Rabbit and Hare Divide an Apple (Easy-to-Read,Viking) [Hardcover]

Harriet Ziefert (Author), Emily Bolam (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Series: Easy-to-Read,Viking

Rabbit and Hare Divide an Apple playfully introduces the idea that a whole can be divided into different sized parts. Simple vocabulary and plenty of visual clues make both books perfect for young children who are just starting to read by themselves, while math activities give them the chance to use the concepts from each book.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2?The concept of division is introduced effectively in this easy-to-read story. Rabbit and Hare both love to eat, and so they decide to share food by breaking different fruits and vegetables in half. When the mushroom divides unevenly, the two animals fight over the largest piece. Mr. Raccoon (the devious arbiter) offers to solve their problem by taking a bite out of the larger piece. Children will easily anticipate the result: he eats the whole thing. By the second episode, Rabbit and Hare are not as easily fooled and come up with a plan to divide their apple that satisfies both of them. The short sentences complete with word repetition are the basic elements needed to insure reading success. Although Bolam's illustrations are not particularly dynamic, their spareness complements the simple text and provides important contextual clues for new readers.?Amelia Kalin, Valley Cottage Library, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 1^-2. Ziefert's entry in the Viking Math Easy-to-Read series is a capable introduction to a basic math concept as well as a lesson in sharing. In trying to divide a mushroom in half, Rabbit and Hare (grown-ups may need to explain) end up with unequal pieces. When both animals claim the larger one, Mr. Raccoon volunteers to step in to make them equal--by taking a bite from the bigger piece. Innocent Rabbit and Hare agree--only to realize they've been "had" when the mushroom disappears into the raccoon's tummy. The simplicity of Bolam's artwork allows children to assess the mathematics without unnecessary distraction. It also captures the silly joke, which little ones will surely enjoy. Stephanie Zvirin

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670877905
• ISBN-13: 978-0670877904
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,143,374 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Introducing Fractions to Young Children, December 12, 2009

By 

Smart Shopper "Gayle" (Bedford, TX USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rabbit and Hare Divide an Apple (Easy-to-Read, Puffin) (Paperback)

This book was suggested on my Grandchild's 1st grade math homework paper. I could not find it in his Elementary School Library, so I purchased it from Amazon. He LOVED it and asked questions that let me know the book encouraged him to look to his home setting for more ideas about fractions. My 5 year old Granddaughter also loved this book. I highly recommend it for the young learner.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Simple Division, September 24, 2004

By 

M. Standeford (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rabbit and Hare Divide an Apple (Easy-to-Read,Viking) (Hardcover)

This is a brightly colored level 1 easy-to-read book that encourages children to think about division and how to divide items evenly. The rabbit and the hare try to divide a mushroom into equal parts without success. The raccoon intervenes and eats the mushroom. They try again with an apple, but it is not divided in equal parts either. The raccoon offers to help again but rabbit and hare are wiser and decline his help. Rabbit and hare devise a plan to cut the larger and smaller pieces of the apple into equal parts. I would recommend this book to help children start to understand division and apply it to real life situations.