. Possibly gifted preschoolers, or those whose parents are assisting, but independent work for a preschooler - no way, not for the normal child in America! Both my kids are very advanced for their age, but probably not gifted. For example, the youngest (age 5) is a solid grade level ahead in both, math, and English (reading, writing and spelling) - he started reading English at age 3.75. At 5 he can do 2 digit addition and subtraction. He also knows Spanish and Thai. The oldest child (age 6) is 4 grade levels ahead in both reading and math, and he knows Spanish, Chinese, and Thai. He could read at age 2.2 years. Before he was 3 years of age he could read 60 page Dr. Suess books in 10 minutes or less. As a Kindergartner, he could read 85 words/minute with 99.9% accuracy according to the initial tests given by the school. Both children play 2 musical different instruments (Piano/Drums, and Piano/Guitar). So, you get a real sense that both my kids are very high achievers and quick learners, but this book had it's challenges for them where they missed several questions as Kindergartners.

While many 2nd graders might find this book too easy, I am sure that most younger children (ages 4,5, or 6) will have some real challenges which will help teach them to consider a large range of potential relationships to consider, or not, based on the criteria of the questions, and the examples given. Yes, some exercises initially are easy, but I think that helps set the hook for the child to keep working onward to do more problems since there is no fear initially. If the author put the critical analysis section first, many children would have a brain shutdown - turned off due to the difficulty of the material, and that would be unfortunate. Hence, the author put them last. These are great books for exposing children to a higher level of detailed analysis, and I am grateful to the author for her creativity to help young minds discern more!

Hopefully, you will find these books as stimulating and helpful as we did. For the price, I think you will find it worthwhile experience in your child's learning. Read more ›

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for 5 yo May 3, 2006

By Steph

Format:Paperback

I got this to be a supplement for my 5 and 6yo dd and they have done it with ease. It is not very challenging but is great for more independent busy work. I think it is too easy for my 6yo. In my opinion it is more of a preschool workbook. Highly recommend for a 4-5yo.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lollipop Logic for 4 year old prereader May 7, 2011

By JR Sharp

Format:Paperback

We have a variety of workbooks for our 4 year old prereader including Lollipop Logic. Our 4 year old, like many, has a pretty short attention span. He seemed to enjoy the variety of the lessons in this workbook. While recognizing each child is different, our son seemed to find the lessons on Relationships, Analogies and Inferences pretty easy for the most part. The lessons on Sequences and Pattern Decoding were a bit more challenging for him but not so much that he gave up in frustration. We will have to revisit the lessons on Deduction and Critical Analysis when he is a bit older. All in all, this workbook presents a good mix of lessons, both in skill level and problem types.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Lollipop Logic June 13, 2008

By Debbie Carlson

Format:Paperback

Great book to work on logic skills but it is too easy for second graders.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Cute Book! October 27, 2010

By Karin

Format:Paperback

My almost 4.5 year old loved this book and completed it easily in 2 sittings. I don't think it's really for a K-2nd grade age range - it seems more like a PreK to K range. But it was very fun and she enjoyed it!

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for Review/Practice/Assessment July 22, 2010

By SAHM

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this for my daughter mostly to see how she did with it. She was 4 (couple months shy of 5), and it was mostly easy for her, until the very end when there were a couple I had to talk her through a little. I agree with other reviewers that it is preschool-level. She really enjoyed it - although she is admittedly pretty easy to please as far as activities. :) I would buy it again because it served my purpose of assessing her ability, and logic ability isn't something I feel I can easily evaluate on my own.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lollipop logic September 1, 2007

By Mommy 2 a bunch

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Excellent book but my boys 5 and 7 raced through it (we were done in 2 days).

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Love Logic! December 9, 2011

By Young Mensan BookParade

Format:Paperback

This is a book of logic puzzle that kids would enjoy. It's fun! The best puzzles are the ones in the front, and the age range for smart kids is probably 4 -8. Both boys and girls would like it, and anyone who loves brain teasers will love it!
Reviewed by Mensan Drake - age 7