Customer Reviews

A Remainder of One

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We loved "One Hundred Hungry Ants", written and illustrated by the same team, but "A Remainder of One" is flawed by having language that is more advanced than the mathematical skill it is intended to teach. I would recommend it for a child who is advanced enough in language to have no problems with the meanings of words such as "former", and "infantry", and yet slow enough in math to need the lesson that 25 leaves a remainder of one when divided by 2, 3, or 4, but not 5. I spent more time explaining to my six-year-old child that the sergeant is Joe's boss, and that "former" means what he used to be but no longer is, than I spent on reading the book! The attractive block-print illustrations lack the clever jokes of those found in "One Hundred Hungry Ants", as well.

"A remainder of one" is a good introduction to division. Second graders enjoyed the story yet the concept of division was too advanced for them. Third graders were intrigued by the explanation of division through out the book. The ants lining up row after row, making all rows even, was a great visual tool for third graders to understand the idea of division and remainders. Overall a good book to read- it keeps the students intrigued and keeps them thinking.

This book was an awesome resource for teaching my third graders about division! They enjoyed almost as much as I did.

I read this to my cousins, one is eight and the other is six, they both really liked the story, it's formats and pictures. However the connection to math was not as clear for them,they felt the "One Hundred Hungry Ants" was much clearer when dealing with math.

I received this book from a friend who was a teacher. I love this book! It's a great story about determination & working through a problem. My kids love it as well, especially 'Smart Joe, the remainder of one." :)

This is a cute book and it can even be used to help children understand division. I feel sorry for the little remainder of one, it is a very cute book. My 5 year old loved it!

I read this book to my seven year old nephew and he loved it. He wants me to read the book to him everytime I see him! He even asked if he could take it to school with him. I thought that the way it was worded made it enjoyable for me as much as it was for him. I'm not sure that he totally understood the idea of math in the story but hopefully when he starts working with remainders he will recall this book.

Pima Community College Student
Math 146

This book introduces children to the concept of remainders, and in a round about way, division. The problem is, children who would be learning this type of math may find the story to babyish for their tastes. There is no point to the story of marching ants other than to show that there is always one odd-ant out until a group can be formed to include all 25. As my son pointed out quickly in the book--"just use rows of 5 and be done with it", as well as, "why must that ant always be the one left out--he should just switch places with another ant!" Out of the mouths of babes! He suggested 3 stars on a scale of 1-5 and that is about right. I can see this book being used by an educator as a starting to point in a classroom to discuss equal groupings, but do not look for it as a good bedtime story--the story alone is not compelling. I would check out a copy from the library before you invest in the book for your own collection. It may not be one that is read over and over again.