The Penny Pot (MathStart 3) [Paperback]

Stuart J. Murphy (Author), Lynne Woodcock Cravath (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up | Series: MathStart 3

Stuart J. Murphy travels all over the United States talking to thousands of kids. And you'll never believe what they talk about: MATH! Stuart shows kids that they use math every day -- to share a pizza, spend their allowance, and even sort socks. Stuart writes funny stories about math -- andif you read his books, you'll start to see the fun in math, too.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-At the school fair, the art teacher is painting faces for 50 cents each. Jessie would like to participate, but she just bought an ice-cream cone and has only 39 cents left. Fortunately, there is a penny pot where children put their extra change, so Jessie sits down to wait. As the youngsters approach the booth, their money is counted out and their extra pennies are added to the pot. When Jessie adds up the change and finds that there is 51 cents, she can finally get her face painted to look like a cat. The counting of money becomes a real experience in this appealing story; life-size, authentic-looking coins are used in the brightly colored illustrations, which also show multiethnic children having a good time. Money-related activities are appended. Teachers will welcome this addition to math-curriculum materials.
Marty Abbott Goodman, L.J. Bell Elementary School, Rockingham, NC
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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 Boston.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (August 8, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064467171
• ISBN-13: 978-0064467179
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 10.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,188 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science > Mathematics > Popular & Elementary > Counting & Numeration
  • #3 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Issues > Money
  • #4 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Money

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

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reading Practice while Learning to Count Coins!, April 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Penny Pot (MathStart 3) (Paperback)

This book was a great way to help children learn about different ways to make the same amount of money, in this case, the fifty cents needed to go to the face painting booth. The story offered several opportunities to practice counting coins, while using repeated, predictable text that is wonderful for early elementary readers.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for 2nd-5th grade!, April 18, 2005

By 

Writer (The South) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Penny Pot (MathStart 3) (Paperback)

This is the best book I could find about making change and learning about money for elementary students. It worked perfectly for a lesson I did with second graders. I let them work with partners with fake coins learning to add and subtract money. Buy this book! It is impossible for find good books on money and this is a good one.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What's a Penny Worth?, November 28, 2007

By 

Tracy Foote "Author: Kid's ROTH IRA Handbook:... (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Penny Pot (MathStart 3) (Paperback)

This is an excellent book for introducing math and money to your child.

I like that the story teaches generosity when the child customers choose to leave their penny change for the next customer, but I also think parents should teach the value of saving pennies. Too often today, children will not even stoop down to pick up a penny on the street as if it is "not worth their time." Yet, at the same time as parents, we hear, "Mom, it's only a dollar!" or in worse cases: only $2, only $10 or only $20. The word "only" is what troubles me. Perhaps at the end of the story, at parent should emphasize, "Wow, look at what all those pennies added up to. Imagine if we saved all our pennies. Let's start a family penny pot."

Along the same train of thought, I do like that little Jessie wonders right from the start if she should have spent her money on her ice cream cone. This introduces that money is indeed limited and we have to place "value" on each of our purchases.

The pictures are absolutely adorable and there are helpful tips in the back for parents to continue introducing coins and counting with their child. With such an entertaining storyline, children will never know we are really teaching them some basic money values along with math.